The Purple Monster Strikes (1945)

Directors:

Spencer Gordon Bennet
Fred C. Brannon

Writers:

Royal K. Cole (original screenplay) and
Albert DeMond (original screenplay) ...

Release Date:

3 August 1945 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Warrior from another planet annihilates space...eliminates distance...carries diabolical devices!

Plot:

A Martian spacecraft crash-lands near the observatory of Cyrus Layton, designer of Earth's first spaceship...

Plot Keywords:

Spaceship | Observatory | Martian | Martian Invasion | Explosion

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Dennis Moore	...	Craig Foster
Linda Stirling	...	Sheila Layton
Roy Barcroft	...	The Purple Monster
James Craven	...	Dr. Cyrus Layton
Bud Geary	...	Hodge Garrett
Mary Moore	...	Marcia [Chs. 11-13]
John Davidson	...	Emperor of Mars [Chs. 2, 10-11]
Joe Whitehead	...	Carl Stewart
Emmett Vogan	...	Saunders [Chs. 3-4]
George M. Carleton	...	Dr. Paul Meredith [Ch. 9]
Kenne Duncan	...	Charles Mitchell [Chs. 1-2, 10]
Rosemonde James	...	Helen / Maria posing as Helen [Chs. 11-12]
Monte Hale	...	Dr. Harvey [Chs. 13-14]
Wheaton Chambers	...	Prof. Benjamin [Ch. 11]
Fred Howard	...	Prof. Crandall (as Frederick Howard)

Also Known As:

D-Day on Mars (USA) (TV title)
The Purple Shadow Strikes

Runtime:

209 min (15 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #10851)

Filming Locations:

Griffith Park Observatory, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures

Trivia:

Chapter Titles: - 1. The Man in the Meteor - 2. The Time Trap - 3.Flaming Avalanche - 4.The Lethal Pit - 5. Death on the Beam - 6. The Demon Killer - 7. The Evil Eye - 8. Descending Doom - 9. The Living Dead - 10.House of Horror - 11.Menace From Mars - 12.Perilous Plunge - 13.Fiery Shroud - 14.The Fatal Trail - 15.Take-Off To Destruction

Quotes:

Dr. Cyrus Layton: Why, who are you?
Purple Monster: My name would mean nothing to you. I've come from the planet which people on Earth call Mars.
Dr. Cyrus Layton: From Mars? But you speak our language.
Purple Monster: I speak all languages. Many years ago, my people invented and perfected a remarkable instrument known as the distance eliminator. With the aid of this device, I've been able to see and hear everything that happens on Earth.

Movie Connections:

Edited into D-Day on Mars (1966) (TV)

mary moore

A piece of trivia about the Purple Monster Strikes. The alien girl who comes to Earth to assist the Purple Monster (Roy Barcroft) was played by Mary Moore, who had been married to Clayton Moore, who was playing second leads and stunt man roles at Republic. Moore said in his biography that he and Mary were married 8/19/1940 and only stayed together for about a year. Apparently they were too focused on their careers at that time. At the time of separation, Moore said he had possession of the dog he had given to Mary and she wanted it back. When the dog did not respond to her calls, Moore said he paid her $25, which was what the dog cost when he bought it and she left the apartment. In 1945, she must have still been using her married name judging by the credits. In the fight scene she does with Linda Stirling, she was doubled by stuntwoman Polly Burson. A humorous anecdote about the serial was told by the star Roy Barcroft. Barcroft recalled having to "skinny down" his big frame to fit into the Purple Monster costume. At the time, he was living in the Los Angeles suburb of Jackson Heights. He referred to himself as "The Jerk in Tights from Jackson Heights." Regardless, this serial and Manhunt of Mystery Island (where he played the evil Captain Mephisto) are two of his best known and best loved serials for Republic.