| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Charles Quigley | ... | |
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Linda Stirling | ... |
Diana Farnsworth
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| Clayton Moore | ... |
Louis Ashe
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| I. Stanford Jolley | ... |
Dr. Blackton [Ch. 11]
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Kenne Duncan | ... |
Dr. Chambers [Chs. 1-2, 8]
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Forrest Taylor | ... |
Prof. Van Wyck
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Emmett Vogan | ... |
Anderson [Chs. 1-4]
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Sam Flint | ... |
Maxwell
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Joseph Forte | ... |
Prof. Parker
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Stanley Price | ... |
Count Fator [Chs. 11-12]
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Wheaton Chambers | ... |
Wilson [Ch. 1]
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Tom Steele | ... |
Henchman Stricker [Chs. 4, 7, 9]
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Dale Van Sickel | ... |
Henchman Harte [Chs. 6-7]
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Rex Lease | ... |
Bain
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Fred Graham | ... |
Snyder [Chs. 1-2] /
Zane [Ch. 8]
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The Crimson Ghost---attired in black hood and cloak, skull mask and surgical gloves---skulks to an abandoned mansion and informs his henchmen, Louis Ashe (Clayton Moore) and Bain (Rex Lease),of his plans to seize the Cyclotrode, a device invented by Dr. Chambers (Kenne Duncan), that is designed to detect-and-repeal atomic bomb attacks. The Crimson Ghost intends to use the Cyclotrode as an offensive weapon for sabotage and extortion via its ability to stop any electrically-controlled mechanism. Written by Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>
Beginning, I believe, with their far-better serial, THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL, Republic Studios had a knack for disguising their criminal masterminds and leaving them masked until the last chapter (Republic probably got the idea from Fritz Lang's THE LAST TESTAMENT OF DR. MABUSE). Because it worked so well with CAPTAIN MARVEL, the studo would reuse it again and again (ie, DICK TRACY vs. CRIME INC., among others) and it got old fast.
However, with this one, the criminal mastermind has got the best looking mask of the bunch. He looks like a traditional, and fearsome, grim reaper incarnate and all he seems to lack is his scythe. Even this villain's name, "the Crimson Ghost," sounds like an alternate appellation that the grim reaper would call himself.
I personally dislike the action scenes the Ghost partakes in, because it almost belittles his mystical presence. He should sit majestically in a high chair, speaking orders, like Bond's Blofeld or all the other big league bad guys. He should let his minions do all the dirty work of fighting the heroes. When he puts up his dukes, smashes chairs, or even points a forty-five, he reduces his august presence and appearance. A mastermind should never belittle himself by acting like a henchman.