Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc. (1949)

Director:

Fred C. Brannon

Writers:

Royal K. Cole (original screenplay) and
Basil Dickey (original screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

29 January 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

A WHIRLWIND OF ACTION-PACKED SERIAL THRILLS! (original poster - all caps)

Plot:

The female leader of an international crime ring steals a valuable artifact that can give her the power to control men's minds. Federal agents are dispatched to get it back and stop her evil plans. |

Plot Keywords:

Federal Agent | Agent | Art Science | Attorney | Cave

Cast

Kirk Alyn	...	Insp. David Worth
Rosemary La Planche	...	Laura Keith
Roy Barcroft	...	Spade Gordon
Carol Forman	...	Nila
James Dale	...	Agent Steve Evans
Bruce Edwards	...	Prof. Paul Williams [Chs. 1-6]
James Craven	...	Prof. James Clayton [Chs. 1, 10-12]
Tristram Coffin	...	Frank Chambers [Ch. 8]
Tom Steele	...	Henchman Grey [Chs. 1-3] / Pilot Haskell [Chs. 4-5] / Henchman Larkin [Chs. 7-8] / Native #1[Ch. 11-12]
Dale Van Sickel	...	Henchman Mac / False Prof. Graves [Chs. 6-7] / Cave guard #1[Ch. 11]
Jack O'Shea	...	Ali [Chs. 1, 10-12]
Marshall Reed	...	Det. O'Hara [Ch. 9]
Robert J. Wilke	...	Zod, Pursuit Plane Pilot [Chs. 10-11] (as Bob Wilke)
Robert St. Angelo	...	Native #3 [Ch. 11]
Dave Anderson	...	Porter [Ch. 9]
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Carlisle	...	Prof. Elwood M. Graves [Ch. 6] (uncredited)
John Daheim	...	Cave Guard #2 [Ch.11] (uncredited)
Art Dillard	...	Native #2 [Chs. 11-12] (uncredited)
George Douglas	...	Courier (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	...	Digger #1 [Chs. 1, 11-12] (uncredited)
Bert LeBaron	...	Warehouse Thug [Chs. 1-2, 10] (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	...	Ambulance Thug [Ch. 3] (uncredited)
Post Park	...	Headquarters Thug [Ch. 9] (uncredited)
Loren Riebe	...	Digger #2 [Chs. 1, 11-12] (uncredited)
David Sharpe	...	Native #4 [Ch. 11] (uncredited)
Duke Taylor	...	Roadblock Thug [Ch. 5] / 6th Native [Ch. 11] (uncredited)
Ken Terrell	...	Museum Thug [Ch. 6] (uncredited)
Bud Wolfe	...	Chemical Company Thug [Ch. 4] (uncredited)
Joe Yrigoyen	...	Roadblock Thug [Ch. 5] / Native 5 [Ch. 11] (uncredited)

Directed by
Fred C. Brannon

Writing credits
Royal K. Cole		(original screenplay) and
Basil Dickey		(original screenplay) and
William Lively		(original screenplay) and
Sol Shor		(original screenplay)

Produced by
Franklin Adreon	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Stanley Wilson

Cinematography by
John MacBurnie

Film Editing by
Cliff Bell Sr.
Sam Starr

Art Direction by
Fred A. Ritter

Set Decoration by
John McCarthy Jr.
James Redd

Makeup Department
Bob Mark	....	makeup supervisor
Peggy Gray	....	hair styles supervisor (uncredited)

Production Management
Roy Wade	....	unit manager

Sound Department
Earl Crain Sr.	....	sound
Mandine Rogne	....	sound effects (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Howard Lydecker	....	special effects
Theodore Lydecker	....	special effects

Stunts
John Daheim	....	stunt double: James Dale (uncredited)
Bert LeBaron	....	stunts (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	....	stunts (uncredited)
David Sharpe	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tom Steele	....	stunt double: Roy Barcroft, Tristram Coffin & Kirk Alyn (uncredited)
Duke Taylor	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ken Terrell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	....	stunt double: Bruce Edwards & Kirk Alyn (uncredited)
Bud Wolfe	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Yrigoyen	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bud Thackery	....	process photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Adele Palmer	....	wardrobe supervisor

Music Department
Mort Glickman	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Ernest Gold	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Heinz Roemheld	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Marlin Skiles	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Republic Pictures (I)

Distributors

• Republic Pictures (I) (1949) (USA) (theatrical)
• British Lion Film Corporation (1949) (UK) (theatrical)
• British Empire Films Canada (1949) (Canada) (theatrical)
• British Empire Films Australia (1949) (Australia) (theatrical)
• British Empire Films (N.Z.) (1949) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
• Minerva Film (1949) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• African Consolidated Films (1949) (South Africa) (theatrical)
• Tropical Films de Cuba (1949) (Cuba) (theatrical)
• Compania Distribuidora Films (1949) (Colombia) (theatrical)
• Gefion Film (1949) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• Cinematografico de Pacifico (1949) (Peru) (theatrical)
• Acme Films (1949) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Eastern Film Agency (1949) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• A. B. Wivefielm (1949) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Kemal Film (1949) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Jacabo Huberman (1949) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• N. V. Filmverhuurtkantoor (1949) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Republic Films of C. A. (1949) (Panama) (theatrical)
• Filmes Luís Machado (1949) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Perez and Company (1949) (Venezuela) (theatrical)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

167 min (12 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved

Company:

Republic Pictures (I)

Trivia:

Chapter Titles: 1. The Golden Hands 2. Criminal's Lair 3. Death in Disguise 4. Fatal Evidence 5. The Trapped Conspirator 6. Wheels of Disaster 7. The Hidden Key 8. The Enemy's Mouthpiece 9. The Stolen Hand 10.Unmasked 11.Tombs of the Ancients 12.The Curse of Kurigal

Movie Connections:

Edited into Golden Hands of Kurigal (1966) (TV)

Okay plot, great cast

The plot and action sequences of this serial are average for a latter-day Republic serial, but the nifty cast lifts it above the ordinary. Kirk "Superman" Alyn is very good in the action lead, Rosemary LaPlanche is fine as the heroine,and the dependable James Dale is a sturdy sidekick. In the villain's camp, the ubiquitous Roy Barcroft is superb, as always, and Carol Forman is menacing as the head of Underworld Inc., Nila. She also semi-reprises her role as The Spider Lady, in the Superman serial. Among the supporting cast are sometimes-serial lead Bruce Edwards (THE BLACK WIDOW), and James Craven. Marshal Reed and Tristam Coffin, who have both starred in other serials, have small parts as a police detective and a lawyer, respectively. As for the plot, which involves an Arab treasure, most of it is fairly standard stuff, but there is one unique (I think) twist that really comes as a surprise. This is a good serial, and Republic aficiandos should check it out.