Spy Smasher (1942)

Alan Armstrong, aka Spy Smasher, battles a Nazi villain known as The Mask, who heads a gang of saboteurs determined to spread destruction across America.

Director:

William Witney

Writers:

Ronald Davidson (original screenplay), Norman S. Hall (original screenplay)

Stars:

Kane Richmond, Marguerite Chapman, Sam Flint

Cast

Cast overview:
Kane Richmond	...	Alan Armstrong / Spy Smasher / Jack Armstrong
Marguerite Chapman	...	Eve Corby
Sam Flint	...	Adm. Corby
Hans Schumm	...	The Mask
Tristram Coffin	...	Drake
Franco Corsaro	...	Capt. Pierre Durand [Chs. 1-4]
Hans von Morhart	...	Capt. Gerhardt [Chs. 1, 8, 12] (as Hans Von Morhart)
Georges Renavent	...	Gov. LeComte [Ch. 3]
Rudolph Anders	...	Dungeon Col. Von Kohr [Ch. 1] (as Robert O. Davis)
Henry Zynda	...	Ritter Lazar [Ch. 1]
Paul Bryar	...	Lawlor
Tom London	...	Crane
Richard Bond	...	Henchman Hayes
Crane Whitley	...	Hauser
John James	...	Henchman Steve

Storyline

Alan Armstrong, aka Spy Smasher, battles a Nazi villain known as The Mask, who heads a gang of saboteurs determined to spread destruction across America.

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Plot Keywords:

superhero | dc comics | based on comic book | serial | gold bullion | 

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Taglines:

Suggested by the character SPY SMASHER, appearing in WHIZ COMICS magazine, copyright by Fawcett Publications, Inc---1940-1941-1942 (all original posters)

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Genres:

Action | Adventure

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Screenwriters at the Republic Studios gave the Spy Smasher character a twin brother, a character which did not appear in the original comic strips.

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Goofs

In Chapter: 3, when Spy Smasher rolls the tire with the gas can, right before the gas explodes you can see one of the movie crew moving away from the flaming gas can.

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Quotes

[Spy Smasher enters the counterfeiters' lair]
Spy Smasher: Got change for a five?

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits are depicted as ...-, Morse code for V (victory), and the searchlights form a "V".

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Connections

Edited into Spy Smasher Returns (1966)

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Soundtracks

Main Title
based on Symphony No. 5 in C minor (Opus 67)
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven

User Reviews

An obscure comic book hero in a good serial

Spy Smasher is a rather good chapterplay. It features a rather obscure character from Whiz Comics (the same book that spawned Captain Marvel). From an adaptation point of view, it isn't very good, but then very few comic book-to-screen adaptations are all that true to the source material.

The cliffhangers are all acceptable and explainable from chapter to chapter (using the "they-don't-show-us-all-the-action" angle)...and the storyline is action-packed. The villain, The Mask, is a typical one spawned of both serials and comics of the times. There also doesn't seem to be a lot of stock footage use (though there is a bit of footage reuse in later chapters).

Kane Richmond isn't too much of an actor, but he is quite adequate here as the dashing identical twins and Spy Smasher. The rest of the cast isn't too noteworthy...nor do they have performances of any real note.

This is definitely a good example of a good movie serial...12 chapters that are worth the time to watch.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 April 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Spy Smasher

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$153,682 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

215 min (12 chapters)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1