Reviews (1)

El Latigo
As it says on my list, this was the final Republic Zorro serial, even though the character Zorro is not even in the story. A gang of crooks led by a saloon owner (Mauritz Hugo) attempts to rob an Indian reservation of it's gold. A local settler (Richard Simmons) and a school teacher (Barbara Bestar) attempt to stop the gang. To win the trust of the local Indians, the settler takes on the guise of El Latigo, a legenary Indian friend. This film had stock footage from many films, including Zorro's Black Whip, featuring Linda Stirling. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great serial!
I enjoyed this one greatly. It was all set in the cold and snowy yukon with sled dogs and all. This is a must have for any collector of serials. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Fall and decline of the Republic serial
This was the last serial to be made by Republic. For the serial fan it was no great loss. It is Dullsville incorporated with poor production values, a lacklustre but sometimes unintentionally hilarious script, dull acting to match the screenplay and other sundry deficiencies. Only positive aspect: the usual good print from Republic Home Video.

I'm king of the carnival, I'll put cotton candy all over you
the pits, once again. Much stock footage of Daredevils of the Red Circle (very highly recommended)

The Pits!
This lousy, cheaply produced serial has to be the nadir of those usually wonderfully entertaining "chapter plays" which had been a staple of Saturday afternoon movie-going for millions of kids around the world. I began watching this serial with high expectations, basically from the beautifully colored cassette box. Vibrant yellows, crimsons, greens. But oh, brother, is this ever a cheapie! What's so depressing is that I watched this right after devouring the great "King of the Texas Rangers" starring 'Slingin' Sammy Baugh and a teriffic femme sidekick, Pauline Moore. In "Carnival," you've got a cast of bored looking performers: Harry Lauter and Fran Bennett. They and the others act against the cheapest and most flimsy scenery not seen outside a Monogram Studio extravaganza. I actually looked at the credits to make certain this was a Republic Studio movie. This terrible grade Z bomb came out just when television sets had exploded all over America. This is the only reason I can give for Repulbic putting its name on this awful, trashy something called a serial. It's like watching one of the first movies ever made back in l900s. Incredible as to how amateurish and cheap looking it proves to be. A terrible experience after watching those goldie-oldie serials like "Spy Smasher...Daredevils of the Red Circle...Son of Zorro...G-Men Versus the Black Dragon...Adventures of captain Marvel...Mysterious Doctor Satan...and of course, the great King of the Texas Rangers."Shame on Republic Studios! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Them with a Panther Girl
50's movies were obsessed with the idea of overblown insects and scientists. This serial used the idea and put them in Africa with a panther girl. A scientist and his two helpers discover that the diamond mine in the village has started producing again. To drive away the people they decide the best device is scare them off with huge claw monsters. Not if the Panther Girl (Phyllis Coates, the first Lois Lane) can help it. She does the impossible -wrestles alligators and saves the village. It's long (almost three hours) but fun.

This is actually a really good serial!!!
As far as serials go I really loved this one dispite the cheesy blown up crawfish/lobsters. They don't look all that bad and aren't really the focus of the serial. It's apparently the or one of the last Republic serials. I have a hard time watching these things more than once during a short period of time, but I am watching what is actually called 'Panther Girl Of The Kongo' for a second time in a row. Panther Girl plays a good tuff girl. She takes on lions and all that and of course looks good doing it. If you are a lover of serials and have yet to see this one it is definitely a must to do so.

Haven't seen it, but here's a plug for "Tarzan"
I haven't seen this film, but I have a feeling that "Tarzan And His Mate" will be better. Maureen O'Sullivan plays a very good "Jane" and even shows a bit of skin in "Tarzan And His Mate" and that really counts for something for such an old movie! ... Read more