Reviews (1)

Billy Halop and the Dead End gang help Little Tough Guys.
Billy Halop was part of the Dead End Kids gang that did many films after Broadway, starting with Dead End (1937). The Dead End Kids films lasted from 1937-1939 with seven films and some of the cast including Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell and Bernard Punsly crossed over to be with The Little Tough Guys from 1938-1943. By 1940, Billy Halop wanted to branch out on his own. They also made Saturday matinee serials by Universal Pictures. Junior G-Men (1940), Sea Raiders (1941), Junior G-Men of the Air (1943). 12 chapters, 11 cliffhangers. Each new chapter was shown every week in the local theatre. Each episode was only 18-21 minutes long. Now on VHS and DVD, you can see all of the chapters together. With some searching you can find them in a two-tape pak or a two volume-dvd pak. Volume 1, chapters 1-6. Volume 2, chapters 7-12 or each volume may be available separatly. Alpha Video with Nina's Discount Oldies or Amazon.com may have a good deal for you. Buy both volumes so you can see all of the cliffhanger episodes together. Total running time: 3 hours and 58 minutes. The story is: Billy Barton (Billy Halop has been looking for his father who he has not seen in five years. His father left him at the military academy. The government sent his father on a secret mission. This special medal was left in a briefcase for Billy. Billy left the academy to look for his father, but he was mugged, wallet taken and left for broke. The FBI tells Billy that his father was looking for him. Six months ago, Billy read in the newspaper that his father was dead. He blames it on the coppers. This is why Billy is so tough and has an attitude. The FBI tells Billy that his father is alive and is being held captive by a dangerous organization, The Flaming Torch. The Flaming Torch is trying to overthrow the present social order. They want the formula that Admiral Barton (Russell Hicks) has. Billy must join the Junior G-Men to help save his fathers life. In 1940, the Dead End Kids changed into The East Side Kids. Billy Halop and Bernard Punsly did not join them, but continued as the Dead End Kids with The Little Tough Guys in films until 1943. The dead End Kids in this film are: Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell and bernard Punsly. Kenneth Howell plays "Harry Trent". Phillip Terry plays "Jim Bradford". Florence Halop (Billy's sister) plays "Mary", the waitress. You might remember her in the NBC tv series "Night Court" in the 1980's. Bernard Punsly's last film was MUG TOWN (1943). Bernard Punsly became a gynocologist M.D. in Torrence, California and recently passed away on January 20, 2004. He was the last surviving Dead End Kid. Huntz Hall passed away January 30, 1999. Billy Halop said goodbye to the Dead End Kids with MUG TOWN (1943) as well. Billy Halop continued to make films, but getting parts was hard. In his final years, he became a male nurse. You may remember Billy Halop as "Bert Munson" on the CBS tv series "All in the Family". A role he played from 1972 to 1976, which ran through 1977. Billy Halop died in 1976 of a heart attack. Suddenly his career of 50 years which started in the 1920's on radio was over. But thanks to radio CD's (Radio Spirits) and films on VHS and DVD, Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, Bernard Punsly, Gabriel Dell and the rest of the film gang will still be around to entertain us. Followed by SEA RAIDERS (1941) and Junior G-Men of the Air (1942). ... Read more

Reviews (3)

CHALLENGE TO BE FREE
THIS WAS MY FAVORITE MOVIE FROM MY CHILDHOOD.I THOUGHT IT WAS TIME FOR MY CHILDREN TO SEE IT,BUT I COULDN'T FIND IT IN ANY OF THE VIDEO STORES.I WAS SURPRISED WHEN IT CAME RIGHT UP WHEN I TYPED IT IN.ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT IT'S BEEN OVER 20 YEARS SINCE I'VE SEEN THIS MOVIE AND I'M VERY EXCITED THAT I HAVEFOUND A COPY TO PURCHASE.I CAN ALMOST FEEL THE MOUNTAINS AND THE STRESS FROM GETTING A SHAVE WITH AN AXE.

An all-time classic
As much hype and hoopla movies like A Bug's Life and Alladin carry with them ... movies like Challenge to be Free tend to fall to the side as unimportant figments of a different decade. This movie is not unimportant by any means ... it takes you on a wonderous journey ... leaving you in the end to realize the importance of trying to respect and understand the ways of not only the people around us, but the people we identify as our foes.

I believe this to be the greatest movie ever made.
There is somthing magical about the grease on Trapper's face. The way he laughfs, and wrestles with bears. This movie is a joke, but it's characters attack you. If you watch closely you'll see what I mean. It was made in 76' but released later due to some problems in post-production. It's sad. It's dirty. A dog was killed in it's production. And it is dedicated to the men and women of the forest. Thank you for reading this, and good day. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Billy Halop and the Dead End gang help Little Tough Guys.
Billy Halop was part of the Dead End Kids gang that did many films after Broadway, starting with Dead End (1937). The Dead End Kids films lasted from 1937-1939 with seven films and some of the cast including Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell and Bernard Punsly crossed over to be with The Little Tough Guys from 1938-1943. By 1940, Billy Halop wanted to branch out on his own. They also made Saturday matinee serials by Universal Pictures. Junior G-Men (1940), Sea Raiders (1941), Junior G-Men of the Air (1943). 12 chapters, 11 cliffhangers. Each new chapter was shown every week in the local theatre. Each episode was only 18-21 minutes long. Now on VHS and DVD, you can see all of the chapters together. With some searching you can find them in a two-tape pak or a two volume-dvd pak. Volume 1, chapters 1-6. Volume 2, chapters 7-12 or each volume may be available separatly. Alpha Video with Nina's Discount Oldies or Amazon.com may have a good deal for you. Buy both volumes so you can see all of the cliffhanger episodes together. Total running time: 3 hours and 58 minutes. The story is: Billy Barton (Billy Halop has been looking for his father who he has not seen in five years. His father left him at the military academy. The government sent his father on a secret mission. This special medal was left in a briefcase for Billy. Billy left the academy to look for his father, but he was mugged, wallet taken and left for broke. The FBI tells Billy that his father was looking for him. Six months ago, Billy read in the newspaper that his father was dead. He blames it on the coppers. This is why Billy is so tough and has an attitude. The FBI tells Billy that his father is alive and is being held captive by a dangerous organization, The Flaming Torch. The Flaming Torch is trying to overthrow the present social order. They want the formula that Admiral Barton (Russell Hicks) has. Billy must join the Junior G-Men to help save his fathers life. In 1940, the Dead End Kids changed into The East Side Kids. Billy Halop and Bernard Punsly did not join them, but continued as the Dead End Kids with The Little Tough Guys in films until 1943. The dead End Kids in this film are: Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell and bernard Punsly. Kenneth Howell plays "Harry Trent". Phillip Terry plays "Jim Bradford". Florence Halop (Billy's sister) plays "Mary", the waitress. You might remember her in the NBC tv series "Night Court" in the 1980's. Bernard Punsly's last film was MUG TOWN (1943). Bernard Punsly became a gynocologist M.D. in Torrence, California and recently passed away on January 20, 2004. He was the last surviving Dead End Kid. Huntz Hall passed away January 30, 1999. Billy Halop said goodbye to the Dead End Kids with MUG TOWN (1943) as well. Billy Halop continued to make films, but getting parts was hard. In his final years, he became a male nurse. You may remember Billy Halop as "Bert Munson" on the CBS tv series "All in the Family". A role he played from 1972 to 1976, which ran through 1977. Billy Halop died in 1976 of a heart attack. Suddenly his career of 50 years which started in the 1920's on radio was over. But thanks to radio CD's (Radio Spirits) and films on VHS and DVD, Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, Bernard Punsly, Gabriel Dell and the rest of the film gang will still be around to entertain us. Followed by SEA RAIDERS (1941) and Junior G-Men of the Air (1942). ... Read more

Reviews (13)

This is the best of the Flash Gordon serials
"Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe" was the third and best of the serials starring Buster Grabbe. This 12-part serial finds Alex Raymond's science-fiction hero battling Ming the Merciless (Charles Middleton). Flash has to save the earth from a mysterious plague known as the Purple Death. When Dr. Zarkov (Frank Shannon) finds one a spaceship from planet Mongo seeding the atmosphere it is clear that Ming the Merciless is back to his old tricks. Flash is aided by old friend Prince Barin of Arboria (Roland Drew) as they head to Frigia, where our heroes will find polarite, the antidote to the plague, and some really interesting locking rock people. Of course, Ming is going to go out of his way to stop Flash and his friends. My only real complaints are that the costumes look like leftovers from "Robin Hood" and that Carol Hughes replaced Jean Rogers as Dale Arden. Oh, well, life is full of disappointments. This DVD not only includes an interview with Crabbe, but footage of him winning the 1932 Olympic Gold Medal in the 400 meter swim event and three of his later TV commercials. Ideally you want to watch the three Flash Gordon serials in order, but if you start with this one you will certainly be able to follow the fun without any problems.

Go get 'em Flash
Flash Gordon is certainly the true precursor to "Star Wars." Image Entertainment is distributing four feature length titles edited down to about 90 minutes from the original four hour serial length. Zippy plots, lots of action, clever sets and surprisingly strong scripts do justice to "THE PERIL FROM OUTER SPACE," "THE PURPLE DEATH FROM OUTER SPACE," "SPACE SHIP TO THE UNKNOWN" and "THE DEADLY RAY FROM MARS."

Good stuff that looks even better when cut down to the central plot. The action does not let up. See the whole series in order.

Larry "Buster" Crabbe is charismatic and strangely beautiful as the lead in this beguiling comic book space opera from the late 30s.

For die hard fans of this series, the full length, uncut serial "FLASH GORDON CONQUERS THE UNIVERSE" is also available.

Nice for the Price
This DVD is nice for the price. The description says Region 1, but its region 0. The video and audio are about the same as others on the market, but the menus are well designed (very retro!) All 12 chapters are on one dual layered disc and the layer change doesn't interfere with the movie. There are no extras, but hey for the price, what do you expect?

Excellent for the price
This DVD is great for the price. The video and audio are comparable to other copies that I've seen (for over double the price). It's, also, nice to see all 12 episodes on one disc.

Save your money!!
I bought this on DVD and expected a professional package I expect of any DVD package. Here's the news...terrible packaging, no extra features, no cinemascope so you can't even read the credits, the poorest quality I have seen and overall unwatchable product. I feel as if I was robbed of my money. The people that made this product wanted to sell you something but you will never buy anything else. I say wait for someone who cares to release these great serials. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

This is the best of the Flash Gordon serials
"Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe" was the third and best of the serials starring Buster Grabbe. This 12-part serial finds Alex Raymond's science-fiction hero battling Ming the Merciless (Charles Middleton). Flash has to save the earth from a mysterious plague known as the Purple Death. When Dr. Zarkov (Frank Shannon) finds one a spaceship from planet Mongo seeding the atmosphere it is clear that Ming the Merciless is back to his old tricks. Flash is aided by old friend Prince Barin of Arboria (Roland Drew) as they head to Frigia, where our heroes will find polarite, the antidote to the plague, and some really interesting locking rock people. Of course, Ming is going to go out of his way to stop Flash and his friends. My only real complaints are that the costumes look like leftovers from "Robin Hood" and that Carol Hughes replaced Jean Rogers as Dale Arden. Oh, well, life is full of disappointments. This DVD not only includes an interview with Crabbe, but footage of him winning the 1932 Olympic Gold Medal in the 400 meter swim event and three of his later TV commercials. Ideally you want to watch the three Flash Gordon serials in order, but if you start with this one you will certainly be able to follow the fun without any problems.

Go get 'em Flash
Flash Gordon is certainly the true precursor to "Star Wars." Image Entertainment is distributing four feature length titles edited down to about 90 minutes from the original four hour serial length. Zippy plots, lots of action, clever sets and surprisingly strong scripts do justice to "THE PERIL FROM OUTER SPACE," "THE PURPLE DEATH FROM OUTER SPACE," "SPACE SHIP TO THE UNKNOWN" and "THE DEADLY RAY FROM MARS."

Good stuff that looks even better when cut down to the central plot. The action does not let up. See the whole series in order.

Larry "Buster" Crabbe is charismatic and strangely beautiful as the lead in this beguiling comic book space opera from the late 30s.

For die hard fans of this series, the full length, uncut serial "FLASH GORDON CONQUERS THE UNIVERSE" is also available.

Nice for the Price
This DVD is nice for the price. The description says Region 1, but its region 0. The video and audio are about the same as others on the market, but the menus are well designed (very retro!) All 12 chapters are on one dual layered disc and the layer change doesn't interfere with the movie. There are no extras, but hey for the price, what do you expect?

Excellent for the price
This DVD is great for the price. The video and audio are comparable to other copies that I've seen (for over double the price). It's, also, nice to see all 12 episodes on one disc.

Save your money!!
I bought this on DVD and expected a professional package I expect of any DVD package. Here's the news...terrible packaging, no extra features, no cinemascope so you can't even read the credits, the poorest quality I have seen and overall unwatchable product. I feel as if I was robbed of my money. The people that made this product wanted to sell you something but you will never buy anything else. I say wait for someone who cares to release these great serials. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Should have been better
Of all the many tapes that I have purchased over the years, this one was one of the most poorly transferred from the original film that I have ever seen. I remembered this serial from my youth, and had hoped to refresh some fond memories and share them with my grandchildren. Unfortunately, the constant flickering of the screen and the poor sound quality don't allow me to do that. I would not recommend this tape to anyone until it is "cleaned up" and restored or at least improved. ... Read more