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A pioneer of America's first frontier came to life every week for years--now you can relive his adventures with Daniel Boone: Premiere Episode. In "Ken-Tuck-E," Fess Parker as our national hero must take territory from the natives in order to prepare for war with the British.Along the way, we meet his family, friends (including Ed Ames as Mingo), and enemies as "Dan'l" fights, talks, and sings his way through scrape after scrape. Though some of the characterizations might offend modern sensibilities, if viewed in context the show can be seen as respectful (except possibly to the British and raccoons). This classic episode shows why Daniel Boone stayed in living rooms for so long--charm and adventure go a long way in this country. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (10)

THE DAYS OF YESTERYEAR
As several have said, Fess Parker was a better Daniel Boone than a Davy Crockett. Oh well, he was Davy only four or five times, and Daniel about SIX YEARS. Practice does make perfect. This is a good video for nostalgic reasons and fairly believable acting. If you are a historian who nitpicks about accuracy, then don't watch. It was amazing to see Plains TeePees intermingled with East Coast wigwams. Some of the tribal costume was out of place as well. Oh yes, some of the "Indians" needed a little more berry juice for complexion.
Other than that, this is an excellent video. It is very family oriented(Daniel does not take the Indian wife that is offered to him because Becky is waiting back home), his family always runs to meet him, and gets angry if he has to leave again. He tells stories to his children, and sings to the Missus.
Yes, there is some violence and killing and probably excessive, but Dan'l doesn't kill unless it is to protect someone, and tries avoid it if possible.
These things just are not done in films today, and if they are attempted they just don't have the same spirit.
This video(may there soon be more!!) also gives our children a chanced to see a program that excited us when we were young. everyone has seen all the Peanuts cartoons, and odds and ends of famous sci-fi, but this is a simpler life video.
It is also great to see familiar faces we haven't heard from in years like Ed Ames, and did anyone notice George "Goober Pyle" Lindsay up on the stockade wall during the battle?
AHHHH for the days of clean, if very inaccurrate historical stories. Yes we were very prejudiced in those days, but I think things like this were the beginning of racial acceptance.

Dan'l Boone living large on the frontier of Ken Tuck E
"Ken Tuck E" is the pilot episode for "Daniel Boone," which originally aired on September 24, 1964. Fess Parker, who had become famous in the 1950's playing Davy Crockett for Disney, became even more successful as American frontiersman and folk hero Daniel Boone. Technically a "Western," the series was set in the 18th century, right before the American Revolution, when the "west" was the North Carolina-Tennessee-Kentucky! In this pilot episode Dan'l gets his friends, both Indians and settlers, ready to fight the British. Ed Ames co-starred as Dan'l's Indian friend, Mingo, while Patricia Blair played Rebecca Boone, Veronica Cartwright was daughter Jemima, and Darby hinton son Israel. The show also featured Albert Salmi as Yadkin and Dal McKennon as Cincinnatus, the tavern-keeper of Boonesborough. This first episode is certainly representative of the series, which focused on Boone's encounters with friendly and hostile Indians, his pioneering exploits, and his relationship with his family. I know I am not alone in thinking that Parker made a better Daniel Boone than he did a Davy Crockett.

great family entertainment
I agree with the other reviewers, this is great family entertainment that you aren't ashamed of letting your kids and family see. I think all the baby boomers and even some of the kids of today would enjoy seeing this series on DVD or at least VHS.

Please pass this on to the ones who decide what is coming out next on video.

danel boon
simply one of the best tv shows of the 60s down to earth and very entertaining. i have been in search of i think a disney daniel boone when he was not married to rebbeca but was on his way to discover ken-tuck.i seen it on tv in the mid.60s but that was it. so far iam unable to fine.it stared fess parker and ed ames.

Great tape Wonderful Return to the Past
One of the best TV Shows of the 60's. I hope more Fess Parker Daniel Boone shows will be available.This was pure entertainment.I have wondered for years why this program was not out on tape. During those years we watched it every week. Those were heroes you could cheer for. I would like to own all the Daniel Boone TV shows.I hope Amazon.com will be able to offer more of these. Harry at Vidayo did a top notch job getting the tape to us. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An often immitated story line.
Boris is a quack prestidigitator whose premonitions suddenly begin to come true. One of the first of these kinds of stories possibly, but often immitated since. Reminicent of a One Step Beyond story. Worth a look though.

Karloff in excellent form!
Not too long ago, the classic early-sixties horror/suspense/crime series "Thriller" ended a highly-edited run on The Sci-Fi Channel, where it was tucked into the wee hours of the morning. To its credit, Sci-Fi showed all of the series' episodes, horror and non-horror, and in their original order, which made this episode all the more significant, as it was the first truly supernatural installment in the series, and an excellent one. The story is conventional but very cleverly done and wonderfully atmospheric, paving the way for such great entries as Robert Bloch's "The Hungry Glass" and Robert Arthur's "Pigeons from Hell." Karloff, who had a tendency to ham up such roles, is excellent here as the magician/seer who suddenly finds himself cursed with terrible powers. The ending, while unsurprising, is memorably tragic. One of the best!

Good Episode of a Sublime, Though Sadly Forgotten, TV Show
True fans of Horror who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s love this show. Even Stephen King, in his book DANSE MACABRE (p. 216 of the oversized paperback), calls this "the best horror series ever put on TV."

The show's host, Boris Karloff, obviously no stranger to the horror genre, stars in this particular episode, "The Prediction." It is a story about a second-rate magician (Karloff) whose "stage" predictions about the future suddenly start to come true. But when the old prognosticator warns that a secretly planned elopement will result in death, his assistant and her fiance think it's all a smoke-and-mirrors attempt to end their relationship. Though the ending to this story is a bit predictable (excuse the pun), the strong performance by Karloff makes it definitely worth watching. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Adult Thriller episode~
This episode is not as much fun or nearly as creepy as other Thrillers,but the acting is superb.This was more of an adult presentation~~no thunder & lightening & old,dark mansions in this one!Worth owning,tho'!

One of the better "Thriller" episodes.
"The Terror in Teakwood" is a typical horror installment of "Thriller" in every regard. The horrific and supernatural elements are presented in a matter-of-fact, Jacques-Tourneur fashion, with the primary emphasis placed on telling a good story. Such an approach renders the frightening moments all the more frightening. Whatever happened to this approach?

The story is an imaginative variation on "The Hands of Orlac," with a dangerously obsessed pianist stealing the hands of his dead rival from the graveyard. The pianist is played by none other than Guy Rolfe of William Castle's 1961 "Mr. Sardonicus." Not the scariest "Thriller" episode, by any means, but scary enough.

Creepy Episode of a Sublime, Though Sadly Forgotten, TV Show
True fans of Horror who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s love this show. Even Stephen King, in his book DANSE MACABRE (p. 216 of the oversized paperback), calls this "the best horror series ever put on TV." The show's host, Boris Karloff, was obviously no stranger to the genre, and he even starred in several notable episodes.

This episode, "The Terror in Teakwood," tells the story of a pianist and composer who is obsessed with proving to the public that he can best his late rival. He is eventually able to perform his rival's most difficult pieces, but only when wearing the severed hands of the deceased rival like a pair of gloves. Of course, such gruesome acts ultimately lead to the jealous pianist's demise....

This is a particularly eerie and morbid episode, so fans of the genre should definitly find here those chills they seek. Also worth noting is that the episode was directed by Paul Henreid, who is well known to fans of classic cinema as the actor who played Victor Laszlo in 1942's CASABLANCA. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great TV, lots of fun.
I recently ordered three of these tapes from Amazon.com and I'm not disappointed. This one has great atmosphere, Boris steals the show of course. Dick York is great too. Nice shock ending. The subject matter was very uncommon for early 60s television, a rare living dead story. Ooops, don't want to give away the ending! Classic TV horror, one of the best. Pleasant screams!

The first horror story I ever saw; it scarred me for life
I cannot believe I found this, because "The Incredible Doktor Markesan" was the first horror story I can remember seeing. More to the point, I remember the ending, which freaked me out so much that I could not stand to watch "Bewitched" because all I could think of is what happened to Dick York and Carolyn Kearney at the end of this story. This was an episode of "Thriller," the suspense anthology that aired on NBC from 1960-1962 and was hosted by Boris Karloff, who also plays the title character in this 1962 story directed by Robert Florey ("Murders in the Rue Morgue").

My memory of the end of this show was so intense that all I remembered about the rest of the episode was that the young married couple were told not to go exploring in the house and they did not listen (my parents could not have possibly known their five year old was watching "Thriller"; watching Karloff would have meant nothing to me). It turns out the good Doktor has invented a serum that wakes the dead by turning them into zombies. When his nephew and his bride come to live with Markesan, their curiosity gets the better of them with horrible results.

I do not claim to be objective about this story because it literally scarred me for life. Watching the ending again, for the second time ever, totally creeped me out and it has been forty years. Eventually I got up enough nerve to actually watch the parts of "The Wizard of Oz" with the wicked witch, but I have needed the intervening decades to screw up enough courage to watch "The Incredible Doktor Markesan" again. This is probably the only episode of "Thriller" I ever watched, which makes perfect sense to me. I just cannot believe I found this (shiver).

Classic Episode From A Classic TV Show.
I was overjoyed when Universal issued this along with 5 other episodes of THRILLER a few years ago as this was one of my favorite shows from the early days of TV. It lasted only 2 years on NBC but not before many fine segments were aired featuring a number of well known actors, writers and directors. I had taped several episodes when a local station ran them late night many years ago. It's always a pleasant surprise when something is as good as you remember it. Unfortunately the copies I taped were not in the best of shape so it was especially disappointing when Universal chose not to release any more in the series. Many fine stories were not included such as THE HUNGRY GLASS with William Shatner, PIGEONS FROM HELL based on a story by Robert E. Howard of CONAN fame, and LA STREGA a tale of witchcraft with a young Ursula Andress. The ones that were chosen seem to be based on contemporary recognition factors of the stories and performers which is understandable but unfortunate. Perhaps someday TV LAND or one of the cable channels will make the series available. It's too good to waste. Of the ones released this episode is, in my opinion, the best of the lot and one of the best from the entire series. It is based on a story by H.P. Lovecraft disciple August Derleth and directed by veteran Robert Florey (MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE, THE BEAST WITH 5 FINGERS). Boris Karloff is unforgettable as the title character while Dick York is fun to see outside of BEWITCHED. It's the details such as camera angles, lighting and acting that add up in this old-fashioned approach to horror and while the story may be predictable the results are highly effective. For those of you who want to be chilled as opposed to grossed out then check this out along with the other 5 in the series. Perhaps someone could persuade Stephen King (who loved this show as a kid) to use his considerable clout to persuade Universal to release more episodes. I'm sure they would listen to him.

The best TV Horror circa 1960
I first saw this in the early 70s when a local station was thoughtfully running the series every night of the week right at bedtime. This episode is on my short list of the best of the best of this series. (Others that spring to mind: Guillotine; Kill My Love; The Remarkable Mrs. Hawk; Masquerade)

The other reviewers here mention the predictability of the ending, and for certain, the producers do all they can to annihilate the surprise factor. They show the last few seconds of this particular episode in a 2 minute teaser that precedes the feature on this video, just throwing away the one hour buildup that is to follow for the sake of a glitzy montage. (Idiots!) Beware!! --Fast forward without looking, if you can, to the beginning proper of the tape.

I think the ending is predictable the way the ending of a trailblazing movie like, say, Psycho is now. It doesn't take a prophet to see the past with 20-20 vision. In it's day, however, the convention that a protagonist must make it to the closing credits of a popular entertainment was only beginning to be challenged by movies like Psycho, and on TV, by The Twilight Zone, and Thriller. Just those two. I recall clearly my dismay, indeed my horror, the first time I saw this episode, with no hint of what was to come. So maybe the failure here is the failure of the other writers to adequately "work with" the episode, as they would have to the original Nosferatu, Frankenstein or Metropolis.

I give it a very solid 5 stars.

Superb crawler of flesh!
Others may give this episode a "so~so" review,but I liken it to being trapped in a nightmare while wanting to run for help!The atmosphere is dank & musty,the acting is sharp,Karloff is simply magnificent & the black & white photography only enhances the story.DON'T MISS THIS ONE! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

IT MIGHT NOT BE THE CAPTAIN AMERICA WE KNOW, BUT...
CAPTAIN AMERICA GOES UP AGAINST THE SCARAB. UNLIKE THE CAPTAIN AMERICA OF THE COMICS, CAP ACTUALLY TOTES A GUN AND HIS IDENTITY IS NOT STEVE ROGERS. AND HE'S NOT A SOLDIER. HE'S A DISTRICT ATTORNEY. DESPITE THOSE MAJOR CHANGES, THIS 15-CHAPTER SERIAL IS STILL ENTERTAINING AND SUSPENSEFUL. I REALLY WISH I STILL HAD THIS CLASSIC MOVIE. IF YOU HAVE 3 HOURS TO SPARE, WATCH THIS MOVIE FROM BEGINNNG TO END. YOU WON'T REGRET IT.

An Oldie but a Goodie!!!
Because of some legal snafu at the time this was made, certain things about the good captain have been changed: he's not called Steve Rogers, he doesn't carry a shield, he doesn't have wings on his head, he's not a soldier but a lawyer. the good stuff is that the video transfer looks good and it has LOTS of action. Cap is quite the brawler in this serial. One other thing: one of the episode title cards comes up as "Return of Captain America". I assume it's because they couldn't find a good quality copy of that specific episode and settled for a reissue version of it instead. Quality declines for that one episode otherwise, it's a fun three hours!!

Average, Not really Cap
This film is a rather exciting,suspencful flick. The only problem is that it really isn't cap. He isn't Steve Rogers, Military man But he is Grant Gardner, District Attorney Had it been any other costumed hero, It could've got a higher rating. But due to its vivid storytelling and great action scenes. I give it a passing grade

Hokey,but a classic serial
Clang!The Red Skull flies back as Cap`s shield smashes his arm. The Skull lies sprawled on the floor then Cap walks up to him and solemnly says"Where is Bucky?" That is how I always envisioned a WWII Captain America movie. But that is not close to this version. District Attorney Grant Gardner ,who is secretly Captain America, and his secretary Gail Richards track down the identity of The Scarab,a master criminal. Cap somehow manages to escape bombs,exploding planes,several bullets and a whole bunch of other things before he realizes the Scarab`s identity. The only connection to the comic is his costume and name,otherwise it is unrecognizeable. For die hard Cap fans,it`s fun stuff,but if you want a serial about a WWII masked avenger,check out Spy Smasher.

It's not Cap, but OK as an average 1940's serial
Being a serial lover, I love the action in this serial. The plot itself is completely Saturday Matinee. The villian, The Scarab, may be a no-namer, but weren't all the superhero villians in these serials no-namers? There are lots of shoot-outs and interesting cliff-hangers. It sorta keeps you guessing how it Cap will get out of them. However, being a Cap fan, I am disappointed by the complete changing of the character. First, Cap's a LAWYER! Worst of all, Cap DOESN'T have his shield!!! Cap uses a GUN instead!!! Cap critically wounds people! Is this the Cap we know and love? The un-"Capness" of Cap brings down the serial. However, when viewed just as a serial, it is pretty entertaining. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

SCARIEST MOVIE EVER
I saw this movie once in my life....in 1965. I had nightmares about it for twenty years. Absolutely the most spine-tingling movie of all time. Not bloody type of scary, DEMON kind of scary.

A Thriller worth seeing
When I fisrt rented this video, I thought it would be hum-drum and boring. But I found it to be suspenseful, interesting, entertaining and definitely worth seeing. It's about a young man(William Shatner) who goes to visit his aunt who just recently married a man much younger than herself, he comes to warn her of an 'evil' painting that brings certain death to all who posses it. But the painting does not strike without warning, before the unlucky party is to die, the scythe in the painting bears blood, and its meaning is certain death. The ending was the best. Just when you think you've figured the plot, a surprise twist occurs. Starring William Shatner and hosted by the great Boris Karloff, and written by Robert Bloch, the author of Psycho, this is a thriller worth dying for.

Surprisingly better than average- even thrilling
When I fisrt rented this video, I thought it would be hum-drum and boring. But I found it to be suspenseful, interesting, entertaining and definitely worth seeing. It's about a young man(William Shatner) who goes to visit his aunt who just recently married a man much younger than herself, he comes to warn her of an 'evil' painting that brings certain death to all who posses it. But the painting does not strike without warning, before the unlucky party is to die, the scythe in the painting bears blood, and its meaning is certain death. The ending was the best. Just when you think you've figured the plot, a surprise twist occurs. Starring William Shatner and hosted by the great Boris Karloff, and written by Robert Bloch, the author of Psycho, this is a thriller worth dying for.

Good Episode of a Sublime, Though Sadly Forgotten, TV Show
True fans of Horror who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s love this show. Even Stephen King, in his book DANSE MACABRE (p. 216 of the oversized paperback), calls this "the best horror series ever put on TV." The show's host, Boris Karloff, was obviously no stranger to the genre, and he even starred in several notable episodes.

This particular episode, "The Grim Reaper," is a pretty good one. The story centers a wealthy writer of horror fiction and her visiting nephew. The nephew's plan is to "bump off" his old aunt, using the legend of a cursed painting of the Grim Reaper--a painting the aunt has recently purchased--as his cover. But, of course, there is more to the "legend" behind the painting than the nephew realizes....

As with all the good and great episodes of THRILLER, this one does chill the bones. Also notable are a pre-STAR TREK performance by William Shatner, as the nephew, and a pre-GILLIGAN'S ISLAND performance by Natalie Schafer as the wealthy aunt. Definitely one of the THRILLER episodes that fans of the genre, especially fans of classic horror, won't want to miss.

best move to with the grim reaper so far
a cursed painting of the grim reaper comes to life ... Read more

Reviews (2)

One of the Best
I was in fifth or sixth grade when I saw the first chapter of this serial. (I am 71 years old now.) I really loved westerns and it was a few years before I became a Redskin fan. I really liked Sammy Baugh and looking at the special effects in the serial now really makes me appreciate the genius of the people who made them.

Great Ranger!
'Slingin' Sammy Bough made only one movie, this rip-roaring, fantastic l2-episode serial which should rank with the greatest. Co-starring with B-actress, the plucky Pauline Moore, Sammy is a terrific action hero and the best cliff-hanger episode is when he and Pauline are trapped in a shed while all the oil wells explode around them. Neil Hamilton is a suave and evil and delightful villain. The camera set-ups, the fight sequences and especially the imaginative climax of each episode ranks with Spy Smasher, Daredevils of the Red Circle and G-Men Versus the Black Dragon. Wish Sammy had starred in more flicks, although some film historians point out his amateurish attempts at acting. In serials, acting isn't what fans want (except in a villian). we want our heroes to be fearless and macho and Sammy delivers these qualities in spades. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Consistent excitement!
"Daredevils of the Red Circle" is exciting from start to finish. The action and general entertainment never flag. People often mention the cliffhanger at the end of chapter one, when Gene is desperately trying to outrace the surging water, but there are many other moments in the movie which are equally good: try, for instance, the ending where Gene is chasing some crook up a very tall ladder at the side of a factory building, and the crook, having reached the top, pushes the ladder away from the wall. The ladder, with Gene on it, swings out into space, and your heart (and stomach) go with it! But it's not just the action: one of the main reasons this serial is so entertaining is that the three "daredevils", Gene, Tiny and Burt (Charles Quigley, Herman Brix and David Sharpe) are so incredibly nice and likable. You really care what happens to them. I just can't understand why Republic didn't make a sequel to this (I wish they had done!). All in all, five-star entertainment!

MANHUNT IN THE AFRICAN JUNGLE aka S.S. IN DARK. AFRICA
I ENJOYED THIS SERIAL BECAUSE IT HAD ABOUT 15 OR 20 FIGHTS. IT WAS ACTION ALL THE WAY THROUGH. I LIKE ROD CAMERON. STUNTMEN LIKE TOM STEEL, DALE VAN SICKLE(ALL AMERICAN FOOTBALL/UN. FLA 1939) DUKE GREEN MADE MANY SERIALS FUN TO WATCH. I ALSO LIKED THE MASKED MARVEL/THE TIGER WOMAN/MANHUNT OF MYSTERY ISLAND. SPENCER BENNETT, DIR. WAS GREAT

David Sharpe's Stunt Work
Everyone here has been raving about David Sharpe's Stunt work in this Serial. Well I have some bad news for people. Most (if not all) of the stunts/fights for Burt Knowles (his movie role) were done by another Stunt Man (I forget who). The producers were worried that he might get hurt so they "doubled" him for those scenes. This is one of the biggest letdowns since he would have been even better than his double (who DID do a great job).

"Acrobatic Hi Jinks" Stuntman David Sharpe at his best!
Daredevils of the Red Circle is an early example of the greatness of directors William Witney and John English who co-directed 17 serials from "Zorro Rides Again" in 1937 to "Dick Tracy vs. Crime Inc." in 1941. Three acrobats at a carnival barely escape a fire set by a gang of criminals led by an escaped convict who goes by the name of 39013, his prison uniform number. During the fire Sammy, young brother to Gene, one of the acrobats is killed. Gene and his partners Tiny and Burt decide to find the men who set the fire. They are hired by Dixon, a detective who works for Horace Granville, a millionaire philantropist. Unbeknown to all, Granville has been kidnapped and is held captive in the cellar of the mansion. 39013 has made a mask of Granville's face which he uses to impersonate Granville. Aiding the 3 acrobats is a mysterious stranger who leaves notes on cards emblazoned with a Red Circle. The highlight of the serial is the Chapter I ending. Gene is inspecting a newly built tunnel when the walls begin to leak caused by drilling by 39013's men. Gene is seen riding his motorcycle through the tunnel as water comes gushing behind him. A really great action serial. Just watching the acrobats of stuntman David Sharpe (Burt) is worth the price of the video.

A Rip-Roaring Classic!
This has to be one of the greatest of all serials. Made in l939, its energetic young dare devils--Charles Quigley, Herman Brix (who also played Tarzan) and the legendary stuntman, David Sharpe whose spectacular stunts can be seen in numerous Republic serials--can barely keep still before tackling their next death-defying adventures. The very first episode, where Charles Quigley races his motorbike from a terrifying ocean of racing water in a tunnel has become a classic. Carole Landis--later to be the poor man's Betty Grable at Twentieth Century Fox--is an attractive asset as is the rest of the cast: Miles Mander and his nemesis (can't remember his name) who masquerades as the millionaire scientist. If you've got this in your video collection--along with Spy Smasher, King of the Texas Rangers, Manhunt in the African Jungles--you can't go wrong. Another goodie is "G-Men Meet the Black Dragon" with a fantastic young Rod Cameron and a gorgoeus sidekick, feisty Constance Moore. Just watch this cool, voluptuous blonde handle that machine gun! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Nice twist on Poe.
This is the E. A. Poe story with a twist. I liked it alot, had me guessing what would happen next. Clever pop-open coffin setup. The specter's face was very effective. Well done twist to a classic Poe story.

Good Episode of a Sublime, Though Sadly Forgotten, TV Show
True fans of Horror who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s love this show. Even Stephen King, in his book DANSE MACABRE (p. 216 of the oversized paperback), calls this "the best horror series ever put on TV." The show's host, Boris Karloff, is obviously no stranger to the horror genre, and he co-stars in this particular episode, "The Premature Burial."

With only a vague resemblance to the Poe story of the same name, this story concerns a man who suffers from catalepsy and consequently becomes obsessed with ensuring that he is never buried alive during a seizure. But unbenknownst to him, his cuckolding young wife has other plans. Karloff appears as a medical doctor who is good friends with the cataleptic gentleman and who eventually uncovers the truth about the wife's sinister doings. All in all, it's an entertaining little horror story with an interesting and suspenseful climax. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Horrifyingly Amusing "Thriller" Episode!
This 1961 installment of the Boris Karloff-hosted hour-long TV anthology series, "Thriller", is one of the best of the lot. Starring Elizabeth Montgomery and Tom Poston (along with a creepy John Carradine), "Masquerade" is delightfully "tongue-in-cheek" from start to finish. With a great, great twist ending too!

Liz and Tom are stranded in a severe rain storm, and stop by the nearest residence for shelter. Too bad -- for them that is. Because this "residence" is occupied by some rather odd inhabitants (Carradine and family).

This plot has a very familiar ring. It's the same storyline that exists in the feature film "The Old Dark House", the outstanding 1932 horror classic. But in "Masquerade", the "horror" is heavily tinged with humor (mostly humor in fact -- but still a little scary around the edges at times). A nice blend of scary images and humor make this episode quite fun to see.

The very first thing you'll notice as this episode begins is something that is distinctly familiar to nearly all horror movie fans -- that being the house that was used as the location for this "Thriller" program. It's none other than Norman Bates' homestead from the film "Psycho" (which was released just 16 months prior to the airing of this TV episode)! It *does* seem rather strange (IMO) for this by-now highly-recognizable "Psycho" house to be shown in a TV episode.

With lightning illuminating the house and thunder crashing during the heavy rainstorm, the producers of this "Thriller" episode did an excellent job of photographing this famous old house, and creating an eerie setting at the beginning of the program. The famous dwelling looks even spookier in this "Thriller" episode (if that's possible) than it did in Mr. Hitchcock's movie.

"Masquerade" first aired on network TV on October 30, 1961 -- the 43rd episode of the "Thriller" series, which ran for just two seasons (67 total episodes).

This VHS video comes via "MCA/Universal Home Video" and runs approx. 50 minutes in Full-Frame (1.33:1) format. The audio is Hi-Fi Mono. The video opens with a short "Trailer" ad for the six MCA/Universal VHS videos in this "Thriller" series. Each video contains one (approx. 50-minute) episode from the short-lived 1960s Boris Karloff series. They're all pretty darn good too. Getting them all wouldn't be that bad of an idea. A much better idea than spending a stormy night in the "Psycho" house, at any rate. LOL! :)

Vampire comedy thriller
Film legend Boris Karloff hosts this horror television series. In this episode he invites us to update our image of vampires.

Stars Elizabeth Montgomery (Bewitched) and Tom Poston (Bob Newhart Show) as a couple of young smart and cynical honeymooners who take refuge in a forbidding old house (the Psycho set) which is occupied by a strange family. The story keeps you guessing whether the honeymoon couple or the somewhat mocking hosts including John Carradine (Hillbillies in a Haunted House) are the ones who've made a grave mistake.

If you can suspend disbelief this is a nerve-racking nail-biting story, if you can't it's just nerve-racking.

Excellent creepfest with laughs & bats,too!
I very much enjoyed this lighthearted "THILLER" episode & I must admit~~I didn't see the twist ending coming!Great performances by all!Highly Recommended!!!

can't touch this
Now to really view a horror sitcomof the 1960's and enjoy the thrillof it...What a shame these are not duplicated anymore. Horror todayis loaded with blood, violence,sex and same thing same thing. With Thriller the old fashionthrill is there. REMEMBER THEFIRST ROLLER-COASTER RIDE. Thissame experience will be felt withthis video of yesterdays gone by.

Great Episode of a Sublime, Though Sadly Forgotten, TV Show
True fans of Horror who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s love this show. Even Stephen King, in his book DANSE MACABRE (p. 216 of the oversized paperback), calls this "the best horror series ever put on TV." The show's host, Boris Karloff, was obviously no stranger to the genre, and he even starred in several notable episodes.

This particular episode, "Masquerade," is one of the tamer episodes horror-wise, but it still sets the creepy mood that was the trademark of the series. Also notable are pre-fame performances by Tom Poston and Elizabeth Montgomery, as well as a nice little turn by John Carradine. Unlike the majority of THRILLER episodes, it does contain humor and has a humorous twist ending that, by today's standards, probably seems a bit cliche. Nontheless, it is a very entertaining episode and well worth a watch. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

DEFINITELY ONE OF THE GREATS
Others have said a lot about this classic...I want to point out the almost film noir mood of much of the serial, and a nicely ironic ending. There was considerable thought put into this serial. The only puzzling factor in it is the reference in the first chapter to the Copperhead's prior existence as an alter ego of the hero's father, but apparantly the character was not used in any other serial to the best of my knowledge.

The Best of the Best
For Anyone looking for the Saturday Afternoon serial at it's Finest, Here it is. The Best Serial( I'll also allow The Adventures of Captain Marvel) by the only studio that really knew how to make them (Republic).Featuring the Best Stunts from the best stuntmen in the business, "Dr Satan" moves at a relentless pace for 15 thrilling chapters. Eduardo Cianelli( the memorable Thuggee priest in "Gunga Din") is the coolest villain in film history before Dr. Hannibal Lecter (same alma mater?). The Copperhead has to be the most practical hero in the business (No matter what he's wearing, all he has to do is put on the mask and tah dah). And it features the Debut of the Republic Robot!! What more do ya want??!! Side Note- I first saw this serial on "Saturday Night at the Movies" hosted by Elwy Yost, whose son Graham wrote a little number called "Speed"...the central plot device of which is very similar to something that happens in the first chapter of "Dr Satan"...Coincidence? I think not...

Super serial
Legend has it that this was going to be the first Superman serial, but negotiations between Republic and DC broke down (Columbia would later do two Superman serials, with cartoon flying sequences). So the villain, clever enough to checkmate even the Man of Steel, was elevated to title status and a hero of the Masked Marvel mode replaced him. The result is still fine, with heroine Ella Neal retaining the "Lois" name and secondary heroine Dorothy Hebert showing riding and stunting expertise that makes you wish you saw more of her. After seeing Republic's outstanding Captain Marvel serial, though, one wonders what Superman would be like with the studios special effects experts.

Classic Cliffhanger!
This wonderfully produced, unusually well-acted (for a serial) benefits by the bravura performance of legendary bad boy Eduardo Cianelli. His voice alone in this one chills the soul, his dark eyes are filled with evil. He's suave, dapper, and completely beleivable as that 'Mysterious Doctor Satan.' Equally as good, though, is now forgotten B-actor Robert Wilcox. He was once married, believe it or not, to tragic saturated alcoholic/actress Diana Barrymore. But since he was also reputed to be an alcoholic, this probably contributed to his fast demise. But in this serial, he's wonderful. Wilcox possessed a haunting, deep voice. Doll-faced Ella Neal is also a perfect 40s heroine. She's so pretty, slender and surreal that she's perfect as the heroine. The robot isn't all that sinister but the William Witney-John English direction keeps this masterpice racing along with a terific score by (I may be wrong) Cy Feur. This great matinee entertainment deserves to be on the shelf of any nostalgia buff and ardent fan of Republic Serials!

Very good serial--among Republic's best
Republic made the best serials particularly from 1939 to 1943 (their goden age) and this serial is one of their best. A bravura performance from Eduardo Cianelli, breakneck action, a rousing music score and top direction from William Witney and John English make this a winner all the way. It's too bad another superb serial from the same year--Drums of Fu Manchu--is not available on commercial video. Rated solely against other serials I give it 4 stars. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

1940's Red Ryder and Little Beaver Volume 1, come to DVD!
Many now only relate to "Red Ryder's Genuine Carbine Action Two-Hundred Shot Lightning Loader Range Model Air Rifle" made famous in the 1983 Christmas movie, "A Christmas Story". This story was about a 10 year old boys obsession with getting Red Ryder's air rifle for Christmas.

Well now, we can all see this famous no-nonsense cowboy and his little sidekick Indian boy, Little Beaver in action. This was a perfect pair & their complete honorable taming of the west.

Red Ryder & Little Beaver adventures dominated the comic strips in the 1930's - 1950's. Late in the 30's REd Ryder came to the screen in a 12 action packed episode serial. Pretty good stuff and a sample coming attraction of this early Red Ryder serial is included on this double feature DVD.

The 1940's Red Ryder introduced the most popular Red Ryder with Wild Bill Elliot and Robert Blake an Little Beaver. This duo went on to make over a dozen Red Ryder movies in the 40's.
This Double Feature remastered DVD Full Screen Black/White includes 2 of thier movies.

An Antonio Kid (1944 / 52 minutes) - greedy outlaws pursuit of the coveted "Black Gold" by terrorizing ranchers.

Cheyenne Wildcat (1947 / 50 minutes) - Red becomes the object of desire of 2 ladies while he & Lil' Beaver pursue outlaws.

This is wholesome fun family entertainment. Red & Lil' Beaver compliment each other and there is genuine onscreen friendship chemistry between them. This is fun stuff. Nice addition to the old western DVD library. Also included is a movie billboard & comic strip montage extra.

Also, now we see why Ralphie Parker from "A Christmas Story" obsessed over Red Ryder!!! Enjoy.

Red Ryder-Memories
These two western "B" movies from the 40's are typical of the westerns of the war years. The second movie, "Cheyene Wildcat" is the best of the Elliott "Ryder" movies. A big plus is Robert Blake (Baretta) playing Little Beaver! Another big plus, is Roy Barcroft as the mean villian. As with all the old movies coming out in DVD, the quality is very good.
If you are over 60 you'll enjoy the memory-if you are under 60 you get to see a time when good triumphed over evil!

ADVENTURES OF RED RYDER
I don`t believe this one ever got to the U.K. when i was riding the range at Saturday cinema. One word. Wonderful. My memories of serials in the early 50`s here in U.K. were Blackhawk. Possibly the best ever. Jungle Girl, Captain Video,SirLancelot,Superman,and White Eagle. Now at almost 60 years old to be able to relive those happy years once again with a serial like Red Ryder plus a TV episode with one of my favorite cowboys Rocky Lane is beyond words.The D V D transfer is very good its a treat to be able to see a good quality picture at last. I`ve had enough of poor quality slow speed video copy`s and as for some of the material some people get away with on the net. I urge you forget the rubbish and go for D V D and make Red Ryder your first choice. Come on company`s lets have some more...

THE ADVENTURES OF RED RYDER!
DON BARRY is the cowboy hero RED RYDER in this 12-PART SERIAL from Republic Pictures, circa 1940. It seems there is a CROOKED BANKER who is trying to steal land from good, honest, hard-working LANDOWNERS! So it is up to RED RYDER to save the day! NOAH BEERY plays Ace Hanlon while TOMMY COOK plays Little Beaver! You will THRILL to the CLIFFHANGERS in this serial, which is definitely an above-average example of the long forgotten art form! The EXTRAS are pretty sweet this time around too, partner! There is the PILOT for the RED RYDER TELEVISION SERIES, an interview with Don Barry himself and reproductions of LOBBY CARDS and POSTERS! If you were not a fan way back when, you sure shooting can become one now!

Sets a standard
If you love this stuff -- as I do -- you'll love this DVD. The transfer is excellent for a 60-year-old serial, and the extras are special: an interview with the late star, Don Barry, and even the full-length pilot of a Red Ryder TV show starring Rocky Lane (the latter isn't even mentioned on the package). And the full chapter endings are here, not clipped off as on some misguided serial transfers.

"Adventures of Red Ryder" isn't the best serial ever made ("Blackhawk" is my pick for that honor). But this release sets a standard for how other serials should be spiffed up and made available on DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Ahead of its time
From his Stealth aircraft, the Lightning, in his Darth Vader garb, declares in Chapter Two that he will dictate his "will to the fools down below with their armies, their battleships and their guns."
Sound familiar? I saw this film when we were two weeks into the Gulf War, and the parallel to George Bush Senior is irresistable.
And the Marines in this serial are opposed to the Lightning.
The movie is a protest against American foreign policy.
Chapter One begins with the words "Armaments", "Munitions" "War" flashing as a building is demolished. I could not help but think of the Persian Gulf as I saw the film during that military campaign.
Remember too that the Marines are portrayed and comport themselves as gentlemen. The civility in the film stands in contrast to the way we abuse each other in present everyday life.
It's fun, campy, and relevant.

Contains one of my favorite chapter endings...
Ah yes, Chapter 11, one of the two "economy" chapters, provided what I consider to be one of the very best chapter endings of all time. Beyond this, there are several memorable scenes...not just the chapter endings, but scenes in the middle of some chapters. For instance, there's the bad guy blithely throwing grenades from the back of the truck. Another aspect making this one of the greatest is that it has great scenes "on the land, on the sea, and in the air." The Lightning, and yes, he could well be the inspiration for Darth Vader, and his hunchbacked deranged acting scientist accompolice make for one of the most memorable pairs of villains in serial history. I consider this a must in any collector's essential serial collection.

Two Marines versus The Lightning
Lee Powell and Herman Brix (later, Bruce Bennett) had been the last of five "suspects" as being the Lone Ranger in Republic's first serial featuring that radio hero. Here they team up again as a pair of Marines fighting a mad scientist called The Lightning, whose overblown manner is fun and whose headpiece may have been the prototype for Darth Vader (but I predict you'll have trouble guessing his identity). The cliffhangers keep both heroes in dire peril throughout.

great cliffhanger great fun and adventure
You might say this is a typical cliffhanger with all the good escapes,adventures,and evil villains, which it is. But it is also interesting because several scenes done in this 1938 serial show up in the Indiana Jones movie "The Last Crusade." Lucas and Spielberg must have been great serial fans. This serial will keep you guessing trying to figure out the identity of the master bad guy the Lightning. This is one of the best Republic Serials. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must see !
See the beginning of the lone ranger. Good clean family entertainment. If all your after is to make fun of old movies this will foot the bill too! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Double Autry Role
This is a movie in which Gene is at his best and plays a dual role. The part of himself Gene and the part of his father, Steve Autry. In this movie, Gene's horse Champion is stolen and Gene is trapped in a ghost town with a spinster schoolmarm, that turned out to be quite a beauty before the show was over. Confronting 3 escaped convicts, it is action at it's best. For those that are Gilligan Island fans, Alan Hale,Jr. plays a part in this in the first 15 minutes of the show. So for a qlimpse of a young "Skipper" and a handsome hero "Gene Autry" the good guy wearing a white hat, riding the world's greatest horse, "Champion", watch this movie. Champion does a bit of acting in this one himself! You will see the worlds greatest cowboy, singer and entertainer save the day and win his lady's hand!!! Let your kids watch too. They still need a hero like Gene Autry!!!

ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT.
ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES I HAVE SEEN TO-DATE. HAVE 19 GENE AUTRY MOVIES AND THEY JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. HE WAS GREAT IN HIS EARLY MOVIES AND JUST KEPT GETTING BETTER THE OLDER HE GOT. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

IT MIGHT NOT BE THE CAPTAIN AMERICA WE KNOW, BUT...
CAPTAIN AMERICA GOES UP AGAINST THE SCARAB. UNLIKE THE CAPTAIN AMERICA OF THE COMICS, CAP ACTUALLY TOTES A GUN AND HIS IDENTITY IS NOT STEVE ROGERS. AND HE'S NOT A SOLDIER. HE'S A DISTRICT ATTORNEY. DESPITE THOSE MAJOR CHANGES, THIS 15-CHAPTER SERIAL IS STILL ENTERTAINING AND SUSPENSEFUL. I REALLY WISH I STILL HAD THIS CLASSIC MOVIE. IF YOU HAVE 3 HOURS TO SPARE, WATCH THIS MOVIE FROM BEGINNNG TO END. YOU WON'T REGRET IT.

An Oldie but a Goodie!!!
Because of some legal snafu at the time this was made, certain things about the good captain have been changed: he's not called Steve Rogers, he doesn't carry a shield, he doesn't have wings on his head, he's not a soldier but a lawyer. the good stuff is that the video transfer looks good and it has LOTS of action. Cap is quite the brawler in this serial. One other thing: one of the episode title cards comes up as "Return of Captain America". I assume it's because they couldn't find a good quality copy of that specific episode and settled for a reissue version of it instead. Quality declines for that one episode otherwise, it's a fun three hours!!

Average, Not really Cap
This film is a rather exciting,suspencful flick. The only problem is that it really isn't cap. He isn't Steve Rogers, Military man But he is Grant Gardner, District Attorney Had it been any other costumed hero, It could've got a higher rating. But due to its vivid storytelling and great action scenes. I give it a passing grade

Hokey,but a classic serial
Clang!The Red Skull flies back as Cap`s shield smashes his arm. The Skull lies sprawled on the floor then Cap walks up to him and solemnly says"Where is Bucky?" That is how I always envisioned a WWII Captain America movie. But that is not close to this version. District Attorney Grant Gardner ,who is secretly Captain America, and his secretary Gail Richards track down the identity of The Scarab,a master criminal. Cap somehow manages to escape bombs,exploding planes,several bullets and a whole bunch of other things before he realizes the Scarab`s identity. The only connection to the comic is his costume and name,otherwise it is unrecognizeable. For die hard Cap fans,it`s fun stuff,but if you want a serial about a WWII masked avenger,check out Spy Smasher.

It's not Cap, but OK as an average 1940's serial
Being a serial lover, I love the action in this serial. The plot itself is completely Saturday Matinee. The villian, The Scarab, may be a no-namer, but weren't all the superhero villians in these serials no-namers? There are lots of shoot-outs and interesting cliff-hangers. It sorta keeps you guessing how it Cap will get out of them. However, being a Cap fan, I am disappointed by the complete changing of the character. First, Cap's a LAWYER! Worst of all, Cap DOESN'T have his shield!!! Cap uses a GUN instead!!! Cap critically wounds people! Is this the Cap we know and love? The un-"Capness" of Cap brings down the serial. However, when viewed just as a serial, it is pretty entertaining. ... Read more