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Date Posted: 06:43:48 10/16/09 Fri
Author: Rick
Subject: 
Poll: Favorite Universal sound serials
Joystar,
Would be happy to join in?
Rick
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Re: Poll: Favorite Universal sound serials -- joystar, 09:05:19 10/16/09 Fri [1]
Rick. I did already! on one of the earlier threads.
I'll reprise...
The first one I remember was TIM TYLER'S LUCK.
I loved the Music!
Then, of course, it was "The Buster Crabbe Quartet" While I love all four... My favourites have to be FLASH GORDON'S TRIP TO MARS and BUCK ROGERS. These two are special because of my fav character actors. I loved seeing Anthony Waarde and C. Montague Shaw as the Tree King and the Clay King. Imagine my delight in recognising my old friends in new roles: as Killer Kane and Dr. Huer! I also thought that Henry Brandon, as Captain Laska, was a perfect foil for Buck Rogers. Last, but NEVER LEAST, I can never forget Charles Middleton? A combination of glorious theatrical HAM blended with a shot glass of Fu Manchu and the Prisoner of Zenda... I really loved the guy. Though he did many parts of many different sorts, I guarantee that any kid of any age just has to hear one word. Just ONE word, and they'll shout out "MING!!!"
BTW, did I mention that I STILL LOVE THE MUSIC?
JS
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Re: Poll: Favorite Universal sound serials -- Officer Torch, 18:01:42 10/16/09 Fri [1]
Hi joystar...many of us favored the FG/BR serials, but there were others some enjoyed. Tim Tyler's Luck, and Ace Drummond;an early one was the Phantom Empire, about an underground city and you'll see our buddies Tarnak (Wheeler Oakman) and his pal Zandar as henchman. Oh, the vehicle Tim Tyler rides around in the jungle.. believe is similar to that used in "Undersea Kingdom" serial with Ray "Crash" Corrigan. This fellow was also in 1936 FG serial. Seems lots of crossing over back then.
Good ole' Anthony Ward as Killer Kane and Toran, King of Forest people. Talks like Ralph Kramden! but, so do I for that matter...the correct way...others just have strange accents. (Just kiddin') Say, our buddy Laska? We've seen dozens of times as meany Mr. Barnaby in toyland with Laurel and Hardy. Middleton, he's in a class of his own...I might get clobbered from pals on other side of light bridge, but Chas. M. stole the show. Yes, yes, Buster Crabbe was super, but I somehow lean toward Middleton as great character actor. My man Ming, heh, heh.
Music...too bad, decades have passed, my hearing's goin', and still no real album pack for beloved music. Just bits and pieces. If you want maybe a third, buy Bride of Frankenstein on CD, and any decent version of Les Preludes by Liszt, also a few DVDs like Bombay Mail, The Black Cat, a few others. Rick is the guru with this. Get the Bride CD before it goes out of print.
Decades ago, I thought mostly guys liked FG for the fights, monsters, rockets, and..well, let's face it, as adolescents, we "lusted" for Dale and Aura. Real world jobs, a spouse, kids, woes, life ...but later maybe, we got a computer, became a bit savy about a so- called internet, and found out women also liked FG serials, maybe not like guys, but still...hmm, wondered gee, after all, there's athletic Buster Crabbe?? Could be or...whatever. In any case, there's a trio of great articles I've recommended for years...you can find it on Rick's links in FG part...three 10 or so page articles, informative, humorous, clever, written by Judie Harris...check it out, and at end of each, she links up to next FG serial. Hmm, again, I've consumed too much coffee. Nice yaking with ya. Best Regards, Officer Torch
PS Hey Guys...thanks for welcoming me back after an unexpected (unwanted) absence.
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Re: Poll: Favorite Universal sound serials -- joystar, 15:16:16 10/17/09 Sat [1]
I DO remember PHANTOM EMPIRE and UNDERSEA KINGDOM, with Lon Chaney, Jr. I'm also lucky to have the BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN suite by Franz Waxman. Also, did you know that Buster Crabbe and Priscilla Lawson were in a 1936 film called ROSE BOWL? I don't know exactly when it was made, but I suspect it was pre-FLASH GORDON, as his hair appeared to be light brown. I always liked Priscilla Lawson...she rather reminded me of Katherine Demille, but lower on the food chain. My only problem is that the only station in my area that shows any sort of Classic film is TCM. TCM has some Universals, but not many, and then, they are capricious about what they will show. They will show KISS BEFORE THE MIRROR, by Whale, but NOT ONE MORE RIVER...Also by Whale, much better, and with Colin Clive in one of his best roles.
Clive loved playing the works of John Galsworthy, and this one was one of his favourites...especially working with "Jimmy".
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Re: Poll: Favorite Universal sound serials -- Officer Torch, 21:06:19 10/17/09 Sat [1]
Hello again joystar..I recalled some info re 1936 Rose Bowl flick. Don't recall seeing movie, but B.Crabbe and P.Lawson were in the romantic comedy. (I used to hang around IMDb a lot to see if FG actors were paired up..and vaguely recalled this.) So, check out IMDb for this if you like. Seems it went under name O'Riley's Luck in the UK.
What follows is off thread; I'll put 2 cents in later. Every so often, we have to get colorizing thing out of our system. Will give my opinion next week. (This "stuff" often results in lively chat, but please, never take things personal. Sometimes we step on toes with this, in friendly ways though-we are after all, friends here.) Some colorization changes are ok/good, some horrible, unthinkable. We've all opinions making for interesting/informative conversation. Stay tuned.
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Re: Poll: Favorite Universal sound serials -- Tim, 23:08:57 10/16/09 Fri [1]
I am not as well-versed in the Universal serials as most here, but I agree that the Flash Gordon trilogy is superb! I don't know much about Tim Tyler, except that he has a great first name, heh!
Flash Gordon (1936) A fast-paced and imaginative story with unforgettable supporting characters like King Vultan and Prince Thun. Jean Rogers is luminous as the blonde Dale Arden.
Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (1938) Queen Azura, The Clay King, Happy Hapgood, the Light Bridge and music from Bride of Frankenstein. Dale Arden's hair color matches that of her comic strip counterpart.
Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940) Carol Hughes is fine as Dale Arden, although Jean Rogers remains my favorite. Kind of a World War II allegory with a despotic Ming.
Tim
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Re: Poll: Favorite Universal sound serials -- DAN, 07:13:54 10/18/09 Sun [1]
I already covered the Universal serials in an older post. But I agree with everything you guys have said here.
"Flash Gordon" was the first serial I ever saw. That was way back in January 1960. The second one was "Tim Tyler's Luck" which aired about a month or so later.
I remember after each chapter ended with the usual cliffhanger having Flash in some kind of death trap. I'd be thinking, now how can he escape from this? And I couldn't wait until the next chapter.
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