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Date Posted: 19:37:53 06/24/11 Fri
Author: Officer Torch
Subject: FG Serial Trilogy Poll

In watching all 3 FG serials lately, over a short period, a once a year near tradition with me, and based on additional readings/thoughts, I've fine tuned slightly some of my preferences. (Seems this happens with repeated watchings over time.) I'd like our fans/friends for their opinions.

A) Your overall favorite of the 3 serials and why?
=====================================================
The next few may overlap, but your opinion nevertheless desired. (Very flexible) This can actually be harder than you think...since FG serials are basically good. We're into fine point territory. No rush, no grades, it's subjective...we can post anytime and discuss after this weekend perhaps. Remember, YOUR favorites, or sections, parts, any comments. More than one for any question ok. Ranking optional. Lively banter hopefully from Commander Rick and Sergeant Tim, jokester Officer Torch will put in his 2 Mingols last and will try to add tasteful shennanigans. All in fun. Go for it.

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B) Your favorite for music, any particular reason/s?

C) Your favorite for cohesiveness of story.

D) Your favorite for colorfulness of story material.

E) Your favorite for action sequences.

F) Your favorite for air battles. By the way, do you like rocketships or stratosled appearance if you were to buy a model at a reasonable price or scratch build one.

G) Your favorite for non air battles. Any specific battles of interest? Regardless of serial.

H) Best special effects for its day in FG serials. (Includes possible "spooky stuff") More than one ok, regardless of serial.

I) Your favorite characters (lets say 5 max) regardless of serial, Lets exclude the earth people, Ming and Aura.

J) Your favorite for opening sequence, why?

K) Your top 3 cliffhangers, regardless of serial.

L) Favorite moreso supporting actor or actors.

M) Add any others for discussion.

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Replies:

[> Re: FG Serial Trilogy Poll -- Rick, 03:25:00 06/26/11 Sun [1]

A: Overall favorite is FG 1936. It was everybody's serial; fresh, dramatic, fun with suspense and tension. It set the tone and established the relationships with the characters the audience would get to know so well. It had the gothic look for being in B&W and the sets from Universal's horror films gave it a uniqueness. I'd catagorize FG 36' as a science-fiction-horror serial. The use of the music library was expertly done. It had the most colorful music score. The main title (used at the end, too) was originally composed for the titles and cast credits by Clifford Vaughan. It had a yearnful and romantic tension to it that connects with the emotions very well.

B: My favorite for the music is FG 36 because the music that was used was so diverse and contained classical pieces that gave the film lots of color and contrast. The same can be said for Trip to Mars; the music followed the same path as 1936 serial, but you had the "Bride of Frankenstein" cues tracked in, which was gave it an otherwordly feel and was great for many action segments (but later on, some pieces were overused.) FGCTU adhered to the staple music used in the previous two, but they were re-recordings that gave it a fresher feel and with tracks from the the second wave of horror-drama films made in 1939 such as "Tower of London," "The Sun Never Sets" and "Son of Frankenstein." The inclusion of several classics used including Les Preludes and recorded with the fastest tempo known for some passages by Previn make the music score a big cut above the other films made around the same period.

C: FG 36' had good cohesiveness as did Mars. They adhered to the strip very well and the audience could relate to the characters and situations and believe it was real. Universe had some problems, mainly because of cast changes and some script plots that had been used before. Also, some changes were due to Raymond's developing the story arc that caused the studio to cast some new actors as in Roland Drew replacing Dick Alexander and Shirley Deane replacing Priscilla Lawson. In the case of Dale, Jean Rogers tried to return, but Fox wouldn't loan her out, so Carol Hughes filled in. She did nicely, but in most cases, when you lose original actors, some of the chemistry is lost. It would have been nice if Ted Lorch would have returned as the High Priest, but they didn't write him back in.

D: FG 36' had the most colorful story material and when you are introduced to the characters and others in the story, it is something that you bond with immediately. You had the different kingdoms, cultures, and the relationships. Also, the sexual tension in FG 36, which was the ONLY movie serial that had this element. Pre-code films could get away with this up to 1934, but in the case of FG 36, its innocent nature allowed them to do it so well. That's colorful, too.

Trip to Mars had color, but it wasn't as evident and things were toned down, as the sexual overtones. When you consider how conservative audiences were in 1938, but the action the serial had was in great abundance and with a fast, tedious plot in 15 chapters.

Conquers the Universe had the characters fully developed, but it was more laid back at times and quieter. Flash became the savior of the universe at the end. It did have some good action sequences, but you should recall in the previous two, Flash didn't need a band of men to aid him, but only himself or help from Zarkov or Barin.

E: All three had good action sequences in their own ways. I thought it was more original to see Flash go up against his opponents by himself, rather than have a six-pack of guys helping him at once as in CTU (but they won the fight and didn't drown like rats. Heh!).

F: The air battles were all good and we learn how things inside the ships work and if they don't, something goes wrong! CTU made best use of the rocketship interiors, as they were built larger than in the first serial (those were more crampy). The Stratosleds were very well-designed, but I'd rather buy a model of a Ming or Zarkov ship.

G: Non-air battles? Hmmm, as long as Flash and his party won the battle it was a good thing. The bad guys were going to lose anyway.

H: Special effects such as the electrical gear and optical effects, such as light rays were all well-done. The explosions came out pretty good and nobody got hurt. Albeit they were primitive, the effects were done good in those days.

I: Favorites outside of the ones exempted would be High Priest, Clay King, Pilot Captain, Tarnak, Jenda and Queen Fria.

J: All opening credits in all 3 serials. Each sequence had the right look from specific scenes and the music made it flow very good as the viewer starts off each chapter (abbreviated to cast credits only after Chapter 3).

K: Top 3 cliffhangers?

1.) The cliffhanger at the end of chapter 8 in FG 36' in the Tournament of Death with Flash and the Orangupoid.

2.) The cliffhanger in the end of chapter 9 of FG 36 with the High Priest's betrayal of Aura so the Fire Monster would kill Flash in the Tunnel of Terror.

3.) The cliffhanger at the end of chapter 8 in Trip to Mars, after Tarnak has knocked Flash out cold in the powerhouse and Ming plans to destroy him. Also, Ming's later attempt to use the disintegrating ray to kill Flash, Barin and Zarkov in the lethal room and later again, when Ming sets a trap in the powerhouse: "Yes, but when he mixes it! Heh!" and the explosion allegedly kills Flash and Zarkov.

L: Supports? Ted Lorch, Jack "Tiny" Lipson, James Pierce, Duke York, House Peters, Kane Richmond, Ben Lewis, Warner Richmond, Wheeler Oakman, Don Rowan, Michael Marks, John Hamilton, Tom Chatterton, Byron Foulger, Victor Zimmerman and William Royle.

M: Favorite costumes is open for you, Torch!




Rick :)


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[> [> Re: FG Serial Trilogy Poll -- Rick, 04:20:08 06/27/11 Mon [1]

I need to expand on L: Richard Alexander and Urso, the Bear.







Rick


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[> Re: FG Serial Trilogy Poll -- Officer Torch, 10:13:41 06/28/11 Tue [1]

A)My favorite,'36FG serial. First one introduced principal characters. Serial was colorful re story, several kingdoms, leaders/minions. Had many costumes, ray guns, monsters, machinery, futuristic/alien devices. We had sexual tension, attractive cast, and a brave hero who had guts and often successfully fought one on one type battles. Athletic prowess showed. Overall music was good. I especially liked C.Vaughn's wandering like theme near chapter openings. Pretty much agree with Rick and others on this serial.

B)My favorite music often from '40CTU primarily due to Les Preludes. March of Torches from Pitz Palu (USA release)also good. Music while title scrolls & ship circles Mt.McKinley is great. In '38Mars, Monster type music nicely applied, much from Waxmans Bride of Frankenstein. In '36, lots of pieces here and there with favorite being Vaughn's theme, also opener. Realizing '40 had much stock music, it was only one with Les Preludes, always a favorite to me, even before I heard/saw FG! An uncle had oldie classical records...and I heard/liked as kid. It stuck big time. Very subjective topic this music one.

C)Story cohesiveness, I'll give it to Mars..that nitron lamp was pretty much the consistent story line throughout. Alternatively, if we considered perhaps on some overall basis, with eg world (or planet) conquest in mind, I'd have to then give it to the first '36serial. But, for most part, at face value for now, I'll say '38 FGTTM.

D)Colorfullness of story material?...'36 serial. How much more colorful can you get, other than colorizing the serial. We've costumes, locations/dioramas on land, water, and floating in air. We've characters galore, boisterous Vultan (my favorite character), gorgeous woman, a hunk for lady fans..brave, charming FG, more than one love triangle, betrayal, bad guys, a cackling priest, so much more, basically fast moving entertaining material, break open the popcorn.

E)I think I'm gonna agree with Rick on this, more or less re action sequences, especially for FGs single handed battles, but I've got to include aerial battles from '40s CTU. Basically though, all good.

F)Favorite air battles: just about all from '40CTU. Also liked FG solo battle against Thun's gyros fleet in '36. Mars stratosleds had that different look overall. Often, different sound also. I tended to like appearance of Ming or Barin type ships...was going to scratch build using Easter Egg plastic and cardboard tube with balsa for tails and trim. So so results. Resin plastic kits and upscale ones around to those so inclined. Resin hard to take paint, and upscale ones costly if available.

G)Non air battles...hmm, lots...'36 Chap 1..FG swordfights with Mings guards before arena, monkey men, fights in Vultan's atom furnace room with shovels, definitely and favorite is Tournament of Death and unmasking of a masked Barin, also with Orangopoid, fights in labs..before and after FG becomes invisible. In Mars, fights with Fire People in Forest Kingdom. FG tosses 'em like toys! Battles with Azuras guards. In CTU, by the death dust chamber on Mongo. So many overall.

H)In '36, Dale stands and lizard monster alongside...much larger. Electrical machinery sparking, ray gun action. Rocketship flights. Gockos, Orangopoid. In '38Mars, Clay people appearing from walls, the subway tube, light bridge, bat wing jumps. In '40, the likely etched film to depict various ray gun fire, the mechanical men, and electrical discharges, rocketship battles, Mings various weapons. A demerit though in CTU, a flour scooper of sorts is manually used to drop polarite antidote to death dust on mountain. Also, perhaps in all serials, radio contact eg ship to ship or to ground, or simple ground communications seem rather limited. In Mars, FG physically drops a note to Barin and Hapgood from the air strung to a Martian's helment.

I)Hmm..tough, 5 max? Ok..I'll say Vultan, High Priest (Lorch), Tarnak, Clay King, Jenda...crazed madman scientist.

J)Badly worded...I like 'em all for different reasons, First serial for wandering theme by Vaughn with synopsis of previous Chapters, Mars for comic panels slid by a Martian at some televisor giving an outline of previous Chapter, but I'll have to give most kudos, relatively speaking, to '40 CTU with scrolling Foreward (as in Star Wars) while rocketship circles Mt.McKinley.

K)Top 3...hmm. I'm gonna agree with Rick on end of Chap 9 after High Priest betrays Aura and FG winds up nearly consumed by the sacred fire dragon. Next, well...I'll agree again about Mars, end Chap 8 with the chemical mixing explosion. Last, I'll chose CTU, in wonderment, how the heck did FG ever grab onto a handle (or foot rod of sorts) while falling down the pit with another near the death dust chamber they broke during a fight, angering Ming to say release the death dust to kill them all. This was early on in CTU.

L)Favorite supports...hmm, so many...will limit and indicate characters. Ok, in '36, me, ie Officer Torch, Vultan, Barin, High Priest (2nd one), Zona, Thun. In '38, Tarnak, Clay King, Toran, Death Squad Pilot who turned good upon finding his brother in clay caves restored to normal. In CTU, Queen Fria, Sonja, Capt.Torch (my nephew), Jenda, Capt.Sudan.

M)Other areas...well, moreso a suggestion..please write or contact outfits such as VCI to try and obtain the rights for the serials apparently no longer available from Image. In your request, please ask besides restoration, that they be sub titled/closed captioned. These serials were enjoyed worldwide. People who are hearing impaired or where English is not widely used, can benefit greatly from sub titled material. The fan base is aging, I've heaing woes nowadays, as do many I imagine.

The poll is still OPEN. Let's hear from you when you've a chance, even if just on a few selected items perhaps, briefer ok...in fact, this turned out long...but we've expressed opinions. Looking forward to hear from you, possibly leading to some lively chit chat.


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