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T-Bob’s Guide to Serial Cliffhanger Watching
Sometimes I’m asked what I believe to be the best movie serials. While I’m no expert, I’ve seen a lot of them, good and bad. Here are my picks for the best of the best.
The 10 best were all made by Republic Studios between 1939 and 1946. William Witney and/or John English directed all except one. King of the Forest Rangers (1946) was directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet, after Witney was assigned to direct Roy Rogers films, and English to Gene Autry oaters.
The other studios never committed to producing quality serials, as did Republic, but still many are very good. All of these are a lot of fun.
Ten Best Movie Serials of All Time
1. The Adventures of Captain Marvel (Republic, 1941)
2. The Perils of Nyoka (Republic, 1942)
3. King of the Texas Rangers (Republic, 1941)
4. King of the Forest Rangers (Republic, 1946)
5. Daredevils of the Red Circle (Republic, 1939)
6. Drums of Fu Manchu (Republic,1940)
7. The Mysterious Doctor Satan (Republic, 1940)
8. Captain America (Republic, 1944)
9. Zorro’s Fighting Legion (Republic, 1939)
10. Spy Smasher (Republic, 1942)
Ten Best Movie Serials from Studios Other than Republic
1. The Phantom (Columbia, 1943).
2. Batman (Columbia, 1943)
3. Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (Universal, 1940)
4. The Phantom Creeps (Universal, 1939)
5. The Phantom Empire (Mascot, 1935)
6. The Miracle Rider (Mascot, 1935)
7. Flash Gordon (Universal,1936)
8. Buck Rogers (Universal, 1939)
9. The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack (Universal, 1943)
10. The Perils of Pauline (Pathe Exchange, 1914)
Sometimes I’m asked what I believe to be the best movie serials. While I’m no expert, I’ve seen a lot of them, good and bad. Here are my picks for the best of the best.
The 10 best were all made by Republic Studios between 1939 and 1946. William Witney and/or John English directed all except one. King of the Forest Rangers (1946) was directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet, after Witney was assigned to direct Roy Rogers films, and English to Gene Autry oaters.
The other studios never committed to producing quality serials, as did Republic, but still many are very good. All of these are a lot of fun.
Ten Best Movie Serials of All Time
1. The Adventures of Captain Marvel (Republic, 1941)
2. The Perils of Nyoka (Republic, 1942)
3. King of the Texas Rangers (Republic, 1941)
4. King of the Forest Rangers (Republic, 1946)
5. Daredevils of the Red Circle (Republic, 1939)
6. Drums of Fu Manchu (Republic,1940)
7. The Mysterious Doctor Satan (Republic, 1940)
8. Captain America (Republic, 1944)
9. Zorro’s Fighting Legion (Republic, 1939)
10. Spy Smasher (Republic, 1942)
Ten Best Movie Serials from Studios Other than Republic
1. The Phantom (Columbia, 1943).
2. Batman (Columbia, 1943)
3. Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (Universal, 1940)
4. The Phantom Creeps (Universal, 1939)
5. The Phantom Empire (Mascot, 1935)
6. The Miracle Rider (Mascot, 1935)
7. Flash Gordon (Universal,1936)
8. Buck Rogers (Universal, 1939)
9. The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack (Universal, 1943)
10. The Perils of Pauline (Pathe Exchange, 1914)