Thanks for watching - if you liked it, check out my other videos on comic book history: tinyurl.com/2hjajuft CORRECTION: In the video, I pointed out the military's war recruitment center was at a movie theater with Captain America on the marquee. I was a little sloppy with my phrasing and implied that this was intentionally done when it was probably a coincidence - but I did mean to make the connection that to an average recruit, it might have seemed or had the effect of a bit of patriotic propaganda for them. But again, no evidence to suggest this was coordinated and not a coincidence - thanks to John Semper in the comments for pointing that out.
Martin Goodman did protest the way that Captain America was presented in the serial. The contract signed between Timely Comics Inc. & Complete Photo Story Corp. gave Republic Pictures the ability to handle the Captain America character as they saw fit.
Fascinating, David! I take it he didn't "give" the rights away either? If you have a source, let me know, I really appreciate your information, thank you for sharing!
I haven't seen this one, but Republic did make my favorite serial, The Adventures Of Captain Marvel, and they got a few facts wrong about him too. Serials really didn't have supervillains. The only reason the second Superman serial had Lex Luthor is because at the time he was a mad scientist and they did have mad scientists and crime bosses. Even the first Batman serial, where they fought a Japanese spy ring during World War II, wasn't really all that different from your average mad scientist.
Yeah, comics didn't have much respect back then, but to be fair, they were still pretty new too, a lot of the comics didn't even have what we now consider a traditional super villain. But yes, Republic was the best, I love that Captain Marvel, awesome flying f/x. I was really happy to do this video and take the opportunity to shine some light on Republic, and what I think are some of the best action moments in the film (as well as Dick Purcell too)! I still love the serials though, an important part of comic adaptation history. And don't get me started about the Fleischers! I won't be able to shut up!
I'm not hearing that the US army "was using Captain America as a recruitment tool." What he seems to be saying is that the recruitment officers simply were using the movie theater marquee as a place for guys to stand under until they were ready to let them enter the recruitment location. It was "We're not open yet, go line up over there in front of that movie theater next door." It had nothing whatsoever to do with the movie playing there. Pure coincidence.
As a serial, it's pretty good. As Captain America, it has nothing to do with anything. But you're watching this serial because of Lionel Atwill as the villain -- who outacts every single member of the cast.
The classic cars were awesome, the serial is fun, but he never used his shield, nothing about chemical genetic engineering, he was just a detective tough guy punching everyone, sad. I still love the old serials though.
Agree w/all - especially that I love it! Sad they rejected the comic mythos, but SO cool it exists. Thanks for chiming in with your opinion, glad we agree!
@@rickroberts6339 - it was SO jarring the first time I watched! "Grant Gardner?!?" (tho kinda cool they did the aliteration think Marvel would be known for later in the Silver Age) And I'm a classic film nut, a serial enthusiast, and special effects junkie so it's still a big fave for me. But thank YOU for watching bud, really appreciate it.
I saw the serial myself, when I was a kid, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm a lifetime comic book fan, a huge Captain America fan, but I bought into the serial, because it was a lot of fun. There was even an issue of Captain America, where the "real" Cap was on the set of the serial, looking for a spy, and did stunt work for the serial actor who was playing Cap! @@HeroJournalism
Thanks for watching - if you liked it, check out my other videos on comic book history: tinyurl.com/2hjajuft
CORRECTION: In the video, I pointed out the military's war recruitment center was at a movie theater with Captain America on the marquee. I was a little sloppy with my phrasing and implied that this was intentionally done when it was probably a coincidence - but I did mean to make the connection that to an average recruit, it might have seemed or had the effect of a bit of patriotic propaganda for them. But again, no evidence to suggest this was coordinated and not a coincidence - thanks to John Semper in the comments for pointing that out.
Martin Goodman did protest the way that Captain America was presented in the serial. The contract signed between Timely Comics Inc. & Complete Photo Story Corp. gave Republic Pictures the ability to handle the Captain America character as they saw fit.
Fascinating, David! I take it he didn't "give" the rights away either? If you have a source, let me know, I really appreciate your information, thank you for sharing!
I haven't seen this one, but Republic did make my favorite serial, The Adventures Of Captain Marvel, and they got a few facts wrong about him too. Serials really didn't have supervillains. The only reason the second Superman serial had Lex Luthor is because at the time he was a mad scientist and they did have mad scientists and crime bosses. Even the first Batman serial, where they fought a Japanese spy ring during World War II, wasn't really all that different from your average mad scientist.
Yeah, comics didn't have much respect back then, but to be fair, they were still pretty new too, a lot of the comics didn't even have what we now consider a traditional super villain. But yes, Republic was the best, I love that Captain Marvel, awesome flying f/x. I was really happy to do this video and take the opportunity to shine some light on Republic, and what I think are some of the best action moments in the film (as well as Dick Purcell too)! I still love the serials though, an important part of comic adaptation history. And don't get me started about the Fleischers! I won't be able to shut up!
Check it out you'd enjoy it
This is one of my go to views!!!
I'm impressed, this is a pretty obscure entry in comic book history! You were ahead of the curve!
He fought many villains like that then. Twould of been interesting to see what they'd of done with the 50s Submariner series had it been made.
Oh I wish they did, I'd love to analyze that for my channel!
I'm not hearing that the US army "was using Captain America as a recruitment tool." What he seems to be saying is that the recruitment officers simply were using the movie theater marquee as a place for guys to stand under until they were ready to let them enter the recruitment location. It was "We're not open yet, go line up over there in front of that movie theater next door." It had nothing whatsoever to do with the movie playing there. Pure coincidence.
As a serial, it's pretty good. As Captain America, it has nothing to do with anything. But you're watching this serial because of Lionel Atwill as the villain -- who outacts every single member of the cast.
our first chubby Captain America.
Chubby?!? Reb was hot!!!!
@@HeroJournalism not Red...Dick!
I'm watching the serial now. This might be reverse sexism, but it's hard to take Captain America seriously when his secretary is taller thank him.
The classic cars were awesome, the serial is fun, but he never used his shield, nothing about chemical genetic engineering, he was just a detective tough guy punching everyone, sad. I still love the old serials though.
No shield, he carried a gun and used it, and his name wasn't even Steve Rogers!! 😮
Agree w/all - especially that I love it! Sad they rejected the comic mythos, but SO cool it exists. Thanks for chiming in with your opinion, glad we agree!
@@rickroberts6339 - it was SO jarring the first time I watched! "Grant Gardner?!?" (tho kinda cool they did the aliteration think Marvel would be known for later in the Silver Age)
And I'm a classic film nut, a serial enthusiast, and special effects junkie so it's still a big fave for me. But thank YOU for watching bud, really appreciate it.
I saw the serial myself, when I was a kid, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm a lifetime comic book fan, a huge Captain America fan, but I bought into the serial, because it was a lot of fun. There was even an issue of Captain America, where the "real" Cap was on the set of the serial, looking for a spy, and did stunt work for the serial actor who was playing Cap! @@HeroJournalism
@@HeroJournalismThank YOU for posting it! Love this stuff!! 😊
This guy is hardly a film historian.