Spy Smasher (Serial)
| Spy Smasher | |
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| Directed by | William Witney |
| Produced by | William J. O'Sullivan |
| Written by |
Ronald Davidson Norman S. Hall William Lively Joseph O'Donnell Joseph Poland C. C. Beck & Bill Parker (character) |
| Starring |
Kane Richmond Marguerite Chapman Sam Flint Hans Schumm Tris Coffin |
| Music by | Mort Glickman |
| Cinematography | Reggie Lanning |
| Edited by | Tony Martinelli Edward Todd |
| Distributed by | Republic Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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12 chapters (214 minutes)(serial) 100 minutes (TV) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $153,682 (negative cost: $156,431) |
Spy Smasher is a 12-episode 1942 Republic movie serial based on the Fawcett Comics character Spy Smasher which is now a part of DC Comics. It was the 25th of the 66 serials produced by Republic. The serial was directed by William Witney with Kane Richmond and Marguerite Chapman as the leads. This serial was Chapman's big break into a career in movies and television. Spy Smasher is a very highly regarded serial. In 1966, a television movie was made from the serial footage under the title Spy Smasher Returns.
Alan Armstrong (Kane Richmond) as the Spy Smasher is a costumed vigilante and freelance agent, not associated with the US government as the country has not yet joined its allies in World War II. After discovering information about Nazi activities in occupied France, he is captured and ordered to be executed. However, with the help of Pierre Durand (Franco Corsaro), he escapes back to the United States, meeting with his twin brother Jack (Kane Richmond). Jack is incorrectly recognized and attacked killed by Nazi agent on American soil codenamed The Mask (Hans Schumm). Eve Corby (Marguerite Chapman) plays Jack's fiancé. The Mask, operates from a U-Boat near the coast.
The Mask's attacks on the United States begin with an attempt to flood the country with forged money and destroy the economy. When this is defeated, he continues with other attacks including destroying aircraft, oil and munitions intended for Britain. Constant defeats at the hands of Spy Smasher, with support from Jack Armstrong and Admiral Corby (Sam Flint), also leads the villain to take the fight back to the masked hero. In the end, the villain is killed aboard his own U-Boat in a sea of flaming oil.
Chapter 11 has what film historians Harmon and Glut consider to be the "most unique chapter ending of them all:" Spy Smasher is gunned down by enemy agents at point blank range and falls from the top of an office building to crash into the pavement below. In the resolution, the audience discover that Jack, Spy Smasher's brother, has knocked him out and stolen his costume. The real Spy Smasher turns up too late to save his twin. This is notable because in nearly every other chapter ending ever produced the person in danger manages to somehow survive.
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Wikipedia