Mandrake the Magician (1939 movie serial)

Country:	USA / English

Mandrake the Magician is a classic Columbia Pictures cliffhanger serial from 1939, starring Warren Hull in the title role. The serial is based on Lee Falk's comic strip "Mandrake the Magician".

Plot

Mandrake and Lothar help Professor Houston (and his lovely daughter Betty) protect his radium energy machine from the head of an underworld gang, a sinister criminal genius known as "The Wasp".

The Wasp will stop at nothing to steal the scientists invention. His evil machinations to obtain the device include blowing up a radio station, a power plant, and a dam. Fortunately, his dastardly deeds cause only minimal damage because of the timely intervention of the quick-witted Mandrake, who has vowed to stop The Wasp.

Cast & Crew

Writing credits (screenplay)

• Joseph F. Poland
• Basil Dickey
• Ned Dandy

Directors

• Sam Nelson and
• Norman Deming

Producer

• Jack Fier

Editor

• Dick Fantl

Music

• Lee Zahler

Photography

• Benjamin Kline

Cast

• Warren Hull as Mandrake
• Al Kikume as Lothar
• Doris Weston as Betty Houston
• Rex Downing as Tommy Houston
• Edward Earle as Dr. Andre Bennett
• Forbes Murray as Professor Houston
• Kenneth MacDonald as James Webster
• Don Beddoe as Frank Raymond
• Dick Curtis as Dorgan, Thug (Chs. 6, 7, 8)
• John Tyrrell as Dirk, lead thug
• Stanley Brown as Green, thug (Chs. 1, 2, 4)
• Beatrice Curtis as Rest Home Nurse (Chs. 3,10)
• Robert Sterling as Henchman
• Sam Ash as George Regan, hypnotist (Chs. 3, 4, 5)
• Lester Dorr as Gray, gas station thug [Chs. 8, 9]
• Ernie Adams as Henchman Brown (Chs. 2, 3)
• Eddie Fetherston as Rest Home, Henchman (Chs. 10, 11)
• Eddie Foster as Ed Blowdart, Henchman (Chs. 1, 2, 3)

Chapter titles

1. Shadow On The Wall
2. Trap Of The Wasp
3. City Of Terror
4. The Secret Passage
5. The Devil’s Playmate
6. The Fatal Crash
7. Gamble For Life
8. Across The Deadline
9. Terror Rides The Rails
10. The Unseen Monster
11. At The Stroke Of Eight
12. The Reward Of Treachery

Production

Like most serials, the film had a relatively low budget.

Behind the scenes

Storyboard drawings in watercolor by Glenn Cravath.

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Preliminary movie poster banner in watercolor by Glenn Cravath.

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Promotional material

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Various Views

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  Movie playbill

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  Movie playbill

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  Ad in "The Carolina Times", 1940 02 17, for the "Regal Theatre" (334 East Pettigrew Street, Durham, North Carolina)

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  Trading card "Saturday Serials Presents" / card #22(1988)

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  Trading card "Saturday Serials Presents" / back card #22 (1988)

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  Trading cards list / Mandrake: cards # 22 to 24

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  "Unusual Facts Revealed" - "by Movie Spotlight" panel syndicated by "Columbia Feature Service" (art by Erwin Hess) / The Roanoke Rapids Herald - June 8, 1939 edition

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  Newspaper Ad.

Lee Falk personal appreciation

 I was in the army. But I saw them, and they were embarrassing. "The Phantom" wasn't bad, "Mandrake the Magician" was terrible. The whole thing looked like itwas shot in a phone booth. 

DVD

The serial was released on a double-disc DVD by VCI Video in 2003.

Availability

Originally released on VHS.

External links

• [1] YouTube, full serial (3 hours 35)
• [2] YouTube, colorized version (2 hours 56).
• [3] Archive.org, colorized version - 12 episodes.