Mandrake the Magician (1939 movie serial)
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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.
Writing credits (screenplay)
- Joseph F. Poland
- Basil Dickey
- Ned Dandy
Directors
- Sam Nelson and
- Norman Deming
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. 6-8)
- 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. 3-5]
- 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. 1-3]
Chapter titles
- Shadow On The Wall
- Trap Of The Wasp
- City Of Terror
- The Secret Passage
- The Devil’s Playmate
- The Fatal Crash
- Gamble For Life
- Across The Deadline
- Terror Rides The Rails
- The Unseen Monster
- At The Stroke Of Eight
- The Reward Of Treachery
Production
Like most serials, the film had a relatively low budget.
DVD
The serial was released on a double-disc DVD by VCI Video in 2003.
Availability
Originally released on VHS.