The Crimson Ghost

Originally, "The Crimson Ghost" was a movie serial that ran nearly three hours. However, somewhere along the line, someone sliced the film apart to shorten it and they colorized it. I saw this shorter colorized version. In some ways, it's a shame the serial was treated like this, but in some ways it's not too bad as most serials suffer from sluggish pacing when you see all the chapters at the same time....something that wasn't originally intended when they were made.

This story finds some goofy criminal boss trying to steal the secret to the Cyclotrode--a device designed to intercept and destroy atomic bombs! The boss is a goofy character...the Crimson Ghost. He runs about in the film dressed in a cloak and sporting a skeleton costume!! He also controls his many minions by injecting them with mind controlling drugs AND electronic collars which kill the user if they try to remove them! Can our rugged heroes manage to stop this evil genius?! What do you think?!

In many ways, "The Crimson Ghost" is like other serials. There are countless fights, countless miraculous survivals from deadly accidents and the film is short on characters but long on action and stunts.

So is it any good? Well, I'm not sure good or bad are the best ways to describe it...more like it's very typical of the genre. Additionally, it's important to point out that I am talking about the shortened version...the longer one may well totally stink. Overall, it's silly and full of inconsistencies (like other serials) but also a lot of fun to watch.

During the 30's,40's,and 50's,republic pictures was known and remembered as the studio that produced some of the greatest action serials of all time!.In the"crimson ghost",a scientific maniac wearing a skull mask and a red robe steals an atomic device called the cyclotrode,which can stop cars,planes,and any electrical device,after it's inventor(kenne duncan) is kiddnapped and killed,a criminologist(charles quigley) and his female assistant(linda sterling) risk their lives through 12 chapters of action packed thrills to stop this maniac from building a larger cyclotrode and bring him to justice!there are many fight scenes and the music score is great too!(for the serial buffs,most of the music in this film is used from republic pictures mysterious doctor satan and dick tracy's g men)this film also stars clayton moore who is later known for playing the lone ranger. this is a great serial to watch for the serial buffs and for anyone who enjoys action,

In this 12-chapter action serial from Republic Pictures and directors William Witney & Fred Brannon, a mysterious masked villain known as the Crimson Ghost has stolen an experimental atomic weapon known as the Cyclotrode. He and his minions attempt to acquire the necessary components to make the device work, while scientific criminologist Duncan Richards (Charles Quigley) and secretary Diana Farnsworth (Linda Stirling) try to stop them.

This is another top-notch Republic serial, with great stunts, and overabundance of fight scenes, and ludicrous cliffhangers. The Crimson Ghost has been called the greatest villain in serial history, and his image is no doubt the most well-known. I like how he works with a group of standard gangster henchmen (including future Lone Ranger Clayton Moore), while he himself dresses in an elaborate costume, complete with skull mask and skeleton finger gloves. I wish there had been a scene where one of the henchmen asked him what the deal was with the costume and moniker, but that never happens. They just go along like this is typical criminal behavior. Quigley, as the hero, is good in the fight scenes but pretty bad in the acting ones. Still, all-in-all, as far as serials go, you couldn't ask for much more.

I got this for Christmas (today), and it's great. The plot doesn't make much sense, the acting is barely acceptable, and the production values are "budget", but my kids and I think that it's a hoot. The story is something about a villain in a skull mask and a ray that will disable electrical equipment, but who cares? It's really about the square-jawed scientist and his beautiful and plucky assistant dashing about risking death to bring the master criminal to justice, with constant fight scenes (filmed at a slower rate so that people move with astonishing speed onscreen) and cliffhanging endings.

There are plenty of unintentionally funny moments, too, as when the gang leader's right-hand-thug (played by Clayton Moore, eventually to be the TV version of The Lone Ranger) returns with a piece of equipment and the leader hisses that it's a "cheap decoy" (as if it looks any cheaper than anything else on the set). If you think that you might like it, you will, and if you think that you'll hate it, you're probably right about that, too.

A creepy looking masked villain makes trouble for all in this classic 40s Republic serial.

Firstly, I have been a fan of old time B&W serials since about 1997 but only found this one in January 2020. I generally go for the serials with some sort of science fiction element and for years was misled into thinking that this was about a ghost. But yes, this has the essential sci-fi element - The Crimson Ghost is outstanding.

My all-time favourite serial came a few years later - Columbia's Batman and Robin (1949) - and the plot for "Crimson" has elements of that show (for example the constant question about the identity of the masked villain).

I have only seen the edited 93 minute colorized version of "Crimson" and before you all reject the idea of seeing it colorized - hear me out! I have seen TV shows such as Gilligan's Island colorized and it makes me sick. But they have done such a good job with the sharp colors on "Crimson" that I welcomed it with open arms (but remember I have never seen it in B&W so that might impact my reaction to the new version?).

Because serials are a film genre I have always associated with being in B&W, seeing one in color with just plain odd - but odd in good way!

Whatever the case, be it be in color or B&W, edited or not edited, "Crimson" still stands as a mighty important part of 40s entertainment. Sharp dialogue, great editing, top music cues, just a knockout serial with a great villain.