The Phantom Rider

As serials go, this one has the usual exciting cliffhangers and excellent stunt work found in most Republic Pictures cliffhangers. The plot is standard with a phony Indian agent making a lucrative living raiding and stealing from the Indians. When the Indians decide ,with the aid of the local doctor , to form the Indian police and protect their land, the gang led by LeRoy Mason and Kenne Duncan turn up the heat. The doctor played by Robert Kent and the chiefs son Blue Feather,played by George J.Lewis take on the gang.To rally the Indians cause, the schoolteacher played by Peggy Stewart and the doctor re-create a legendary Indian God ,The Spirit Rider to fight the gang. For twelve chapters, The Rider manages to second guess Mason and his gang. Ably directed by Brannon and Bennett; Kent, Stewart, and Lewis head a good supporting cast. Not an outstanding serial, but still an entertaining two hours of cliffhanger viewing.

This is a routine masked hero to the rescue serial, the sort that was turned out in the 30s, 40s & 50s by Republic Pictures, masters of the cliffhanger.

In this one, The Phantom Rider of the title is a legendary Indian god who intervenes when Indian tribes are being wronged.

The plot is basically the crooked Indian Agent (LeRoy Mason) trying to prevent the establishment of an Indian Police force for their reservation. This would bring an end to Mason's raiding and robbing of stagecoaches and freight wagons on the reservation.

The hero is Robert Kent who plays a crusading doctor who takes on the role of the Phantom Rider to aid the local Indian tribe in their fight against the evil forces of the afore-mentioned crooked Indian agent. Over 12 chapters we are treated to the usual array of cliff hanging situations, wagon chases, explosions, narrow escapes et al.

As in most Republic serials the cast is competent and the stuntwork is excellent. Serial veteran Peggy Stewart plays the heroine, a (what else?) schoolmarm. George J. Lewis and Chief Thundercloud are the good Indians and Tom London (looking ridiculous in Indian make-up) is the bad Indian. In addition to Leroy Mason, his chief henchman is the veteran Kenne Duncan and there is the usual endless supply of gang members for the heroes to shoot. Rounding out the cast is the venerable Hal Taliaferro in the comic relief role as "Nugget".

Curiously, Roy Barcroft (usually the main villain) and future series star, Monte Hale are listed in the supporting cast, but only appear in Chapter 1.

The Phantom Rider, though not a great serial, is still a cut above most turned out by other studios due to the expertise available at the Republic studio. If you are a serial buff, it's worth a look.