The Phantom Empire

No, I wasn't 12 in 1935! Try 1955 when this 12 episode serial played on Saturdays in Colorado Springs. I grew up with westerns, with Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Lash Larue, and the rest. I was also acquainted with the science fiction serials and films of the period. Imagine my GLEE when I found out that they had merged the two genres!!!

I saw this again recently, and while it has aged a bit in relationship to more modern westerns and SF films, this is indeed a landmark film: The only SF serial in which a major Western cowboy is the star!!!

I am amazed that so few people have scored this film in IMDb. Please do yourselves a favor and seek out this one, watch it, enjoy it, and then give it a vote respective of its mark in cinematic history!

I had seen clips of this serial in the 1986 video, "Horrible Horror," and never had any desire to see it. It looked cheap and the idea of a singing cowboy western, science fiction combo appalled me. In 2009 my wife bought be the DVD collection, "Classic Sci-Fi TV: 150 Episodes." The Phantom Empire was on one of the disks. There it sat for the past 11 years. It took Covid-19 for me to finally watch it.

Oh, the wasted years! This is a fun serial. Is it a classic? No, but it is never boring. Just when you worry that it may turn into a bunch of singing, or kiddie fare, it takes a sharp turn and keeps you coming back for more. There is/are plenty of action, multiple villains (one who is really evil in Chapter 11), and some slapstick comedy (okay most of it misses, but I did chuckle out loud at least once).

There are other reviews here that deal with the plot, so I won't repeat it here. If you're stuck at home and just want some old time cliffhanger serial fun, check this out. The 4 hours will pass quickly. I watched chapters 1-7 one day and then finished chapters 8-12 the next. By far, Chapter 11 is the most fun, but don't be tempted to jump ahead especially when you think it might turn into a kiddie serial about a gang of horse riding do gooders.

"The Phantom Empire" (1935) is unique in the entire history if cinema. It's "Melody Ranch" meets "Flash Gordon" - and it's a kick.

In the olden days (the'70s), it was the perfect entertainment for dropping a hit, taking a hit with a sip (or two...or three) and whoosh, off to the unknown, mysterious Murania, located 20,000 feet beneath Radio Ranch.

Radio Ranch's owner, the often bland Gene Autry (who also owned the more famous Melody Ranch...same place) stars with his pal Smiley Burnette (not playing his normal Frog Milhouse role, but nonetheless playing Frog Milhouse)/ Gene also gets some help from teenagers Frankie Darro & Betsy King Ross. It's up to them to stop the evil Muranians from world domination and destruction (what do they care, they're 20,000 feet below the carnage).

This gem was directed by reliable silent film and "B" movie journeyman master B. Reeves Eason, who also directed the "Flash Gordon"-inspired serial classics, "The Undersea Kingdom" (1936) which starred the always wonderful Ray "Crash" (named for "Flash") Corrigan (who has a small role here) and "Batmen of Africa" (also in 1936) with real-life wild game catcher Clyde Beatty. Eason helmed a slew of two-reel Oaters starring Gene Autry & Dick Foran before directing a series of rah-rah war films in the early '40s to compliment his turnout of westerns, mysteries & serials.

Note: As second unit director of the classic 1925 silent film version of "Ben Hur" with Francis X. Bushman & Ramon Navarro, Eason used 42 cameras to shoot that epic's legendary chariot race; as well as directing the massive burning of Atlanta scene in "Gone With The Wind" (1939).

"The Phantom Empire" is virtually never shown. Too bad because it's a fun curio. Perhaps they think it'll start a whole new psychedelic drug epidemic?

BTW, there's a new DVD release by VCI that is terrific: crisp picture and sound, no blips, and as far as I can tell, it's complete.

(IMO) - The best thing about 1935's "The Phantom Empire" were the unintentionally laughable robots who played the working drones in Queen Tika's underground empire of Murania (located 25,000 feet below the Earth's surface). Yeah. These clunky tin-men were a real hoot.

"The Phantom Empire" is presented as a serial "cliffhanger" in 12 chapters. And, I'd definitely say that this vintage Western/SyFy/Musical (which was clearly aimed at kids) had both its fair share of good moments, as well as its not-so-good moments, too.

"The Phantom Empire" starred popular country music singer/guitarist, Gene Autry (1907-1998) in his first starring role.

Without going into points covered by earlier reviewers (with which I am in agreement), I really encourage anyone who enjoys old movies to see this one. I rate this one a "6" because of its unique blend of genres and because I enjoyed it.

SOME TECHNICAL INFO:

Unfortunately the DVD version is VERY bad. Source material was substandard and encoding was outrageous. They also cut the "Mascot" leaders from each chapter.

I have this serial on quite old 16mm film and (splices, scratches and all) it's better than the DVD.

You may actually have better luck purchasing this on VHS...I never thought I'd ever make THAT recommendation!