Manhunt of Mystery Island

Caught this one on TV in its TV-movie form in 1966, now it is in my collection. Roy Barcroft considered this one his favorite, I can see why, he gets to play a villain who can disappear into a completely different body, how's that for a disguise. Contains one of the all time great villain's quotes. Captain Mephisto explains to the Kenne Duncan character how he transforms from his secret identity into Captain Mephisto. When the latter responds, "Oh I understand" Captain Mephisto says "If I thought you understood I'd kill you!" How's that for villainy? Top stuntman Dale Van Sickel doubling for Roy Barcroft, the usual top notch stunt work by the Lydecker brothers, non stop action, an intriguing if far fetched plot. About the only complaint I have is that I've never seen it on the Big Screen.

Captain Mephisto wanders Mystery Island once more. Mephisto is the secret identity of some on unknown person physically altered by sitting in a special chair and having it completely change him into another actor (the wonderful Roy Barcroft). The real identity of Mephisto is one of his descendants who id using the change into his ancestor as a cover. Battling Mephisto is Linda Sterling who is trying to locate her father who one of several scientists kidnapped by Mephisto in order for him to make super weapons for him. One of the more fun Republic serials. What can I say there is something about Roy Barcroft wandering around in full pirate regalia that just makes you smile no matter how hard you try not to. Add to it the wild weapons and great action and you have a really good time at the movies. (I forgot to mention that this is one of the last Republics that had a sense of being unique from start to finish. It wasn't long after this that the studio began to make serials, that while good, were pretty much interchangeable with each other thanks to an assembly line means of production.) Recommended.

As far as Linda Stirling's cliffhangers go, this is the best of the bunch. Stirling stars along with Republic staple Roy Barcroft and Richard Bailey in the search for an evil pirate from the past. Lance (Bailey) and Claire (Stirling) head to Mystery Island to search for Claire's father, a scientist being held by the evil Captain Mephisto. Mephisto is a pirate from 200 years earlier, who is transformed into a business man who owns part of the island. The mystery lies in which one of the four owners actually is Mephisto.

Claire is a spitfire of a damsel, able to hold her own against Mephisto and his henchmen. This serial is partially directed by legendary stuntman Yakima Canutt, so the chases, the fights and the explosions are all top notch. Of course, there is a level of kitsch that comes with the territory of chapterplays, but this one has its own charm, and is a example of what a cliffhanger should be.

Top of the line serial from Republic. Great cliffhanger endings, flagging only slightly in later chapters. Bailey is an effective (if slightly dorky looking) hero, Linda Stirling is lovely and gets involved in the action (although she does get knocked cold every other chapter), and Duncan is an effective henchman. Roy Barcroft, as Captain Mephisto, steals the show. Barcroft considered this role his best and personal favorite, and it's easy to see why: he obviously relishes his villainy, looks great in the costume, and throws himself into the fights. All around classic from the Republic thrill factory.

A scientist working on a remote control invention is kidnapped and brought to an island, by a mysterious Captain Mephisto, who used to be governor of the island in days when it was a penal colony. In reality, Mephisto is one of the four ruling members of the island who uses a transformation chair which changes the enigmatic member into the evil pirate. Investigator Lance Reardon, who along with the scientist's daughter Claire Forrest, searches out the captive scientist in this thrilling chapterplay. In 1945, serials were on the way out, but this easily ranks up with any from the golden age of the genre. Co-director Yakima Canutt adds plenty of action and the far fetched plot surprisingly becomes incredibly intriguing. 15 episodes. In terms of serials, 10 out of 10.