Porto Fantasma

One of the best from Republic serials division. Actual plot, a dashing hero who can act, a heroine who at least starts out feisty (before she starts getting knocked out every episode), great cliffhanger endings, and a set totally demolished by the stuntmen in every chapter. Okay, the sea serpent ain't much, but everything else is!

Captain Jim Marsden is wanted is about to be hanged for the murder of Voorhees, whom was owed money by Marsden after his ship was lost at sea with a million dollars in bullion. The murder was actually committed by Carter (Voorhees partner in criminal activities at Haunted Harbor) so he could control all the operations on the island. Yank and Tommy (two of Marsden's schooner mates) rescue Marsden from the gallows and the two set sail for Pulimati to escape the law, while operating Gallbraith's (friend of Marsden) trading post. The crew rescues Patricia Harding and her physician father during a tropical hurricane and they make their way to Pulimati. Marsden believes Carter is on the island, but does not know Carter runs a mining company under the name of Kane, and Dranga (assistant at the trading post) is in Kane's employ. Marsden is also having trouble getting the island natives to make supplies since they are afraid to go near Haunted Harbor, since Carter has his operations based there. Can Marsden free his name and, with the aid of Patricia, Yank, and Tommmy solve the mystery of Haunted Harbor? Very exciting serial with plenty of action you expect from Republic and then some. While it has the standard plot holes, implausible cliffhangers for any serial, the direction by Bennet (and Grissell who probably was in charge of dialogue) is great since often in the serial he leads the viewer to expect the unexpected in ways the chapter is playing out. Richmond, Aldridge (who is very gutsy here) and Barcroft make up a great serial cast and don't disappoint and Lewis, Geary, Duncan, Cooper round out the supporting cast. Great and fitting ending for our villain as well. Rating, 9.

"Haunted Harbor", a 256-page, 19-chapter novel, was the last Republic serial to be adapted from another medium. The remaining serials from Republic were house-originated in concept and story and then assigned to various studio writers to flesh out and expand the chapters.

Dayle Douglas was a "nom de plume" for prolific film writer Ewart Adamson, and "Haunted Harbor," as a novel, was published by Mystery House of New York on June 12, 1943. Studio executive Howard Sheehan instructed Francis Manson , in a memo dated November 12, 1943, to begin negotiations for the purchase of the novel for intended serial use, and the sale was completed and contracts signed on December 6, 1943. The author retained the rights for stage performance and all radio and television rights and, unusual for Republic when buying outside material for a serial, the contract incorporated no provision giving the studio the right to also make a feature version if they so desired. And Republic was obligated to give Adamson (as Dayle Douglas) on-film credit if the finished serial was based upon his story or suggested by it. The credit on the film read "From the novel by Dayle Douglas."

"Haunted Harbor" replaced an intended-and-announced (in trade ads and letters to their film exchanges and exhibitors) serial based on Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," on the back-end of the studio's 1943-44 serial-production schedule. The $1000 cost for the novel versus the rights-cost of the Verne material saved Republic more than a little money.

This serial's filming start date was on April 14, 1944 and it was completed on May 18,1944. The budget (expected cost of the production) was set at $170,099 and the finished negative-cost came in at $207,856. This serial was the first and only Republic serial to carry a 2nd Unit Director credit on the film credits.

Sources: Letters and telephones calls from Jack Mathis circa 1971-1975.

"The Valley of the Cliffhangers" (1975)- Jack Mathis.

Author's personal collection of Republic Pictures material.