The Green Hornet Strikes Again!

Britt Reid aka the Green Hornet (Warren Hull) returns home from a Hawaiian vacation for some crime-busting and racketeer thwarting. Along with faithful valet Kato (Keye Luke), the Green Hornet disrupts various criminal operations, staying one step ahead of the police, who want the Green Hornet either because they think he's a crook, too, or simply for his vigilantism. And once again the Hornet is convinced that there's one mastermind behind all of the crooked operations.

Released in late December of 1940, less than a year after the first serial, the only big change is in the lead role. I'm not sure why they recast it, as Gordon Jones fit the role perfectly. Hull isn't bad, but he's lacking just a little something. The producers also decided not to dub the Hornet's voice while masked with radio voice Al Hodge, instead having Hull deliver his lines muffled behind his full-face mask, which is a little comical. Kato didn't seem to be in this one as much, either, with added time given to Wade Boteler's bumbling ex-cop "bodyguard" to Reid. Boteler spends a lot of time with a new, unnecessary character played by Eddie Acuff, a reporter at Reid's newspaper. This may have been a time-saving move, though, as Boteler/Acuff scenes could be filming at one location while Hull/Luke were at another. This one was still enjoyable as serials go, with the repeated format from the previous outing of many small storylines instead of one drawn out one making for better binge viewing.

I'm giving this serial, "The Green Hornet Strikes Again", the same score that I gave its predecessor, the original "Green Hornet" serial movie--7/10 stars. Opting for the same score is an easy call since this serial follows the exact same formula as the original, albeit with a different actor assuming the lead role.

The gist of the film is that Brit Reid is a newspaper editor who assumes the mantle of a vigilante crime fighter, the Green Hornet. Armed with only his wits, a mask, and a gas gun that puts people to sleep upon firing, the Hornet fights lots of adventures, all related to one devious racketeer scheme. Each episode ends with a cliff hanger scene, and each new episode begins with the previous chapter being resolved, usually because something fortuitous happened that wasn't shown at the close of the previous episode.

I have to say that I did find these stories to grow on me a fair bit as I watched these two serials. One thing that came to mind is that the Green Hornet is essentially a very similar character to DC Comics' Golden Age Sandman--at least in terms of the crime fighter himself, although the alter ego is a bit different. The Hornet was first a radio serial starting in 1936, while the Sandman made his debut in comic book form in the summer of 1939. The first of these two serials was released in 1940, so it's a curious thought as to how much the Sandman character took its cue from the Hornet radio show, as well as how much these Hornet movie serials may have been influenced by the Sandman comics.

Whatever the case, all in all I'd give this serial 7/10 stars. Like the original, it's extremely well made and fun. The only reservation I have is that it does get a bit repetitive, and that despite its fun it's certainly a niche product that won't appeal to just anyone in a modern audience.

Oh, and before you go spending money on this serial, look for it on YouTube. I watched the entire fifteen chapters there for free!

Not to be taken at one sitting. Spread out over a week or two it is much easier to get involved. Some good characters, plot that is not too nonsensical. Head bad guy Watkin went on to be Perry White in the Superman serials. Keye Luke affects an oriental accent he didn't have. Comic highlight (unintentional) is Ferronti, the gangster in the last couple of chapters, who is a walking greasy cliche. All in all, fair Universal product. Don't pay more than ten bucks for it, tho...