Sun 16 Aug 2009
A Movie Serial Review by Dan Stumpf: LIGHTNING WARRIOR (1931).
Posted by Steve under Action Adventure movies , Reviews[4] Comments
THE LIGHTNING WARRIOR. Mascot, 1931. [Twelve-episode serial.] Rin Tin Tin, Frankie Darro, George Brent, Pat O’Malley. Georgia Hale, Theodore Lorch, Yakima Canutt. Directors: Benjamin H. Kline, Armand Schaefer.
It’s hard to credit these days, but ninety-some years ago, Rin-Tin-Tin was a big star in the silent movies. Respectable critics lauded his emotional range, and even today hardened cynics like Walter Albert get all teary-eyed at the sight of him.
But that was in the Silent Movies. With the advent of the talkies, Rinty’s popularity diminished somewhat, and by the 1930s, with a couple of divorces behind him and a rumored dog-treat habit, he ended up doing serials at Mascot.
Not that The Lightning Warrior (1931) is all bad. I mean, sure it has an awkward script, stilted acting and meager budget … oftentimes the images seem murky, from Mascot’s policy of starting filming at first light of pre-dawn and not stopping till near-dark.
But it’s infused with that cheap energy typical of Mascot at its best, with vigorous stunting from Yakima Canutt, earnest playing from Frankie Darro, Betsy King Ross and George Brent (long before he met Bette Davis!) plus some truly fresh location work and the usual over-ambitious straining for effects way beyond its slender budget.
There’s a particularly neat bit with the principals jumping between ore carts from an old mine, suspended on a cable over a vertiginous chasm; not at all convincing, but you gotta give ’em credit for trying.
The plot, if there is one, even has some poetic overtones: something about an Indian Tribe that mysteriously vanished years ago, suddenly resurrected to terrorize a remote settlement at the behest of a black-cloaked figure known only as The Wolfman, whose appearances are announced by blood-curdling howls and … well, as the chapters go by, it develops that The Wolfman must actually be one of the townspeople, but which one? The Shifty Sherriff? The Mad Trapper? The Mysterious Stranger? Marvin Hamlisch? Dick Cheney?
Well, you needn’t look for clues, as everyone in the cast except Rinty takes turns looking guilty, and the last chapter reveals a solution that would strain the credulity of Harry Stephen Keeler, but it’s mostly fun along the way, and if Rinty gets no big emotional scenes, at least he (or his stunt-dogs) stay busy.
August 16th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Two real life heroes in this one. Rin Tin Tin of course saved the studio that became Warner Brothers from financial ruin in the silent era and to some extent the whole industry, and Brent at age 16 was a genuine hero of the Irish Rebellion and the famous Post Office siege.
For an interesting and semi true take on the origins of Rin Tin Tin check out the Esther Williams film Million Dollar Mermaid in which Rinty plays a small but pivotal role.
As for Mascot, it went on to pretty much become Republic, the finest of all the serial producing studios.
Among others, John Wayne and Tom Mix both made major serials at Mascot.
August 17th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Mascot serials are my only vice (heh-heh!)
August 17th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
My mother’s favorite serial was PHANTOM EMPIRE. It had Frankie Darro and Betsy King Ross too. It also had Gene Autry, cowboy songs, AND a whole science fiction plot!
August 17th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Phantom Empire has my favorite line from a serial. “We’ll dig all the way to Urania.”
Ouch!
And isn’t it amazing how Gene manages to escape every cliffhanger in time to get back to the ranch for his radio broadcast? Gives a whole new meaning to ‘The Show Must Go On!”
Oddly enough it is the favorite film of a friends eighty year old father.