This is a list of film serials by studio, separated into those released by each of the five major studios, and the remaining minor studios.
The five major studios produced the greater number of serials. Of these the main studios are considered to be Columbia Pictures, Universal Pictures, and Republic Pictures. All three were active during the 1930s and 1940s. The other two major studios are Mascot Pictures, which later merged into Republic, and Pathé Exchange, which ceased serial production before the advent of sound.
Major studios
These studios were the main producers of serials.
Columbia Pictures
Number | Serial title | Year | Chapters | Genre | Director | Cast | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jungle Menace | 1937 | 15 | Jungle | Harry L. Fraser and George Melford | Frank Buck | The first three Columbia serials were not produced by the studio. They were made independently by the Weiss Bros. studio and released by Columbia. Columbia established its own serial unit in 1938. |
2 | The Mysterious Pilot | 1937 | 15 | Aviation | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Frank Hawks | |
3 | The Secret of Treasure Island | 1938 | 15 | Mystery | Elmer Clifton | Don Terry | |
4 | The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok | 1938 | 15 | Western | Mack V. Wright and Sam Nelson | Gordon Elliott | The actor later known as Bill Elliott was billed as "Gordon Elliott" in the original release; the billing was changed to "William Elliott" for the 1949 reissue |
5 | The Spider's Web | 1938 | 15 | Superhero | Ray Taylor and James W. Horne | Warren Hull | |
6 | Flying G-Men | 1939 | 15 | Aviation | Ray Taylor and James W. Horne | Robert Paige | |
7 | Mandrake the Magician | 1939 | 12 | Fantasy | Sam Nelson and Norman Deming | Warren Hull | |
8 | Overland with Kit Carson | 1939 | 15 | Western | Sam Nelson and Norman Deming | Bill Elliott | |
9 | The Shadow | 1940 | 15 | Superhero Mystery |
James W. Horne | Victor Jory | |
10 | Terry and the Pirates | 1940 | 15 | Jungle Fantasy |
James W. Horne | William Tracy | |
11 | Deadwood Dick | 1940 | 15 | Western | James W. Horne | Don Douglas | |
12 | The Green Archer | 1940 | 15 | Mystery | James W. Horne | Victor Jory | |
13 | White Eagle | 1941 | 15 | Western | James W. Horne | Buck Jones | |
14 | The Spider Returns | 1941 | 15 | Superhero | James W. Horne | Warren Hull | |
15 | The Iron Claw | 1941 | 15 | Mystery | James W. Horne | Charles Quigley | |
16 | Holt of the Secret Service | 1941 | 15 | Crime drama | James W. Horne | Jack Holt | |
17 | Captain Midnight | 1942 | 15 | Aviation | James W. Horne | Dave O'Brien | |
18 | Perils of the Royal Mounted | 1942 | 15 | Northern | James W. Horne | Robert Stevens | |
19 | The Secret Code | 1942 | 15 | Crime drama | Spencer G. Bennet | Paul Kelly | Columbia's association with serial producer Larry Darmour and director James Horne lapsed when both men died in 1942. The studio took over serial production beginning with The Secret Code, using its feature-film staff. Producer Sam Katzman assumed serial production in 1944. |
20 | The Valley of Vanishing Men | 1942 | 15 | Western | Spencer G. Bennet | Bill Elliott | |
21 | Batman | 1943 | 15 | Superhero | Lambert Hillyer | Lewis Wilson Douglas Croft |
|
22 | The Phantom | 1943 | 15 | Superhero, Jungle | B. Reeves Eason | Tom Tyler | |
23 | The Desert Hawk | 1944 | 15 | Adventure | B. Reeves Eason | Gilbert Roland | |
24 | Black Arrow | 1944 | 15 | Western | Lew Landers and (uncredited) B. Reeves Eason | Robert Scott | |
25 | Brenda Starr, Reporter | 1945 | 13 | Crime drama | Wallace Fox | Joan Woodbury | First of the Sam Katzman-produced serials. Katzman remained producer until the final film, released in 1956. |
26 | The Monster and the Ape | 1945 | 15 | Science fiction | Howard Bretherton | Robert Lowery | |
27 | Jungle Raiders | 1945 | 15 | Jungle | Lesley Selander | Kane Richmond | |
28 | Who's Guilty? | 1945 | 15 | Mystery | Howard Bretherton and Wallace Grissell | Robert Kent | |
29 | Hop Harrigan | 1946 | 15 | Aviation | Derwin Abrahams | William Bakewell | |
30 | Chick Carter, Detective | 1946 | 15 | Crime drama | Derwin Abrahams | Lyle Talbot | |
31 | Son of the Guardsman | 1946 | 15 | Medieval | Derwin Abrahams | Bob Shaw | |
32 | Jack Armstrong | 1947 | 15 | Science fiction | Wallace Fox | John Hart | |
33 | The Vigilante | 1947 | 15 | Western | Wallace Fox | Ralph Byrd | |
34 | The Sea Hound | 1947 | 15 | Maritime | Walter B. Eason and Mack V. Wright | Buster Crabbe | |
35 | Brick Bradford | 1947 | 15 | Science fiction | Spencer Gordon Bennet and Thomas Carr | Kane Richmond | |
36 | Tex Granger | 1948 | 15 | Western | Derwin Abrahams | Robert Kellard | |
37 | Superman | 1948 | 15 | Superhero | Spencer Gordon Bennet and Thomas Carr | Kirk Alyn Noel Neill |
|
38 | Congo Bill | 1948 | 15 | Adventure | Spencer Gordon Bennet and Thomas Carr | Don McGuire Cleo Moore |
|
39 | Bruce Gentry | 1949 | 15 | Science fiction | Spencer G. Bennet and Thomas Carr | Tom Neal | |
40 | Batman and Robin | 1949 | 15 | Superhero | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Robert Lowery Johnny Duncan |
|
41 | Adventures of Sir Galahad | 1950 | 15 | Fantasy | Spencer Gordon Bennet | George Reeves | |
42 | Cody of the Pony Express | 1950 | 15 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Jock O'Mahoney | |
43 | Atom Man vs. Superman | 1950 | 15 | Adventure Science Fiction |
Spencer Gordon Bennet | Kirk Alyn Lyle Talbot |
|
44 | Pirates of the High Seas | 1950 | 15 | Action Adventure Crime |
Spencer Gordon Bennet and Thomas Carr | Buster Crabbe | |
45 | Roar of the Iron Horse | 1951 | 15 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet and Thomas Carr | Jock O'Mahoney | |
46 | Mysterious Island | 1951 | 15 | Adventure Science Fiction Fantasy |
Spencer Gordon Bennet | Richard Crane | |
47 | Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere | 1951 | 15 | Adventure Horror Science Fiction |
Spencer Gordon Bennet | Judd Holdren | |
48 | King of the Congo | 1952 | 15 | Adventure Fantasy |
Spencer Gordon Bennet | Buster Crabbe | |
49 | Blackhawk | 1952 | 15 | Adventure Horror Science Fiction |
Spencer Gordon Bennet | Kirk Alyn | |
50 | Son of Geronimo | 1952 | 15 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Clay Moore | |
51 | The Lost Planet | 1953 | 15 | Horror Science fiction |
Spencer Gordon Bennet | Judd Holdren | |
52 | The Great Adventures of Captain Kidd | 1953 | 15 | Maritime | Derwin Abrahams and Charles S. Gould | Richard Crane | |
53 | Gunfighters of the Northwest | 1954 | 15 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Jack Mahoney | Filmed entirely outdoors. |
54 | Riding with Buffalo Bill | 1954 | 15 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Marshall Reed | |
55 | The Adventures of Captain Africa | 1955 | 15 | Superhero, Jungle | Spencer Gordon Bennet | John Hart | Aborted remake of the 1943 serial The Phantom. The film had already been completed when the producer learned that the studio no longer held the rights to the comic-strip character. Portions of the film were reshot, with actor John Hart wearing a more generic costume and "The Phantom" renamed "Captain Africa." |
56 | Perils of the Wilderness | 1956 | 15 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Dennis Moore | |
57 | Blazing the Overland Trail | 1956 | 15 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Dennis Moore | Last serial produced by any studio |
Mascot Pictures
Note: Mascot later became part of Republic (see below)
Number (All) | Number (Sound Only) | Serial title | Year | Chapters | Genre | Director | Cast | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Silent Serials | ||||||||
The Silent Flyer | 1926 | 10 | Adventure | William James Craft | Malcolm McGregor | Produced by W. Ray Johnston's Rayart studio. Its success directly led to the creation of Mascot Pictures. | ||
1 | Heroes of the Wild | 1927 | 10 | Western | Harry S. Webb | Jack Hoxie | The first film from Mascot Pictures. The film is considered to be lost. | |
2 | Isle of Sunken Gold | 1927 | 10 | Maritime | Harry S. Webb | Anita Stewart and Duke Kahanamoku | The film is considered to be lost. | |
3 | The Golden Stallion | 1927 | 10 | Western | Harry S. Webb | Lefty Flynn and Joe Bonomo | ||
4 | The Vanishing West | 1928 | 10 | Western | Richard Thorpe | Jack Perrin and Eileen Sedgwick | The film is considered to be lost. | |
5 | Vultures of the Sea | 1928 | 10 | Maritime | Richard Thorpe | Johnnie Walker & Shirley Mason | The film is considered to be lost. | |
6 | The Fatal Warning | 1929 | 10 | Mystery | Richard Thorpe | Helene Costello and Ralph Graves | The film is considered to be a lost film, with no prints known to exist. | |
Partial Sound Serials | ||||||||
7 | 1 | The King of the Kongo | 1929 | 10 | Jungle Fantasy |
Richard Thorpe | Jacqueline Logan & Walter Miller | The first serial, of any production company, with synchronized sound. Released in both silent and part-talking versions. |
All Sound Serials | ||||||||
8 | 2 | The Lone Defender | 1930 | 12 | Western | Richard Thorpe | Rin Tin Tin and Walter Miller | |
9 | 3 | The Phantom of the West | 1931 | 10 | Western | D. Ross Lederman | Tom Tyler and William Desmond | |
10 | 4 | King of the Wild | 1931 | 12 | Jungle | B. Reeves Eason and Richard Thorpe | Walter Miller and Boris Karloff | |
11 | 5 | The Vanishing Legion | 1931 | 12 | Western | Ford Beebe and B. Reeves Eason | Harry Carey and Frankie Darro | |
12 | 6 | The Galloping Ghost | 1931 | 12 | Sports, Crime | B. Reeves Eason | "Red" Grange | |
13 | 7 | The Lightning Warrior | 1931 | 12 | Western | Benjamin H. Kline and Armand Schaefer | Rin Tin Tin | |
14 | 8 | The Shadow of the Eagle | 1932 | 12 | Aviation | Ford Beebe and B. Reeves Eason | John Wayne | |
15 | 9 | The Last of the Mohicans | 1932 | 12 | Western | Ford Beebe and B. Reeves Eason | Harry Carey | |
16 | 10 | The Hurricane Express | 1932 | 12 | J.P. McGowan and Armand Schaefer | John Wayne | ||
17 | 11 | The Devil Horse | 1932 | 12 | Western | Otto Brower | Harry Carey andFrankie Darro | |
18 | 12 | The Whispering Shadow | 1933 | 12 | Crime, Thriller | Colbert Clark and Albert Herman | Bela Lugosi | |
19 | 13 | The Three Musketeers | 1933 | 12 | Colbert Clark and Armand Schaefer | John Wayne and Lon Chaney Jr. | ||
20 | 14 | Fighting with Kit Carson | 1933 | 12 | Western | Colbert Clark and Armand Schaefer | Johnny Mack Brown & Betsy King Ross | |
21 | 15 | The Wolf Dog | 1933 | 12 | Western | Colbert Clark and Harry L. Fraser | Rin Tin Tin and Frankie Darro | |
22 | 16 | The Mystery Squadron | 1933 | 12 | Aviation | Colbert Clark and David Howard | Bob Steele and Guinn "Big Boy" Williams | |
23 | 17 | The Lost Jungle | 1934 | 12 | Jungle | David Howard and Armand Schaefer | Clyde Beatty and Cecilia Parker | |
24 | 18 | Burn 'Em Up Barnes | 1934 | 12 | Sports, Crime | Colbert Clark and Armand Schaefer | Jack Mulhall and Frankie Darro | |
25 | 19 | The Law of the Wild | 1934 | 12 | Western | B. Reeves Eason and Armand Schaefer | Rin Tin Tin | |
26 | 20 | Mystery Mountain | 1934 | 12 | Western | Otto Brower and B. Reeves Eason | Ken Maynard | |
27 | 21 | The Phantom Empire | 1935 | 12 | Western Fantasy |
Otto Brower and B. Reeves Eason | Gene Autry | Originally intended for Ken Maynard. Autry took the leading role, and became a star. |
28 | 22 | The Miracle Rider | 1935 | 15 | Western | Otto Brower and B. Reeves Eason | Tom Mix & Charles Middleton | Only serial and final film of Tom Mix. |
29 | 23 | The Adventures of Rex and Rinty | 1935 | 12 | B. Reeves Eason and Ford Beebe | Rex and Rin Tin Tin | ||
30 | 24 | The Fighting Marines | 1935 | 12 | B. Reeves Eason and Joseph Kane | Grant Withers and Adrian Morris |
Pathé Exchange
Note: All of Pathé Exchange's serials were Silent
Number | Serial title | Year | Chapters | Genre | Director | Cast | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
With Wharton, Inc. | |||||||
1 | The Perils of Pauline | 1914 | 20 | Damsel in distress | Louis J. Gasnier and Donald MacKenzie | Pearl White | Also listed under Wharton Inc. |
2 | The Exploits of Elaine | 1914 | 14 | George B. Seitz | Pearl White | ||
3 | The New Exploits of Elaine | 1915 | 10 | Louis J. Gasnier, Leopold Wharton and Theodore Wharton | Pearl White | ||
4 | The Romance of Elaine | 1915 | 12 | George B. Seitz | Pearl White | Also listed under Wharton Inc. The film is considered to be lost. | |
With Astra Film Corporation | |||||||
5 | Pearl of the Army | 1916 | 15 | Damsel in distress | Edward José | Pearl White | Also listed under Astra Film Corporation |
6 | The Shielding Shadow | 1916 | 15 | Louis J. Gasnier and Donald MacKenzie | |||
7 | The Fatal Ring | 1917 | 20 | George B. Seitz | Pearl White | ||
8 | The Hidden Hand | 1917 | 15 | James Vincent | |||
9 | The Mystery of the Double Cross | 1917 | 15 | Louis J. Gasnier and William Parke | Mollie King | ||
10 | The Seven Pearls | 1917 | 15 | Louis J. Gasnier and Donald MacKenzie | |||
11 | Hands Up! | 1918 | 15 | Jungle | Louis J. Gasnier and James W. Horne | Ruth Roland | |
12 | The House of Hate | 1918 | 20 | George B. Seitz | Pearl White | ||
13 | The Adventures of Ruth | 1919 | 15 | Mystery | George Marshall | Ruth Roland | |
14 | Bound and Gagged | 1919 | 10 | George B. Seitz | |||
15 | The Lightning Raider | 1919 | 15 | George B. Seitz | Pearl White | ||
16 | Terror of the Range | 1919 | 7 | Western | Stuart Paton | ||
17 | The Tiger's Trail | 1919 | Robert Ellis, Louis J. Gasnier, and Paul Hurst | Ruth Roland | |||
18 | Daredevil Jack | 1920 | 15 | W.S. Van Dyke | |||
19 | The Phantom Foe | 1920 | 15 | Bertram Millhauser | |||
20 | Pirate Gold | 1920 | 10 | Maritime | George B. Seitz | ||
21 | The Third Eye | 1920 | 15 | James W. Horne | |||
22 | Trailed By Three | 1920 | 15 | Western | Perry N. Vekroff | ||
With Ruth Roland Serials | |||||||
23 | Ruth of the Rockies | 1920 | 15 | Western | George Marshall | Ruth Roland | Also listed under Ruth Roland Serials |
Pathé Exchange Only | |||||||
24 | The Avenging Arrow | 1921 | 15 | William Bowman and W.S. Van Dyke | Ruth Roland | ||
25 | Double Adventure | 1921 | 15 | W.S. Van Dyke | |||
26 | The Fortieth Door | 1924 | 10 | George B. Seitz | |||
27 | Galloping Hoofs | 1924 | 10 | Western | George B. Seitz | ||
28 | Into the Net | 1924 | 10 | George B. Seitz | |||
29 | Leatherstocking | 1924 | 10 | Western | George B. Seitz | ||
30 | Ten Scars Make a Man | 1924 | 10 | William Parke | |||
31 | The Way of a Man | 1924 | 10 | Western | George B. Seitz | ||
32 | The Green Archer | 1925 | 10 | Mystery | Spencer Gordon Bennet | ||
33 | The House Without a Key | 1925 | 10 | Mystery | Spencer Gordon Bennet | ||
34 | Idaho | 1925 | 10 | Western | Robert F. Hill | ||
35 | Sunken Silver | 1925 | 10 | Spencer Gordon Bennet | |||
36 | Wild West | 1925 | 10 | Western | Robert F. Hill | ||
37 | Play Ball | 1925 | 10 | Spencer Gordon Bennet | |||
38 | The Bar-C Mystery | 1926 | 10 | Western | Robert F. Hill | ||
39 | Casey of the Coast Guard | 1926 | 10 | Maritime | |||
40 | The Fighting Marine | 1926 | 10 | Gene Tunney | Spencer Gordon Bennet | ||
41 | Snowed In | 1926 | 10 | Spencer Gordon Bennet | |||
42 | The Crimson Flash | 1927 | 10 | Arch Heath | |||
43 | Hawk of the Hills | 1927 | 10 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Walter Miller and Allene Ray | |
44 | The Masked Menace | 1927 | 10 | Arch Heath | |||
45 | Melting Millions | 1927 | 10 | Spencer Gordon Bennet | |||
46 | On Guard | 1927 | 10 | Arch Heath | |||
47 | Eagle of the Night | 1928 | 10 | Aviation | James F. Fulton | ||
48 | The Man Without a Face | 1928 | 10 | Spencer Gordon Bennet | |||
49 | Mark of the Frog | 1928 | 10 | Arch Heath | |||
50 | The Terrible People | 1928 | 10 | Spencer Gordon Bennet | |||
51 | The Tiger's Shadow | 1928 | 10 | Spencer Gordon Bennet | |||
52 | The Yellow Cameo | 1928 | 10 | Spencer Gordon Bennet | |||
53 | The Black Book | 1929 | 10 | Walter Miller and Allene Ray | Spencer Gordon Bennet | ||
54 | The Fire Detective | 1929 | 10 | Gladys McConnell and Hugh Allan | Spencer Gordon Bennet | ||
55 | Queen of the Northwoods | 1929 | 10 | Northern | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Walter Miller |
Republic Pictures
Number | Serial title | Year | Chapters | Genre | Director | Cast | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Darkest Africa | 1936 | 15 | Jungle | B. Reeves Eason and Joseph Kane | Clyde Beatty | Semi-sequel to Mascot's The Lost Jungle. Reissued in 1949 as King of Jungleland. |
2 | Undersea Kingdom | 1936 | 12 | Fantasy | B. Reeves Eason and Joseph Kane | Ray Corrigan | |
3 | The Vigilantes Are Coming | 1936 | 12 | Western | Ray Taylor and Mack V. Wright | Robert Livingston and Kay Hughes | |
4 | Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island | 1936 | 14 | Maritime | Ray Taylor and Mack V. Wright | Ray Mala | |
5 | Dick Tracy | 1937 | 15 | Crime | Ray Taylor and Alan James | Ralph Byrd | Based on the comic strip "Dick Tracy" |
6 | The Painted Stallion | 1937 | 12 | Western | Ray Taylor, Alan James and William Witney | Ray Corrigan | |
7 | S.O.S. Coast Guard | 1937 | 12 | Maritime, Science fiction | Alan James and William Witney | Ralph Byrd and Bela Lugosi | |
8 | Zorro Rides Again | 1937 | 12 | Western | William Witney and John English | John Carroll | Based on "Zorro" created by Johnston McCulley |
9 | The Lone Ranger | 1938 | 15 | Western | William Witney and John English | Lee Powell | Based on the radio series The Lone Ranger |
10 | The Fighting Devil Dogs | 1938 | 12 | Science fiction | William Witney and John English | Lee Powell and Herman Brix | |
11 | Dick Tracy Returns | 1938 | 15 | Crime | William Witney and John English | Ralph Byrd | Based on the comic strip "Dick Tracy" |
12 | Hawk of the Wilderness | 1938 | 12 | Jungle | William Witney and John English | Herman Brix and Ray Mala | Based on the novel by William L. Chester |
13 | The Lone Ranger Rides Again | 1939 | 15 | Western | William Witney and John English | Robert Livingston | Based on the radio series The Lone Ranger |
14 | Daredevils of the Red Circle | 1939 | 12 | William Witney and John English | Charles Quigley, Herman Brix, and David Sharpe | ||
15 | Dick Tracy's G-Men | 1939 | 15 | Crime | William Witney and John English | Ralph Byrd and Phylis Isley | Based on the comic strip "Dick Tracy" |
16 | Zorro's Fighting Legion | 1939 | 12 | Western | William Witney and John English | Reed Hadley | Based on "Zorro" created by Johnston McCulley |
17 | Drums of Fu Manchu | 1940 | 15 | Yellow peril Mystery |
William Witney and John English | Henry Brandon | Based on Fu Manchu created by Sax Rohmer |
18 | Adventures of Red Ryder | 1940 | 12 | Western | William Witney and John English | Don "Red" Barry | Based on the comic strip "Red Ryder" |
19 | King of the Royal Mounted | 1940 | 12 | Northern | William Witney and John English | Allan Lane | Based on the comic strip "King of the Royal Mounted" |
20 | Mysterious Doctor Satan | 1940 | 15 | Superhero | William Witney and John English | Eduardo Ciannelli and Robert Wilcox | Originally intended as a Superman serial. First original Superhero film. |
21 | Adventures of Captain Marvel | 1941 | 12 | Superhero | William Witney and John English | Tom Tyler | Based on the Fawcett Comics character "Captain Marvel". First Superhero film based on a comic strip. |
22 | Jungle Girl | 1941 | 15 | Jungle | William Witney and John English | Frances Gifford | Based on Nyoka the Jungle Girl by Edgar Rice Burroughs |
23 | King of the Texas Rangers | 1941 | 12 | Western | William Witney and John English | Slingin' Sammy Baugh | |
24 | Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc. | 1941 | 15 | Crime | William Witney and John English | Ralph Byrd | Based on the comic strip "Dick Tracy" |
25 | Spy Smasher | 1942 | 12 | Spy, War | William Witney | Kane Richmond | Based on the Fawcett Comics character "Spy Smasher" |
26 | Perils of Nyoka | 1942 | 15 | Jungle Fantasy |
William Witney | Kay Aldridge and Clayton Moore | Loosely based on Nyoka the Jungle Girl by Edgar Rice Burroughs |
27 | King of the Mounties | 1942 | 12 | Northern | William Witney | Allan Lane | Based on the comic strip "King of the Royal Mounted" |
28 | G-Men vs The Black Dragon | 1943 | 15 | Spy, War | William Witney | Rod Cameron | |
29 | Daredevils of the West | 1943 | 12 | Western | John English | Allan Lane and Kay Aldridge | Unavailable until 2011; restored by the Serial Squadron |
30 | Secret Service in Darkest Africa | 1943 | 15 | Jungle | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Rod Cameron | Reissued in 1954 as Manhunt in the African Jungles |
31 | The Masked Marvel | 1943 | 12 | Superhero | Spencer Gordon Bennet | David Bacon | |
32 | Captain America | 1944 | 15 | Superhero | Elmer Clifton and John English | Dick Purcell | Very loosely based on the Timely Comics character "Captain America". Reissued in 1953 as Return of Captain America. |
33 | The Tiger Woman | 1944 | 12 | Jungle | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Linda Stirling | |
34 | Haunted Harbor | 1944 | 15 | Maritime Fantasy |
Spencer Gordon Bennet | Kane Richmond and Kay Aldridge | Based on the novel by Ewart Adamson. Reissued in 1951 as Pirates' Harbor. |
35 | Zorro's Black Whip | 1944 | 12 | Western, Superhero | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Linda Stirling | Based on "Zorro" created by Johnston McCulley |
36 | Manhunt of Mystery Island | 1945 | 15 | Pirate, Science fiction | Spencer Gordon Bennet | Linda Stirling | |
37 | Federal Operator 99 | 1945 | 12 | Crime | Spencer Gordon Bennet, Yakima Canutt, and Wallace Grissell | Marten Lamont | |
38 | The Purple Monster Strikes | 1945 | 15 | Science fiction | Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon | Dennis Moore and Linda Stirling | |
39 | The Phantom Rider | 1946 | 12 | Western | Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon | Robert Kent and Peggy Stewart | Reissued in 1954 as Ghost Riders of the West. |
40 | King of the Forest Rangers | 1946 | 12 | Adventure | Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon | ||
41 | Daughter of Don Q | 1946 | 12 | Crime | Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon | Kirk Alyn | |
42 | The Crimson Ghost | 1946 | 12 | Science fiction | William Witney and Fred C. Brannon | Clayton Moore and Linda Stirling | |
43 | Son of Zorro | 1947 | 13 | Western, Superhero | Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon | Based on "Zorro" created by Johnston McCulley | |
44 | Jesse James Rides Again | 1947 | 13 | Western | Fred C. Brannon | Clayton Moore and Linda Stirling | |
45 | The Black Widow | 1947 | 13 | Science fiction Fantasy |
Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon | Carol Forman | |
46 | G-Men Never Forget | 1948 | 12 | Crime | Fred C. Brannon | Clayton Moore and Ramsay Ames | |
47 | Dangers of the Canadian Mounted | 1948 | 12 | Northern | Fred C. Brannon | Jim Bannon | |
48 | Adventures of Frank and Jesse James | 1948 | 13 | Western | Fred C. Brannon | Clayton Moore | |
49 | Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc. | 1949 | 12 | Crime | Fred C. Brannon | Kirk Alyn | |
50 | Ghost of Zorro | 1949 | 12 | Western, Superhero | Fred C. Brannon | Clayton Moore | Based on "Zorro" created by Johnston McCulley |
51 | King of the Rocket Men | 1949 | 12 | Science fiction | Fred C. Brannon | Tristram Coffin | First of the "Rocket Man" serials |
52 | The James Brothers of Missouri | 1949 | 12 | Western | Fred C. Brannon | Keith Richards | |
53 | Radar Patrol vs. Spy King | 1949 | 12 | Spy | Fred C. Brannon | Kirk Alyn | |
54 | The Invisible Monster | 1950 | 12 | Science fiction | Fred C. Brannon | Richard Webb | |
55 | Desperadoes of the West | 1950 | 12 | Western | Fred C. Brannon | Tom Keene | |
56 | Flying Disc Man from Mars | 1950 | 12 | Science fiction | Fred C. Brannon | Walter Reed | |
57 | Don Daredevil Rides Again | 1951 | 12 | Western | Fred C. Brannon | Ken Curtis | Loosely based on "Zorro" created by Johnston McCulley |
58 | Government Agents vs. Phantom Legion | 1951 | 12 | Spy | Fred C. Brannon | Walter Reed | |
59 | Radar Men from the Moon | 1952 | 12 | Science fiction | Fred C. Brannon | George D. Wallace and Clayton Moore | |
60 | Zombies of the Stratosphere | 1952 | 12 | Science fiction | Fred C. Brannon | Judd Holdren and Leonard Nimoy | |
61 | Jungle Drums of Africa | 1953 | 12 | Jungle | Fred C. Brannon | Clay Moore and Phyllis Coates | |
N/A | Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe | 1953 | 12 | Science fiction | Harry Keller, Fred C. Brannon and Franklin Adreon | Judd Holdren, Aline Towne, and Richard Crane | A syndicated TV series of self-contained episodes (no cliffhangers) relying mostly on footage recycled from the three earlier (1949–1952) "Rocket Man" theatrical chapterplays. For contractual reasons, it was initially given a brief theatrical release as a feature before going to TV in 12 episodes. |
62 | Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders | 1953 | 12 | Northern, Spy | Franklin Adreon | Bill Henry | |
63 | Trader Tom of the China Seas | 1954 | 12 | Maritime | Franklin Adreon | Harry Lauter and Aline Towne | |
64 | Man with the Steel Whip | 1954 | 12 | Western | Franklin Adreon | Dick Simmons | Loosely based on "Zorro" created by Johnston McCulley |
65 | Panther Girl of the Kongo | 1955 | 12 | Jungle, Science fiction | Franklin Adreon | Phyllis Coates | |
66 | King of the Carnival | 1955 | 12 | Crime, Spy | Franklin Adreon | Harry Lauter |
Universal Pictures
Universal produced more serials (137) than any other company.
Number (All) | Number (Sound Only) | Serial title | Year | Chapters | Genre | Director | Cast | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Silent Serials | ||||||||
1 | Lucille Love, Girl of Mystery | 1914 | 15 | Francis Ford | Produced as Universal Film Manufacturing Co. | |||
2 | The Master Key | 1914 | 15 | Robert Z. Leonard | ||||
3 | The Trey o' Hearts | 1914 | 15 | Wilfred Lucas and Henry MacRae | ||||
4 | The Black Box | 1915 | 15 | Otis Turner | ||||
5 | The Broken Coin | 1915 | 22 | Mystery | Francis Ford | |||
6 | Graft | 1915 | 20 | George Lessey and Richard Stanton | ||||
7 | Under the Crescent | 1915 | 6 | Burton L. King | ||||
8 | The Adventures of Peg o' the Ring | 1916 | 15 | Francis Ford and Jacques Jaccard | ||||
9 | Liberty, A Daughter of the USA | 1916 | 20 | Western | Henry MacRae | |||
10 | The Mystery Ship | 1917 | 18 | Henry MacRae | ||||
11 | The Red Ace | 1917 | 16 | Jacques Jaccard | ||||
12 | The Gray Ghost | 1917 | 16 | Stuart Paton | ||||
13 | Voice on the Wire | 1917 | 15 | Stuart Paton | ||||
14 | The Brass Bullet | 1918 | 18 | Ben F. Wilson | ||||
15 | Bull's Eye | 1918 | 18 | James W. Horne | ||||
16 | The Lion's Claws | 1918 | 18 | Harry Harvey and Jacques Jaccard | ||||
17 | Lure of the Circus | 1918 | 18 | J.P. McGowan | ||||
18 | The Red Glove | 1918 | 18 | J.P. McGowan | ||||
19 | The Great Radium Mystery | 1919 | 18 | Mystery | Robert Broadwell and Robert F. Hill | |||
20 | The Lion Man | 1919 | 18 | Jungle | Albert Russell and Jack Wells | |||
21 | The Midnight Man | 1919 | 18 | James W. Horne | ||||
22 | The Flaming Disc | 1920 | Robert F. Hill | |||||
23 | The Moon Riders | 1920 | 18 | Western | B. Reeves Eason and Theodore Wharton | |||
24 | King of the Circus | 1920 | 18 | J.P. McGowan | ||||
25 | The Vanishing Dagger | 1920 | 18 | Edward A. Kull, John F. Magowan and Eddie Polo | ||||
26 | The Dragon's Net | 1920 | 12 | Henry MacRae | ||||
27 | The Diamond Queen | 1921 | 18 | Edward A. Kull | ||||
28 |
Do or Die | 1921 | 18 | J.P. McGowan | ||||
29 | The Secret Four | 1921 | 15 | Albert Russell and Perry N. Vekroff | ||||
30 | Terror Trail | 1921 | 18 | Western | Edward A. Kull | |||
31 | The White Horseman | 1921 | 18 | Western | Albert Russell | |||
32 | Winners of the West | 1921 | 13 | Western | Edward Laemmle | |||
33 | The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe | 1922 | 18 | Maritime | Robert F. Hill | |||
34 | In the Days of Buffalo Bill | 1922 | 18 | Maritime | Edward Laemmle | |||
35 | Perils of the Yukon | 1922 | 15 |
Northern |
Jay Marchant, J.P. McGowan and Perry N. Vekroff | |||
36 | The Radio King | 1922 | 10 | Robert F. Hill | ||||
37 | With Stanley in Africa | 1922 | 18 | Jungle | William James Craft and Edward A. Kull | |||
38 | Around the World in Eighteen Days | 1923 | 12 | Robert F. Hill and B. Reeves Eason | ||||
39 | Beasts of Paradise | 1923 | 15 | William James Craft | ||||
40 | The Eagle's Talons | 1923 | 15 | Duke Worne | ||||
41 | The Ghost City | 1923 | 15 | Western | Jay Marchant | |||
42 | In the Days of Daniel Boone | 1923 | 15 | Western | William James Craft | |||
43 | The Oregon Trail | 1923 | 18 | Western | Edward Laemmle | |||
44 | The Phantom Fortune | 1923 | 12 | Robert F. Hill | ||||
45 | The Social Buccaneer | 1923 | 10 | Maritime | Robert F. Hill | |||
46 | The Steel Trail | 1923 | 15 | William Duncan | ||||
47 | The Fast Express | 1924 | 15 | William Duncan | ||||
48 | The Fighting Ranger | 1924 | 18 | Western | Jay Marchant | |||
49 | The Iron Man | 1924 | 15 | Jay Marchant | ||||
50 | The Riddle Rider | 1924 | 15 | Western | William James Craft | |||
51 | Wolves of the North | 1924 | 10 | Western | William Duncan | |||
52 | Ace of Spades | 1925 | 15 | Western | Henry MacRae | |||
53 | The Great Circus Mystery | 1925 | 15 | Jay Marchant | ||||
54 | The Scarlet Streak | 1926 | 10 | Henry MacRae | ||||
55 | Fighting With Buffalo Bill | 1926 | 10 | Western | Ray Taylor | |||
56 | Strings of Steel | 1926 | 10 | Henry MacRae | ||||
57 | The Winking Idol | 1926 | 10 | Western | Francis Ford | |||
58 | Blake of Scotland Yard | 1927 | 12 | Robert F. Hill | ||||
59 | The Fire Fighters | 1927 | 10 | Jacques Jaccard | ||||
60 | The Return of the Riddle Rider | 1927 | 10 | Robert F. Hill | ||||
61 | The Trail of the Tiger | 1927 | 10 | Henry MacRae | ||||
62 | Whispering Smith Rides | 1927 | 10 | Western | Ray Taylor | |||
63 | Haunted Island | 1928 | 10 | Fantasy | Robert F. Hill | |||
64 | Tarzan the Mighty | 1928 | 15 | Jungle Fantasy |
Ray Taylor and Jack Nelson | |||
65 | The Vanishing Rider | 1928 | 12 | Western | Ray Taylor | |||
66 | The Diamond Master | 1929 | 10 | Jack Nelson | ||||
67 | A Final Reckoning | 1929 | 12 | Western | Ray Taylor | |||
68 | The Pirate of Panama | 1929 | 12 | Maritime | Ray Taylor | |||
Partial Sound Serials | ||||||||
69 | 1 | The Ace of Scotland Yard | 1929 | 10 | Mystery | Ray Taylor | ||
70 | 2 | Tarzan the Tiger | 1929 | 15 | Jungle Fantasy |
Henry MacRae | ||
71 | 3 | The Jade Box | 1930 | 10 | Mystery Fantasy |
Ray Taylor | ||
72 | 4 | The Lightning Express | 1930 | 10 | Western | Henry MacRae | ||
73 | 5 | Terry of the Times | 1930 | 10 | Henry MacRae | |||
All Sound Serials | ||||||||
74 | 6 | The Indians are Coming! | 1930 | 12 | Western | Henry MacRae | Tim McCoy | |
75 | 7 | Finger Prints | 1931 | 10 | Ray Taylor | |||
76 | 8 | Heroes of the Flames | 1931 | 12 | Tim McCoy | Robert F. Hill | ||
77 | 9 | Danger Island | 1931 | 12 | Jungle | Ray Taylor | ||
78 | 10 | Battling with Buffalo Bill | 1931 | 12 | Western | Ray Taylor | ||
79 | 11 | The Spell of the Circus | 1931 | 12 | Robert F. Hill | |||
80 | 12 | Detective Lloyd | 1932 | 12 | Crime | Ray Taylor and Henry MacRae | Jack Lloyd | |
81 | 13 | The Airmail Mystery | 1932 | 12 | Aviation | Ray Taylor | James Flavin | |
82 | 14 | Heroes of the West | 1932 | 12 | Western | Ray Taylor | Noah Beery Jr. | |
83 | 15 | Jungle Mystery | 1932 | 12 | Jungle | Ray Taylor | ||
84 | 16 | The Lost Special | 1932 | 12 | Western | Henry MacRae | ||
85 | 17 | Clancy of the Mounted | 1933 | 12 | Northern | Ray Taylor | ||
86 | 18 | The Phantom of the Air | 1933 | 12 | Aviation | Ray Taylor | ||
87 | 19 | Gordon of Ghost City | 1933 | 12 | Western | Ray Taylor | Buck Jones | |
88 | 20 | The Perils of Pauline | 1933 | 12 | Damsel in distress | Ray Taylor | Evalyn Knapp | |
89 | 21 | Pirate Treasure | 1934 | 12 | Maritime | Ray Taylor | Richard Talmadge | |
90 | 22 | The Vanishing Shadow | 1934 | 12 | Science fiction | Louis Friedlander | Onslow Stevens | |
91 | 23 | The Red Rider | 1934 | 15 | Western | Louis Friedlander | Buck Jones | |
92 | 24 | Tailspin Tommy | 1934 | 12 | Aviation | Louis Friedlander | Maurice Murphy | |
93 | 25 | Rustlers of Red Dog | 1935 | 12 | Western | Louis Friedlander | Johnny Mack Brown | |
94 | 26 | The Call of the Savage | 1935 | 12 | Jungle Fantasy |
Louis Friedlander | Noah Beery Jr. | |
95 | 27 | The Roaring West | 1935 | 15 | Western | Ray Taylor | Buck Jones | |
96 | 28 | Tailspin Tommy in the Great Air Mystery | 1935 | 12 | Aviation | Ray Taylor | Clark Williams | |
97 | 29 | The Adventures of Frank Merriwell | 1936 | 12 | Sports | Ford Beebe and Clifford Smith | Don Briggs | |
98 | 30 | Flash Gordon | 1936 | 13 | Superhero\Science fiction | Frederick Stephani | Buster Crabbe | Landmark serial,[1] exceptionally popular in theaters and revived for years thereafter |
99 | 31 | The Phantom Rider | 1936 | 15 | Western | Ray Taylor | Buck Jones | |
100 | 32 | Ace Drummond | 1936 | 15 | Aviation | Ford Beebe and Clifford Smith | John King | |
101 | 33 | Jungle Jim | 1937 | 12 | Jungle | Ford Beebe and Clifford Smith | Grant Withers, Betty Jane Rhodes, Raymond Hatton, Evelyn Brent | |
102 | 34 | Secret Agent X-9 | 1937 | 12 | Superhero/Spy | Ford Beebe and Clifford Smith | Scott Kolk | |
103 | 35 | Wild West Days | 1937 | 13 | Western | Ford Beebe and Clifford Smith | Johnny Mack Brown | |
104 | 36 | Radio Patrol | 1937 | 12 | Crime | Ford Beebe and Clifford Smith | Grant Withers | |
105 | 37 | Tim Tyler's Luck | 1937 | 12 | Superhero/Jungle | Ford Beebe and Wyndham Gittens | Frankie Thomas | |
106 | 38 | Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars | 1938 | 15 | Superhero/Science fiction | Frederick Stephani | Buster Crabbe | |
107 | 39 | Flaming Frontiers | 1938 | 15 | Western | Alan James and Ray Taylor | Johnny Mack Brown | |
108 | 40 | Red Barry | 1938 | 13 | Alan James | Buster Crabbe | ||
109 | 41 | Scouts to the Rescue | 1939 | 12 | Juvenile | Alan James and Ray Taylor | Jackie Cooper | |
110 | 42 | Buck Rogers | 1939 | 12 | Superhero/Science fiction | Ford Beebe and Saul A. Goodkind | Buster Crabbe | |
111 | 43 | The Oregon Trail | 1939 | 15 | Western | Ford Beebe and Saul A. Goodkind | Johnny Mack Brown | |
112 | 44 | The Phantom Creeps | 1939 | 12 | Science fiction | Ford Beebe and Saul A. Goodkind | Bela Lugosi | |
113 | 45 | The Green Hornet | 1940 | 13 | Crime/Superhero | Ray Taylor and Ford Beebe | Gordon Jones | |
114 | 46 | Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe | 1940 | 12 | Superhero/Science fiction | Ray Taylor and Ford Beebe | Buster Crabbe | |
115 | 47 | Winners of the West | 1940 | 13 | Western | Ray Taylor and Ford Beebe | Dick Foran, Anne Nagel | |
116 | 48 | Junior G-Men | 1940 | 12 | Crime | John Rawlins and Ford Beebe | The Dead End Kids | |
117 | 49 | The Green Hornet Strikes Again! | 1941 | 15 | Crime/Superhero | John Rawlins and Ford Beebe | Warren Hull | |
118 | 50 | Sky Raiders | 1941 | 12 | Aviation | Ray Taylor and Ford Beebe | Billy Halop, Donald Woods | |
119 | 51 | Riders of Death Valley | 1941 | 15 | Western | Ray Taylor and Ford Beebe | Dick Foran, Buck Jones | |
120 | 52 | Sea Raiders | 1941 | 12 | Maritime | Ray Taylor and Ford Beebe | The Dead End Kids | |
121 | 53 | Don Winslow of the Navy | 1942 | 12 | Maritime | Ray Taylor and Ford Beebe | Don Terry | |
122 | 54 | Gang Busters | 1942 | 13 | Crime | Ray Taylor and Noel M. Smith | Kent Taylor, Ralph Morgan | |
123 | 55 | Junior G-Men of the Air | 1942 | 12 | Aviation | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | The Dead End Kids | |
124 | 56 | Overland Mail | 1942 | 15 | Western | John Rawlins and Ford Beebe | Lon Chaney Jr. | |
125 | 57 | The Adventures of Smilin' Jack | 1943 | 13 | Aviation | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Tom Brown and Keye Luke | |
126 | 58 | Don Winslow of the Coast Guard | 1943 | 13 | Maritime | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Don Terry | |
127 | 59 | Adventures of the Flying Cadets | 1943 | 13 | Aviation | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Johnny Downs, Billy Benedict | Intended for the Dead End Kids. |
128 | 60 | The Great Alaskan Mystery | 1944 | 13 | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Milburn Stone | ||
129 | 61 | Raiders of Ghost City | 1944 | 13 | Western | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Dennis Moore | |
130 | 62 | Mystery of the River Boat | 1944 | 13 | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Robert Lowery, Eddie Quillan | ||
131 | 63 | Jungle Queen | 1945 | 13 | Jungle | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Edward Norris, Eddie Quillan | |
132 | 64 | The Master Key | 1945 | 13 | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Milburn Stone, Dennis Moore | ||
133 | 65 | Secret Agent X-9 | 1945 | 13 | Spy | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Lloyd Bridges | |
134 | 66 | The Royal Mounted Rides Again | 1945 | 13 | Northern | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Bill Kennedy, Milburn Stone | |
135 | 67 | The Scarlet Horseman | 1946 | 13 | Western | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Paul Guilfoyle | |
136 | 68 | Lost City of the Jungle | 1946 | 13 | Jungle | Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins | Lionel Atwill, Keye Luke | |
137 | 69 | The Mysterious Mr. M | 1946 | 13 | Science fiction | Lewis D. Collins and Vernon Keays | Dennis Moore |
Minor studios
These studios produced only small numbers of serials. They were either small, independent studios themselves or major studios not interested in the serial market.
See also
References
- ^ Buehner, R. James (2016). "I Warn You Ming, Stay Away from My Friends!": The Language of Superhero Mythology in Flash Gordon (Master's thesis). Cleveland State University.