Lost Universal Serials

[Jerry Blake]

As suggested, I'm reposting this, which I originally put in the Collection and Preservation section:

VCI has recently announced that it has licensed the original materials for most of Universal's serials, and will be putting them on DVD; some of these will be upgrades of previous VCI DVD releases, and some will be seeing DVD for the first time. Tom Weaver has posted about it here:

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/monster ... 72870.html

Even more recently, VCI has made the following announcement, which Tom has also posted at the CHFB, and which I am sharing in full here, for the benefit of any serial buffs on the board:

VCI wants the opinion of the Classic Horror Film Board: "How much interest IS there in Lost Universal Serials -- complete AND incomplete?"

It would cost VCI a pretty penny, but they CAN get from Universal, in addition to all the serials they ARE getting, these super-oldies:

FINGER PRINTS – 10 chapters
HEROES OF THE FLAMES – 12 chapters
DANGER ISLAND – 12 chapters
DETECTIVE LLOYD – 12 chapters
THE AIRMAIL MYSTERY – 12 chapters
JUNGLE MYSTERY – 12 chapters

Then, too, they can get these INCOMPLETE serials:

THE JADE BOX – Universal has 4 complete chapters out of 10
LIGHTNING EXPRESS - 3 complete chapters out of 10
TERRY OF THE TIMES - 7 complete chapters out of 10
SPELL OF THE CIRCUS - 2 complete chapters out of 10
CLANCY OF THE MOUNTED - 10 complete chapters out of 12

Part of the email I received from VCI honcho Robert Blair:
<< Do you think there is any value to releasing these incomplete serials? We did really pretty well when we released BRENDA STARR a few years ago. It was mostly complete, but missing sound on one chapter and picture on another, plus there was nitrate decomp sporadically. <<

He continues:

<< I think everything that can be saved and mastered, should. I have been thinking of maybe trying to do a Kickstarter, or Go Fund Me campaign, to at the least, raise the money to do the mastering, restoring and authoring, but I have never done one of those. Maybe I’d start with just the complete serials. <<

How much support would WE (the CHFB) provide?

If any CHFBers contribute to serial message boards, perhaps they could post these lists there, and then report the reaction.

I'll add some comments of my own, pointing out aspects of these titles that might be of particular interest here at Nitrateville: Danger Island and Finger Prints contain the final starring turns of silent-era leading man Kenneth Harlan; Danger Island also has Andy Devine in his first major role, as Harlan's sidekick. Detective Lloyd was shot in England by Universal's serial production personnel, but with an all-British cast; it's on the BFI's 75-most-wanted Lost Film list. Jungle Mystery stars Tom Tyler, Cecilia Parker, and Noah Beery Jr., while Clancy of the Mounted has both Tyler and Jacqueline Wells--later known as Julie Bishop. The Airmail Mystery stars future character actor James Flavin as the hero, and also has Walter Brennan in a supporting-villain role, with Wheeler Oakman as the principal heavy.

[cuzzoni]

I would love to see these serials - I think the incomplete serials would be great as bonuses, could be spread among the various other complete sets.

Jungle Mystery was shown at Cinecon a few years back. Lots of fun, but I would buy other sets first.

cb

[jcp7701]

I had read about the restoration of Heroes of the Flames and possible existence of one of the serials starring Kenneth Harlan, but had no idea the others were extant, or partially so.

I would certainly contribute so that at least some of these would become available. That "golden age of serials" fixation from 1936-45 is so over-rated. I've derived much more enjoyment from silent and early talking serials.

[ClayKing]

Lightning Express and Jade Box are my holy grails. They were synched silents with substantially original scores. I've seen still books of them at Julliard and they looked intriguing. Lightning Express was based on the novel Whispering Smith Rides and from the stills seemed to be aimed at a more adult audience rather that the matinee crowd. Jade Box had elements of mysticism, with Eastern yogis. I'd certainly donate for these or the other early ones.

[rodney4130]

I'm pretty excited that this is happening. I'm probably on board for all of these titles. I think those that are complete will be solid sellers, at least until some joker puts them on YouTube.

[MaryGH]

I am very happy to hear "Phantom of the Air" in on VCI's list - "Jungle Mystery" is probable, and "Clancy of the Mounted" - sounds like Universal has 10 of the 12 chapters but soon after receiving an email from Mr. Blair, informed him that BFI has all 12 chapters of Clancy.

This is very wonderful news for me personally, and of course for Tom Tyler.