1944 - Captain America - KayLing88 Entertainment Review

Publication Information

Title : Captain America
Version : 1944
Label : Episod
Directed by :
- Elmer Clifton
- John English
Produced by : William J O'Sullivan
Written by Story :
- Royal Cole
- Harry Fraser
- Joseph Poland
- Ronald Davidson
- Basil Dickey
- Jesse Duffy
- Grant Nelson
Character:
- Jack Kirby
- Joe Simon
Music by : Mort Glickman
Cinematography : John MacBurnie
Special effects : The Lydecker brothers
Edited by :
- Wallace Grissell
- Earl Turner
Distributed by : Republic Pictures
Release date :
- February 5, 1944 (U.S. serial)
- September 30, 1953 (U.S. re-release)
Running time : 15 chapters / 243 minutes
Country : United States
Language : English

Captain America is a 1944 Republic black-and-white serial film loosely based on the Timely Comics (today known as Marvel Comics) character Captain America. It was the last Republic serial made about a superhero. It also has the distinction of being the most expensive serial that Republic ever made. It also stands as the first theatrical release connected to a Marvel character; the next theatrical release featuring a Marvel hero would not occur for more than 40 years.

Plot

A rash of suspicious suicides among scientists and businessmen, all found holding a small scarab, gets the attention of Mayor Randolph. He demands that Police Commissioner Dryden and District Attorney Grant Gardner get to the bottom of the case, while openly wishing that Captain America, a masked man who has helped defeat crime in the past, were around to solve the mystery. Gail Richards, Grant Gardner's secretary, investigates and realizes someone knows of the "Purple Death", a hypnotic chemical responsible for the suicides. However he then pulls out a gun and takes her into another room. He then orders an associate to tie her up. The D.A. realizes she is there and forces the man to take him to her. He finds her tied up and gagged. He frees her but it is threatened that the purple death will be dropped killing them all. But the D.A. shoots him then gets out of the room with Gail.

Cast