The Masked Marvel

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The Masked Marvel
Directed by	Spencer Gordon Bennet
Produced by	William J. O'Sullivan
Written by	Royal K. Cole Ronald Davidson Basil Dickey Grant Nelson George H. Plympton Joseph F. Polland
Starring	William Forrest Louise Currie Johnny Arthur Richard Clarke Anthony Warde David Bacon
Cinematography	Reggie Lanning
Distributed by	Republic Pictures
Release date(s)	1943
Running time	197 min (12 episodes)
IMDb profile

The Masked Marvel (1943) was a 12 chapter film serial created by Republic Pictures, who produced many of the best known of the serials.

[edit] Plot

In it the Marvel, a hero dressed in a business suit and a face mask, fights the Japanese saboteur Sakima. The hook of the story is that, in a reversal of the common serial "Masked Mystery Villain" stock character, the audience doesn't know who the hero is until the final reel.

The Masked Marvel was a ‘jinx’ role. Bacon got the role because four previous actors had injured themselves and were unable to work. While filming one of the serial’s big fight scenes, every actor but Bacon was seriously injured. "I’ll probably get hurt going home in the car," he had joked. He was murdered and found in his car just after the production of the series had been completed.

[edit] Cast

William Forrest as Martin Crane
Louise Currie as Alice Hamilton
Johnny Arthur as Mura Sakima
Rod Bacon as Jim Arnold
Richard Clarke as Frank Jeffers
Anthony Warde as 'Killer' Mace
David Bacon as Bob Barton
Bill Healy as Terry Morton
Howard C Hickman as Warren Hamilton

[edit] Chapter list

1. The Masked Crusader
2. Death Takes the Helm
3. Dive to Doom
4. Suspense at Midnight
5. Murder Meter
6. Exit to Eternity
7. Doorway to Destruction
8. Destined to Die
9. Danger Express
10. Suicide Sacrifice
11. The Fatal Mistake
12. The Man Behind the Mask

Preceded by Secret Service in Darkest Africa (1943)

Republic Serial The Masked Marvel (1943)

Succeeded by Captain America (1944)