Classic serials from the 30s and 40s.

[Gorn Captain]

I always wanted to check these out, and I was wondering which serials would be most entertaining to watch?
I know that as kid my Dad liked Flash Gordon (no surprise there), but I've read about others like Spy Smasher, Spider's Web, Fighting Devil Dogs, etc.
So, any recommendations?

I once picked up a couple of (bootleg) DVDs, but they seemed like really bad copies of 9th generation VHS tapes. I could hardly make out the images and voices.
Are there any clean (and hopefully legal) DVDs of these serials out there?

[raider5gt]

I used to watch the Buster Crabbe Flash Gordon when I was a kid and want to get them on dvd at some point.

Yes they have the Flash Gordon serials on Play.com Rik but I don't know about the other serials.

[HardyGirl]

Wasn't there one called Captain Midnight?

[Marvelmania]

The old 1940s Captain America serial is a good one!

[thunderbolt]

I'm more of a 40's and 50's serial guy myself. Radar Men From the Moon, Zombies of the Stratosphere, the two Batman and Superman serials, The Secret Code, Captain Marvel, The Purple Monster Strikes, the Masked Marvel, The Phantom. A lot of them can be found on Youtube for free. Or shop here: http://www.serialsandsuch.com/ Great seller and great products.

[thunderbolt]

Phantom complete:

[monitor_ep]

There are so many comic book serials to choose from:
Phantom/Captain Africa
The Spider
Blackhawk
Captain America
Captain Marvel
Lone Ranger
Spy Smasher
Dick Tracy
Tarzan
Superman
Batman & Robin
Captain Midnight
The Shadow
Jungle Jim
Zorro
Green Hornet
Undersea Kingdom

[torgospizza]

If you don't mind silent serials, check out The Son of Tarzan. It's actually extremely well done for its time. Kamuela Searle is an excellent Korak, although P. Dempsey Tabler is kind of a joke as Tarzan. Fortunately, it's mainly about Korak, Meriem, and Akut and it follows the novel surprisingly well.

[StrangeVisitor]

I wonder if this DC comics character was really that well known to 1940's movie-going public:





Don't forget this Misfits favorite:

[johnnystorm]

I always like Spy Smasher, Captain Marvel, and another good one is Nyoka and the Tiger Men.

[Mego MkIV]

They run these on TCM sometimes I've seen Ace Drummond,Zorro and Flash Gordon.There's also one called The Green Archer.

[Gorn Captain]

Does anyone have these on DVD, and if so, which company released them?
I don't want to pick another copy with grainy scratched-up images. I'm not expecting state-of-the-art Blu Ray quality, just something I can actually watch...

[Earth 2 Chris]

^I have the first two Flash Gordons on DVD. I'll have to see who released them. They are a lot of fun, and Crabbe is pitch-perfect casting as Flash.

Vigilante probably got a serial because they had a lot of cowboy hats lying around at the moment.

DC aviator Hop Harrigan got a serial as well (and a radio show!).

I REALLY need to watch the Captain Marvel serial. I have yet to see it in it's entirety. I passed it up on DVD at an FYE for years it seemed, thinking I'd find one cheaper. Never did.

Chris

[bobws]

Check out AC Comics Website, they also have the rights (i Believe) and sell the DVD's of alot of old serials.
Enjoy

[thunderbolt]

Does anyone have these on DVD, and if so, which company released them?
I don't want to pick another copy with grainy scratched-up images. I'm not expecting state-of-the-art Blu Ray quality, just something I can actually watch...

The link I posted has mostly good quality stuff and much more affordable than most others. I've gotten Captain America, The Phantom and all the Commando Cody's from him and all are good watchable copies.