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Rating:  -
VCI Entertainment and Mascot Pictures present "Mystery Mountain" (1934) (Dolby digitally remastered), with 12 Chapters of vintage serial episodes jam packed with hard riding and thrilling action sequences and stunts that will keep you on the edge of your seat...story opens with Ken Williams (Ken Maynard) working undercover to discover the real identity of the mysterious and stop at nothing villain known as "The Rattler"....is Jane Corwin (Verna Hillie) in danger of losing her transportation company along with the railroads right of way through Mystery Mountain...will the Rattler (Menace of the Mountain) be able to keep those disguises intact throwing off our hero and the crew of railroad workers...is there a cave where the rattler hides with his gang protecting the secret gold that lie beneath the mountain...has Breezy (Syd Saylor) snapped a picture of the Rattler which will expose his true identity, can Ken Williams impersonate the Rattler and fool his men and gain the information to break this serial wide open...can this Mascot Serial keep the action, daring stunt-work and an exciting cliffhanger going the entire serial....don't leave the theater until the final chapter is over and done with "The Judgement of Tarzan"....just remember double thrills, chills, mystery and suspense hitting the bull's eye with excitement everytime...don't miss a single spine thrilling episode..return next week to this local theater for another episode of action and adventure that will keep you thrilled until the next chapter.
Under director's Otto Brower and B. Reeves Eason, producer Nat Levine, supervising editor Wyndham Gittens, Original story by Sherman Lowe, Ben Cohn, Barney Sarecky and Breezy Eason, musical score by Lee Zahler...the cast includes Ken Maynard (Ken Williams), Tarzan ( Tarzan-Ken's horse), Verna Hillie (Jane Corwin), Syd Saylor (Breezy Baker), Edward Earle (Frank Blayden), Hooper Hatchley (Dr. Edwards), Edward Hearn (Lake), Al Bridge (Tom Henderson), Lafe McKee (Jim Corwin), Gene Autry (Thomas, Lake teamster), Smiley Burnette (Lake teamster), Edmund Cobb (The Rattler when masked), Bob Kortman (Hank-rattler henchman), George Chesebro (Anderson-rattler henchman), Tom London (Morgan-rattler henchman), Lew Meehan (Red-rattler henchman), Lynton Brent (Matthews), Carmencita Johnson (Little Jane Corwin), Wally Wales (Corwin Company board member), Jack Rockwell (Corwin Company board member), William Gould (Corwin Company board member), Phila McCullough (Chase), Art Mix (henchman), Dick Dickinson (henchman), Al Haskell (henchman), Pascale Perry (henchman), Jack Kirk (henchman)....special footnote, this is a cast of veteran character actors from the "Who's Who B-Western Library", with Al Bridge, George Chesbro, Edmund Cobb, Edward Earle, Hooper Hatchley, Edward Hearn, Jack Kirk, Bob Kortman, Tom London, Lafe McKee, Lew Meehan, Jack Rockwell and Wally Wales the list could go on with decades of films under their belt...and how about radio star Gene Autry, America's Favorite Singing Cowboy and his comical sidekick Smiley Burnette appearing in the early cliffhanger "The Phantom Empire" (1935), this was the beginning of a beautiful partnership between Autry and Burnette....meanwhile back to our Mascot Serial which is always good till the last drop and this serial is no exception...there is a great deal of entertainment here for the cliffhanger fans out there...all courtesy of VCI Entertainment, who in my humble opinion is the best there is in restoring early serials and features.
CHAPTER TITLES:
1. The Rattler
2. The Man Nobody Knows
3. The Eye That Never Sleeps
4. The Human Target
5. Phantom Outlaws
6. The Perfect Crime
7. Tarzan the Cunning
8. The Enemy's Stronghold
9. The Fatal Warning
10.The Secret of the Mountain
11.Behind the Mask
12.The Judgement of Tarzan
BIOS:
1. Ken Maynard
Birth Date: 7/21/1895 - Vevay, Indiana
Died: 3/23/1973 - Woodland Hills, California
2. Verna Hillie
Birth Date: 5/05/1914 - Hancock, Michigan
Died: 10/03/1997 - Fairfield, Connecticut,
3. Syd Saylor
Birth Date: 3/24/1895 - Chicago, Illinois
Died: 12/21/1962 - Hollywood, California
4. B. Reeves Eason (Director)
Birth Date: 10/02/1886 - New York, New York
Died: 6/09/1956 - Sherman Oaks, California,
5. Otto Brower (Director)
Birth Date: 12/02/1895 - Grand Rapids, Michigan
Died: 1/25/1946 - Hollywood, California
If you're into vintage serials as I am, why not pick up a copy of the following titles from VCI Home Video:
VCI CLIFFHANGER TRAILERS:
1. Buck Rogers (Buster Crabbe)
2. Adventures of the Flying Cadets (Bobby Jordan)
3. Drums of Fu Manchu (Henry Brandon)
4. Jungle Girl (Frances Gifford)
5. The Phantom (Tom Tyler)
6. Zane Greys "King of the Royal Mounted" (Allan "Rocky" Lane)
7. Secret Agent X-9 (1945) (Lloyd Bridges & Keye Luke)
8. Adventures of Red Ryder (Don "Red" Barry)
9. Secret Agent X-9 (1937) (Scott Kolk & Henry Brandon)
10.Zorro's Cliffhanger Collection (Reed Hadley, John Carroll & Linda Stirling)
11.Dick Tracy's G-Men (Ralph Byrd)
12.Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (Buster Crabbe)
13.Jungle Jim (Grant Withers & Raymond Hatton)
14.Miracle Rider (Tom Mix & Tony Jr)
If you crave action, drama and plenty of adventure then this is the place for all of the above...check out another release from VCI Entertainment and Republic Pictures present Zane Grey's "King of the Royal Mounted" (1940) (digitally remastered), 12 Chapters of vintage serial loaded with action sequences...is there a discovered substance called "Compound X", which may cure infantile paralysis...has Tom Merritt stumbled on such a rare find...is there a war between Canada and sources known later as the "Father Land".....get out there as they're going fast, this is the one you've been waiting for.
Great job by VCI Entertainment for releasing "Mystery Mountain" (1934), the digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '30s, '40s & '50s...order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment where there are plenty of copies available on VHS, stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with deadly adventure from the "King of Serials" VCI...just the way we like 'em
Total Time: 223 mins on 2 VHS ~ VCI Entertainment 1739 ~ (11/01/2000)
Rating: -
Ken Maynard, the star of this serial, took a hand in both the producing and directing of "Mystery Mountain". He rounded up every available cowboy actor he could find to staff it. Even Gene Autry and superstar comedy-singing-sidekick Smiley Burnett have small roles. If you fancy yourself an expert on the old black & white matinee westerns, I'll bet you can identify 20 to 30 of the men who played the bad men, stage drivers, and cowhands in hundreds of the wonderful old films.
A few of the good guys are good guys include Jim Carey, Al Bridge, Hal Telifino, Jack Rockwell, Gene Autry, and Smiley Burnett. The homely outlaws include Bob Kortman, Lou Meehan, Tom London, George Chesebro, and many more.
Ken Maynard combined the charm and good looks of John Wayne with the stunt riding ability of Yakima Canutt (the best ever cowboy stuntman). Maynard was a professional stunt rider before becoming a silent movie star, and easily made the transition to talkies. Only Maynard was able to compete on equal terms with both Tom Mix in the silents and John Wayne in the talkies. Ken was so muscular and bowlegged, and had such damaged knees that he could hardly run.
The beautiful Verna Hille plays second fiddle to Ken Maynard's only true love, his horse Tarzan. Modern movie goers remember Trigger, but Tarzan was certainly the most talented horse in the movies and the most loved by his owner, Ken Maynard.
This was the highest grossing western serial ever released. It was meant for matinee audiences, which were mostly kids. So expect a kids' film.
I see than Amazon also carries "Six Shootin' Sheriff." It was one of Ken's last pictures and a favorite of mine. Ken has to clean out 3 tough outlaw gangs and makes the supreme sacrifice. He has to pass of a piece of pie made by his girl, Miss Mollie. He's afraid it'll slow him down too much, because bad man Earl Dwire is waiting to gun him down in front of the saloon.
"Two Gun Man" is another great Maynard movie. If you're a handgun shooter, you'll love the insane way Ken's partner teaches some cowhands how to shoot. Don't miss this one.
"In Old Santa Fe." is also not only real good but real famous. Maynard is teamed with Gabbie Hayes; and Gene Autry and Smiley Burnett make their first singing appearance in the movies. This wasn't the first western with a song or two but it was the western that paved the way for Gene, Roy Rogers, Rex Allen, and all the rest
Rating: -
Ken Maynard, the star of this serial, took a hand in both the producing and directing of "Mystery Mountain". He rounded up every available cowboy actor he could find to staff it. Even Gene Autry and superstar comedy-singing-sidekick Smiley Burnett have small roles. If you fancy yourself an expert on the old black & white matinee westerns, I'll bet you can identify 20 to 30 of the men who played the bad men, stage drivers, and cowhands in hundreds of the wonderful old films.
A few of the good guys are good guys include Jim Carey, Al Bridge, Hal Telifino, Jack Rockwell, Gene Autry, and Smiley Burnett. The homely outlaws include Bob Kortman, Lou Meehan, Tom London, George Chesebro, and many more.
Ken Maynard combined the charm and good looks of John Wayne with the stunt riding ability of Yakima Canutt (the best ever cowboy stuntman). Maynard was a professional stunt rider before becoming a silent movie star, and easily made the transition to talkies. Only Maynard was able to compete on equal terms with both Tom Mix in the silents and John Wayne in the talkies. Ken was so muscular and bowlegged, and had such damaged knees that he could hardly run.
The beautiful Verna Hille plays second fiddle to Ken Maynard's only true love, his horse Tarzan. Modern movie goers remember Trigger, but Tarzan was certainly the most talented horse in the movies and the most loved by his owner, Ken Maynard.
This was the highest grossing western serial ever released. It was meant for matinee audiences, which were mostly kids. So expect a kids' film.
I see than Amazon also carries "Six Shootin' Sheriff." It was one of Ken's last pictures and a favorite of mine. Ken has to clean out 3 tough outlaw gangs and makes the supreme sacrifice. He has to pass of a piece of pie made by his girl, Miss Mollie. He's afraid it'll slow him down too much, because bad man Earl Dwire is waiting to gun him down in front of the saloon.
"Two Gun Man" is another great Maynard movie. If you're a handgun shooter, you'll love the insane way Ken's partner teaches some cowhands how to shoot. Don't miss this one.
"In Old Santa Fe." is also not only real good but real famous. Maynard is teamed with Gabbie Hayes; and Gene Autry and Smiley Burnett make their first singing appearance in the movies. This wasn't the first western with a song or two but it was the western that paved the way for Gene, Roy Rogers, Rex Allen, and all the rest
Rating:  -
HOPEFULLY, THEY'LL READ THIS BEFORE POSTING AND THERE NOT POST IT
Not a good serial...read my more detailed review. I'm just writing this to clear it off the list of items they don't think I've reviewed.
Rating: -
Actually, I shoulda known better than to buy a serial after seeing a trailer for it that started with HEY, BOY & GIRLS! This was very obviously aimed at kids with little attempt to entertain their parents. The mystery element (Who's the mysterious and sinister "Rattler"?) is rather ho-hum. The element where the bad guy is successfully disguising himself as other characters using rubber masks is laughable. The continuing antics of Ken Maynard's sidekick are rather tiring. The chapter endings are nothing to write home about. Mascot has done better western serials such as "The Vanishing Legion" and "The Lightening Warrior".
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