G-Men vs the Black Dragon

Infobox Film
name = G-Men vs The Black Dragon


director = Spencer Gordon Bennet
William Witney
William J O'Sullivan
producer = William J. O'Sullivan
writer = Ronald Davidson
William Lively
Joseph O'Donnell
Joseph Poland
starring = Rod Cameron
Roland Got
Constance Worth
Nino Pipitone
Noel Cravat
George J. Lewis
cinematography = Bud Thackery
released = Flagicon|USA 16 January 1943 "(serial)"cite book
last = Mathis
first = Jack
title = Valley of the Cliffhangers Supplement
origyear = 1995
publisher = Jack Mathis Advertising
isbn = 0-9632878-1-8
pages = pp. 3, 10, 66-67
chapter = ]
Flagicon|USA 1966 "(TV)"
runtime = 15 chapters / 243 minutes "(serial)"
100 minutes "(TV)"
country = USA
language = English
budget = $148,445 (negative cost: $156,599)
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by = "Secret Service in Darkest Africa" (1943)
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0035913

"G-Men vs The Black Dragon" (1943) is a Republic Movie serial. It is noteworthy among adventure serials as containing an unusually high number of fistfights, all staged by director William Witney and a team of stuntmen.

This was Witney's last production before leaving to serve in World War II, he actually shipped out before filming was complete. It also sees Witney's wife, Maxine Doyle, returning to acting for the first time since they met on the set of an earlier serial, "S O S Coast Guard" (1937).

Rod Cameron's characterization of federal agent Rex Bennett was so successful that Republic hurriedly made changes to Cameron's next serial, already in production. It became an unofficial sequel, "Secret Service in Darkest Africa", with Cameron's character renamed Rex Bennett, and the feminine lead Joan Marsh becoming a British character, as in "G-Men vs. the Black Dragon".

In 1966 the serial was edited into a feature titled "Black Dragon of Manzanar". It played on television as part of Republic's "Century 66" package of 100-minute serial adaptations.

Plot

Enemy agents smuggle Japanese master spy Haruchi into the United States. Haruchi, chieftain of the Black Dragon Society, enlists corrupt officials and trusted assistants to hinder America's war effort, by destroying valuable military properties and securing vital formulas. Federal agent Rex Bennett and his two assistants, Vivian and Chang, monitor Haruchi's acttvities and foil his plans.

Cast

*Rod Cameron as Agent Rex Bennett, American special agent
*Roland Got as Agent Chang Sing, Chinese special agent
*Constance Worth as Vivian Marsh, British special agent
*Nino Pipitone as Oyama Haruchi, Japanese spy and leader of the Black Dragon Society
*Noel Cravat as Ranga, Haruchi's assistant
*George J. Lewis as Lugo, Haruchi's assistant

Production

"G-Men vs. The Black Dragon" was commissioned based on the success of the serial "Spy Smasher", although the production team preferred to have a non-costumed character.cite book
last = Witney
first = William
authorlink = William Witney
title = In a Door, Into a Fight, Out a Door, Into a Chase: Moviemaking Remembered by the Guy at the Door
year = 2005
publisher = McFarland & Company, Inc.
isbn = 9780786422586
pages =
chapter = ]

"G-Men vs. The Black Dragon" was budgeted at $148,445 although the final negative cost was $156,599 (a $8,154, or 5.5%, overspend).

It was filmed between 26 September and 4 November 1942. The serial's production number was 1198.

This was director William Witney's last production before leaving to serve in World War II, he actually shipped out before filming was complete. Witney arranged for his wife, Maxine Doyle, to be auditioned for a part as he would be leaving her in the United States for the duration of the war. It was also arranged that she was the only candidate for the role, but this was not reveled to her until she arrived for the audition. The was her first time acting role since the couple met on the set of an earlier serial, "S O S Coast Guard" (1937). This arrangement almost led to slight trouble in the relationship when Australian actress Constance Worth turned up at Witney's hotel room drunk. She was led away by a colleague before Maxine became aware of her presence.

Rod Cameron's characterization of federal agent Rex Bennett was so successful that Republic hurriedly made changes to Cameron's next serial, already in production. It became an unofficial sequel, "Secret Service in Darkest Africa", with Cameron's character renamed Rex Bennett, and the feminine lead Joan Marsh becoming a British character, as in "G-Men vs. the Black Dragon". Fact|date=August 2008|The claim that the sequel was hurriedly changed needs to be properly sourced.

pecial effects

All the special effects in this serial were produced by Republic's in-house effects team, the Lydecker brothers. Many of the scenes were filmed so impressively that Republic reused them in later serials.

tunts

*Tom Steele as Rex Bennett (doubling Rod Cameron)
*Duke Taylor as Lugo (doubling George J. Lewis)
*Ken Terrell as Ranga & Chang Sing (doubling Noel Cravat and Roland Got)
*Dale Van Sickel (doubling Stanley Price)
*John Daheim (doubling Crane Whitley and Harry Burns)

Release

Theatrical

"G-Men vs. The Black Dragon"'s official release date is 16 January 1943, although this is actually the date the seventh chapter was made available to film exchanges.

Television

"G-Men vs. The Black Dragon" was one of twenty-six Republic serials re-released as a film on television in 1966. The title of the film was changed to "Black Dragon of Manzanar". This version was cut down to 100-minutes in length.

Critical reception

In the words of Cline, both this serial and its sequel were "well-made topical drama with highly capable and professional casts." In a departure from the normal formula, the villain's identity is known to the audience. [cite book
last = Cline
first = William C.
title = In the Nick of Time
origyear = 1984
publisher = McFarland & Company, Inc.
isbn = 078640471X
pages = pp. 50
chapter = 3. The Six Faces of Adventure ]

Chapter titles

# The Yellow Peril (25min 26s)
# Japanese Inquisition (15min 34s)
# Arsenal of Doom (15min 32s)
# Deadly Sorcery (15min 34s)
# Celestial Murder (15min 36s)
# Death and Destruction (15min 35s)
# The Iron Monster (15min 35s)
# Beast of Tokyo (15min 39s)
# Watery Grave (15min 31s)
# The Dragon Strikes (15min 34s)
# Suicide Mission (15min 35s)
# Dead on Arrival (15min 31s)
# Condemned Cargo (15min 34s)
# Flaming Coffin (15min 34s)
# Democracy in Action (15min 40s)_Source: [cite book
last = Cline
first = William C.
title = In the Nick of Time
origyear = 1984
publisher = McFarland & Company, Inc.
isbn = 078640471X
pages = pp. 235
chapter = Filmography ]

ee also

* List of film serials by year
* List of film serials by studio

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0035913|title=G-Men vs The Black Dragon
* [http://www.serialexperience.com/showarticle.php?fldRecNum=327 G-Men vs The Black Dragon at Todd Gault's Movie Serial Experience]

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
title=Republic Serial
before=King of the Mounties (1942)
years=G-Men vs The Black Dragon (1943)
after=Daredevils of the West (1943)