Mysterious Mr.M!

The Mysterious Mr.M is a polished finale to Universal's long run of serials. This 1946 offering is the one hundred and forty-seventh entry and shows both the accomplishment and weariness which comes with lengthy runs. There are lots of odd bits cobbled together from many other shows, even the with opening credits which feature a gallery of clips of shadows ripped from films like The Creeper and the Sherlock Holmes series, at least those are the ones I recognized. The story is a pretty standard bit, a villainous gang want the plans to a powerful submarine which will revolutionized transportation and spend the serial locating and stealing different parts of it.

They are opposed by a sturdy federal agent, a doughty insurance investigator, and a streetwise cop. This is a story filled with chemical mind control and schemes withing schemes. The lead is a bit of a stiff, but no one is incapable as the threats manifest and are overcome, as always in a serial with aplomb and limited memory. Buildings explode, burn to the ground, and crash into the water, planes spin out of control, cars sail off piers and buses dive into creeks. I always get a chuckle when after such danger the hero just pulls themselves up, dust off their frocks and keep the ball rolling. This one is for purists, but the restoration here is outstanding. For a more detailed review I recommend this link. 

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The Vanishing Shadow!

The 1934 movie serial The Vanishing Shadow from Universal has lots of intriguing details, some which are claimed to be the first ever on film such as the first ray gun on screen. It's a science ficiton yarn that does its absolute best to be as mundane as it can possibly be.

The Vanishing Shadow gets its title from the main gimmick used much in the first parts of the serial, a machine which worn by the user renders them invisible save for their shadow. It's a pretty decent effect and for the company which had given the world the cinematic version of the H.G.Wells classic The Invisible Man a worthy one. The invisibility gag is an invention of a sometimes mad scientist who wavers between good and evil throughout the story but who mainly uses his inventions to aid a handsome young man fend off a predatory gang bent on making him sign over valuable stocks and  such. Also helping him is the daughter of the leader of the villainous gang who insists her father will reform and keeps the events out of the hands of the police long after you or I would've contacted them.

In addition to the  invisibility machine there is a "Death Ray" and its counterpart an "Anti-Death Ray" as well as an impressive giant robot juggernaut who shows near the end of the serial. Now with a stalwart hero, a lovely dame, a genius scientist and his inventions, and a deadly gang of cutthroats you'd think you have a pretty rousing serial, but for whatever reason this one never gets out of second gear. Mostly that's due to the circular nature of the plot which has the characters retracing their steps over and over again. There's little narrative momentum, just furious action which is supposed to substitute.

It's a diverting misadventure for sure, an important one as serials go, but alas not the most exciting one.

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