"Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island" isn't the best movie serial ever made -- it shamelessly pads its 14 episodes with flashbacks and repeats one rescue in its entirety. But it is energetic, kid-friendly fun that features likable protagonists and exotic locales. Mala (aka Ray Wise) makes a believable hero (for once, a '30s good guy does the sensible thing and calls in the cops) and gets sterling support from both his human and animal companions. The action sprawls from San Fransciso, to the high seas, to the skies (aboard a dirigible airship), to tropical islands where the natives are as likely as not to offer visitors to the local volcano. Well worth the effort.
5 Reviews
Great action scenes and good story are sunk by a non actor in the lead
dbborroughs28 June 2008
Secret Agent Mala is sent to Clipper Island to investigate the goings on on Clipper Island where some unknown group is trying to prevent a dirigible transport company from setting up a refueling station.
One of the first Republic serials is an odd mix of the new Republic studio and the old Mascot, hence the animal co-stars) is a footnote in serial history as the only 14 chapter sound serial. To be honest this would be a really great serial except that Republic's decision to have non actor Mala as the lead pretty much sinks the show. Its not so much that he's bad, rather he clearly is in over his head speaking stiltedly and acting stiffly. The casting of Mala is the difference between an okay serial and a very good one. If you can forgive a poor lead this is worth a shot.
One of the first Republic serials is an odd mix of the new Republic studio and the old Mascot, hence the animal co-stars) is a footnote in serial history as the only 14 chapter sound serial. To be honest this would be a really great serial except that Republic's decision to have non actor Mala as the lead pretty much sinks the show. Its not so much that he's bad, rather he clearly is in over his head speaking stiltedly and acting stiffly. The casting of Mala is the difference between an okay serial and a very good one. If you can forgive a poor lead this is worth a shot.
Only 14 chapter serial in movie history
frontrowkid200214 July 2011
Movie serials were traditionally 12 or 15 chapters, depending on the production schedule. Republic, Columbia and Universal all supplied their distributors with four serials a year. Republic usually stuck to the 12 chapter format, releasing their summer season serial in 15 chapters. That's so the theaters could start running the first chapter in late May, right before school ended, and wrapping it up by the first week of September. Columbia maintained a 15 chapter serial schedule throughout its career. Universal produced 13 chapter serials. Robinson Crusoe on Clipper Island was the first and only 14 chapter serial in movie history. It came about before the serial was completely finished. The film was shot on Santa Cruz Island, near Santa Barbara. The producers discovered they had gone over budget and to keep the rental cost at $12-15 per chapter, they wrote two additional chapters using footage that had already been used and writing two new "takeouts" or end of the chapter perils. The writer assigned to do this as his first task at Republic was Barry Shipman, who would later write many of the Republic serials and also write the Durango Kid series.
This is one of the serials that inspired Star Wars
HuggyBear131 January 2003
Watched by George Lucas as a kid, these serials - including Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon were the inspiration for Star Wars. Typically swash-buckling, with cliffhangers at the end of each episode, there was little room for character development, it was all about action and suspense.
The episode with the jump off the gangplank was surely the inspiration for the Sarlaac Pit scene in Return of the Jedi?
I also watched them as a kid in the 1980's when they were re-shown on British TV.
Well worth watching, like all these old serials. This is where it all began.
The episode with the jump off the gangplank was surely the inspiration for the Sarlaac Pit scene in Return of the Jedi?
I also watched them as a kid in the 1980's when they were re-shown on British TV.
Well worth watching, like all these old serials. This is where it all began.
entertaining, extravagant, and well produced theatrical serial.
oscar-3517 April 2013
Warning: Spoilers
*Spoiler/plot- Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island, 1936. A police agent discovers a plot to sabotage Pacific air travel and travels to a Pacific island to stop the crime plot. He discovers the sabotage gang with links to San Francisco also terrorizing the island natives for their crime benefit. The agent helps the natives fight against the invaders.
*Special Stars- Mala(aka Ray Wise), Mamo Clark, John Picorri.
*Theme- Good people of many culture can work together to defeat crime.
*Trivia/location/goofs- B & W, theatrical serial. 14 episodes, not the only serial the over 12 episodes. Members of the starring lead cast were of minorities, Alaskan Inuit and Polynesian Hawaiian. Filmed on Southern California Channel Islands- Santa Rosa island. In 1966, re-released made into a TV show, 'Robinson Crusoe of Mystery Island'.
*Emotion- This was a entertaining, extravagant, and well produced theatrical serial of it's time. It was quite unique in it's use of native actors in the starring leads as positive roles. Something not usually done in films. The inclusion of zeppelin travel and two essential animal performers(dog & horse) in the story help this film to be an entertaining project to view. You can also readily see why these theatrical serials were the basis for the great adventure directors(Lucas & Spielberg) of today.
*Special Stars- Mala(aka Ray Wise), Mamo Clark, John Picorri.
*Theme- Good people of many culture can work together to defeat crime.
*Trivia/location/goofs- B & W, theatrical serial. 14 episodes, not the only serial the over 12 episodes. Members of the starring lead cast were of minorities, Alaskan Inuit and Polynesian Hawaiian. Filmed on Southern California Channel Islands- Santa Rosa island. In 1966, re-released made into a TV show, 'Robinson Crusoe of Mystery Island'.
*Emotion- This was a entertaining, extravagant, and well produced theatrical serial of it's time. It was quite unique in it's use of native actors in the starring leads as positive roles. Something not usually done in films. The inclusion of zeppelin travel and two essential animal performers(dog & horse) in the story help this film to be an entertaining project to view. You can also readily see why these theatrical serials were the basis for the great adventure directors(Lucas & Spielberg) of today.
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