G-men vs. the Black Dragon (1943)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Directors:

Spencer Gordon Bennet
William Witney

Writers:

Ronald Davidson (writer)
William Lively (writer)

Release Date:

16 January 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure

Plot:

American, British and Chinese secret agents battle the Japanese Black Dragon Society, a secretive ring that smuggles enemy agents into the U.S. disguised as mummies. |

Plot Keywords:

Sabotage | Serial

Cast

Rod Cameron	...	Agent Rex Bennett
Roland Got	...	Agent Chang Sing
Constance Worth	...	Agent Vivian Marsh
Nino Pipitone	...	Oyama Haruchi
Noel Cravat	...	Ranga
George J. Lewis	...	Lugo
Maxine Doyle	...	Marie [Ch.8]
Donald Kirke	...	Pier 17 Thug [Ch.1]
Ivan Miller	...	Pier 17 Customs Inspector [Ch.1]
Walter Fenner	...	Williams, financial agent [Ch.1]
C. Montague Shaw	...	Prof. Nicholson [Ch. 3-4]
Harry Burns	...	Tony Mills [Ch. 4, 12-13]
Forbes Murray	...	James Kennedy [Ch. 12]
Hooper Atchley	...	Harrison J. Caldwell [Ch.5]
Robert Homans	...	Captain Gorman [Ch. 12-13]

Also Known As:

Black Dragons of Manzanar (USA) (recut version)
G-men versus the Black Dragon (USA) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

243 min (15 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Santa Barbara, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures (I)

Movie Connections:

Edited into Black Dragon of Manzanar (1966) (TV)

One of the Best of Republic's Serials

G-Men vs. the Black Dragon was the first of two serials released in 1943 starring Rod Cameron as Government Agent Rex Bennett. Loaded with action, it is one of the best of Republic's serials. There's at least two knock down drag out fights in every chapter, enhanced by Cameron's athletic prowess, which allowed him to be clearly a part of the fisticuffs (although he is clearly doubled in the more difficult stunts).

The story, set during WWII, involves the evil Japanese price Haruchi (Nino Pipitone) and his secret organization The Black Dragon, trying to sabotage American War efforts while planning an invasion of the U.S. Aided by his two henchmen Rango (Noel Cravat) and Lugo (George J. Lewis), The Black Dragon attempts to steal secret plans, blow up strategic installations and the like only to be thwarted at every turn by Bennett and his two assistants (Constance Worth, Roland Got).

All of the serial cliches are here, the exploding bridge, cars/trucks going over the cliff, warehouses blowing up, narrow last minute escapes etc. The stuntwork is excellent as always and the special effects created by the Lydecker Brothers are amazing for their time. Director William Witney keeps the action flowing and the fights a coming.

Cameron (before going on to bigger and better things) is excellent as Rex Bennett, who just can't seem to stay away from fist fights. Pipitone, Cravat, and Lewis add admirably to Republic's gallery of hissable serial villains. The only weakness in the cast are the wooden performances of Worth and Got as Bennett's assistants.

Still and all, G-Men vs. The Black Dragon represents one of the best examples of the lost art of Saturday matinee serials and should not be missed.