Search Results: Film Serial from Royal Books, Inc.

N.p.: N.p., 1953. Vintage reference photograph from the 1953 film serial, showing actor Judd Holdren in costume as Commando Cody. From the archive of film historian and author Joel Finler. The series followed the titular masked super-scientist as he investigated of a string of climate disasters on Earth, eventually uncovering a nefarious plot to take over the planet by aliens from Venus. Originally intended to be broadcast on television as a 12-episode weekly series, the series was first released theatrically in 1953 as a 12-chapter weekly serial, and was syndicated to television in 1955 on NBC. 10 x 8 inches. Very Good plus, lightly and evenly age toned.

Neuilly-sur-Seine, France: Gaumont, 1913. Vintage double weight matte finish photograph from the legendary 1913 silent film serial. Printed onto heavy card stock for use as the equivalent of a modern day lobby card. With the Gaumont logo at the lower right corner. The first of Feuillade's three film serial masterpieces, followed by "Les Vampires" (1915) and "Judex" (1916). Feuillade took the brave task of putting to film Fantomas, already wildly popular with European audiences. The character can be seen as an outgrowth of the "hero thief" character Arsene Lupin from turn-of-the-century French fiction. But unlike Lupin, Fantomas was completely comfortable killing those who got in his way, sadistically and with no small amount of enjoyment. The scene pictured here shows Jaques Dollon (Andre Luguetat) at the police station (sitting at the center), having been framed by Fantomas. The journalist Fandor (Georges Melchior), standing in for Inspector Juve (who is on the lam, in disguise as a hobo),… Read More

Neuilly-sur-Seine, France: Gaumont, 1916. Vintage double weight matte finish still photograph from the legendary 1916 silent film serial. With the Gaumont logo at the lower right corner. The last of Feuillade's three film serial masterpieces, preceded by "Fantomas" (1913) and "Les Vampires" (1915), combining elements of both its predecessors. In Judex (Latin for "judge"), Feuillade furthered his vision of the dark, enigmatic anti-hero he introduced with the legendary Fantomas character, and utilized Musidora-who played the lead character Irma Vep in "Les Vampires"-as the villainess. Judex was a step forward from the criminal Fantomas, however, predicting pulp heroes to come, such as The Shadow and especially Batman in the US: he was a masterful fighter, an expert in disguise, and kept his headquarters in the subterranean passages beneath a ruined castle, lavishly outfitted with high tech gadgets. Feuillade shot "Judex" in 1914, but the outbreak of World War I delayed release in France until 1916,… Read More

Neuilly-sur-Seine, France: Gaumont, 1915. Vintage double weight matte finish still photograph from the legendary 1915 silent film serial. With the Gaumont logo at the lower right corner. Shown here is Musidora as Irma Vep conferring with another member of The Vampires, an anarchist criminal gang at the center of the story. The director's magnum opus, "Les vampires" is one of the great crime epics, nearly 7 hours in length, acknowledged as a strong influence on the surrealists, and by directors Alfred Hitchcock and Fritz Lang in the development of the thriller, as well as the earliest masters of avant-garden cinema. The second of Feuillade's three film serial masterpieces, preceded by "Fantomas" (1913) and followed by "Judex" (1915), combining elements of both. 11 x 9 inches. Near Fine.

Universal City, CA: Universal Pictures, 1945. Original treatment and complete set of continuities for the 1945 13-episode film serial, including a continuity for the trailer, constituting a virtually complete record. Any original paper relating to serials is extremely uncommon; a complete set such as this rare. Based on the 1934-1996 comic strip written by Dashiell Hammett and illustrated by Alex Raymond. Government agents for both the allied and axis powers attempt to access a secret element that can be used to make aviation fuel. Set on a remote island in the Pacific Ocean. Each document in white studio self-wrappers, with the treatment side-stapled and dated January 4, 1945, the trailer and episode continuities top-stapled and dated between June 6, 1945 and August 16, 1945. Treatment is 16 pages. Each of the fourteen continuities represent two reels each and run 16-18 pages each. Trailer continuity is 5 pages. All mimeograph duplication, Very Good plus condition, each with two blank leaves… Read More

Universal City: Universal Pictures, 1941. Post-production Continuity and Dialogue script for the 1941 12-episode film serial trailer. An ace pilot and his friend operate an airplane manufacturing business that has fabricated a high-speed pursuit plane for the US Army. Unfortunately, the plane has also garnered the interest of a number of enemy spies. White titled self wrappers, noted as production No. 1117, dated JANUARY 30, 1941, with credits for directors Ford Beebe and Ray Taylor, and actors Donald Woods, Billy Halop, Robert Armstrong, Edward Ciannelli, and Kathryn Adams. Title page integral with the front wrapper, as issued. 12 leaves, with last page of text numbered 10. Mimeograph duplication, rectos only. Pages Very Good plus, wrapper Very Good plus, with dampstaining to the right and lower edges, bound with two gold brads.