Don Winslow of the Navy
Don Winslow of the Navy is a 1942 Universal Pictures Serial film based on the comic strip Don Winslow of the Navy by Commander Frank V. Martinek. It was theatrically released in January 1942.
| Don Winslow of the Navy | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ford Beebe Ray Taylor |
| Written by | Morgan Cox (screen adaptation) (as Morgan B. Cox) |
| Screenplay by | Paul Huston Griffin Jay |
| Based on | Frank V. Martinek (based on the comic strip by) |
| Produced by | Henry MacRae |
| Starring | Don Terry Walter Sande John Litel |
| Cinematography | William A. Sickner |
| Edited by | Joseph Glouck (as Joseph Glick) D. Pat Kelley (as Patrick Kelley) Louis Sackin Alvin Todd |
Production company | Universal Pictures |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 12 chapters (237 minutes) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot edit
Commander Don Winslow is returned to the Office of Naval Intelligence from his command of his cruiser to investigate strange events on the Pacific island of Tangita, noticeably a ship being torpedoed. He discovers that there is a ring of saboteurs and enemy agents who are trying to destroy ships carrying supplies to the troops stationed in the islands and sabotage the war effort. Though the US Navy is preparing to build a naval base on Tangita, an unknown foreign power secretly has a subterranean submarine base beneath the island with the goal of preventing the American base from being completed. He sets out with three assistants to find the mastermind behind the activities.
Cast edit
- Don Terry as Cmdr. Don Winslow
- Walter Sande as Lt. Red Pennington
- Claire Dodd as Mercedes Colby
- Anne Nagel as Misty Gaye
- John Litel as Spencer Merlin
- Wade Boteler as Mike Splendor
- Ben Taggart as John Blake
- Kurt Katch as The Scorpion
- John Holland as Paul Barsac
- Ethan Laidlaw as Henchman Spike
- Robert Barron as Henchman Prindle
- Lane Chandler as Henchman Corley
- Dirk Thane as Lt. Cmdr. Grady
- Peter Leeds as Seaman Chapman
- Jerry Mandy as Tangita Jim [Chs. 2, 10]
- Samuel S. Hinds as Admiral Colby, The CINC-US [Ch.1]
- Herbert Rawlinson as Adm. Warburton [Ch.1]
- Arthur Loft as Tranker - Submarine Z-37 Captain [Chs. 1-2]
- Paul Bryar as Kramer - [Chs. 3-4]
Production edit
The serial was based on the comic strip by Commander Frank V. Martinek, which was approved by the US Navy.[1] The strip gained new meaning with the approach of World War II, which would also affect the serial: "Its presentation as a Universal serial in October 1941 - just before the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor in December - was one of the most timely contributions of the serial field."[2]
The Universal serials for 1941-42 were meant to run: Riders of Death Valley, Sea Raiders, Head Hunters of the Amazon, Gang Busters. Head Hunters of the Amazon was, however, dropped in favor of this serial. This is possibly due to the greater name recognition of the licensed property over the more generic planned serial.[3]
Chapter titles edit
- The Human Torpedo
- Flaming Death
- Weapons of Horror
- Towering Doom
- Trapped in the Dungeon
- Menaced by Man-Eaters
- Bombed by the Enemy
- The Chamber of Doom
- Wings of Destruction
- Fighting Fathoms Deep
- Caught in the Caverns
- The Scorpion Strangled
Source:[4]
Sequel edit
In 1943, a sequel, Don Winslow of the Coast Guard, was released by Universal.[1]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Cline, William C. (1997). In the Nick of Time: Motion Picture Sound Serials. McFarland. p. 19. ISBN 9780786404711. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- ^ Cline, William C. (1984). "2. In Search of Ammunition". In the Nick of Time. McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 18–19. ISBN 0-7864-0471-X.
- ^ Universal Serial Pressbook 1941-42
- ^ Cline, William C. (1984). "Filmography". In the Nick of Time. McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 231. ISBN 0-7864-0471-X.
External links edit
- Don Winslow of the Navy at IMDb
- Don Winslow of the Navy at AllMovie
- Chapter 1 of Don Winslow of the Navy from Internet Archive. (Page includes links to other chapters.)