I recently enjoyed the DVD collection called "Adventures of Captain Marvel,'" that features the DC Comics Superhero Shazam, the original Captain Marvel. This 2 DVD set collects the 12-episode movie serials from the 1940s of the hero and was wonderful to watch. Each episode is twenty minutes.They were originally shown in movie theaters before the main features. I remember my dad talking about these and the Superman and Batman movie serials of the 1940s.
The collection is really well done, and the villain is called "the Scorpion." Although I don't recall that villain from the comics, it was a good story line.
The lead actors who played both Shazam and Billy Batson really took the role seriously, and kept in character. This is truly a classic and a must for all superhero fans.
STORY LINE -On a scientific expedition to Siam young Billy Batson is given the ability to change himself into the super-powered Captain Marvel by the wizard Shazam, who tells him his powers will last only as long as the Golden Scorpion idol is threatened. Finding the idol, the scientists realize it could be the most powerful weapon in the world and remove the lenses that energize it, distributing them among themselves so that no one would be able to use the idol by himself. Back in the US, Billy Batson, as Captain Marvel, wages a battle against an evil, hooded figure, the Scorpion, who hopes to accumulate all five lenses, thereby gaining control of the super-powerful weapon.
BACKGROUND OF THE FILM SERIAL - Considered by many to be the finest serial ever made, Adventures of Captain Marvel chronicles the exploits of Captain Marvel (Tom Tyler, The Phantom). Highlighting the serial are the fabulous flying sequences by Republic's ace special effects team, Howard Lydecker and Theodore Lydecker.
Combining a wired dummy photographed against real backgrounds in natural sunlight, with spectacular take-off leaps and landings supplied by action ace David Sharpe, the final effects are still as fascinating today as they were in 1941.
Adventures of Captain Marvel marked the very first time a comic book superhero's exploits were transferred to the silver screen, and the resulting 12-chapter serial has yet to be equaled in excitement and entertainment. Directed by the great team of William Witney and John English.
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The only thing I didn't appreciate was the lack of a menu on the 2 discs... If you removed the disc without watching all 6 episodes straight through, you had to fast forward through the earlier episodes to get to where you left off. (Maybe I got a bootlegged copy from Amazon for some reason... I don't know).
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