The amazing new serial discovery: an original nitrate print
of a 1919 15-Chapter Arrow Serial
The Masked Rider
Directed by Aubrey C. Kennedy -- Produced by William Steiner
Starring Harry Myers
Ruth Stonehouse
Paul Panzer
Edna M. Holland
Robert Taber
and Boris Karloff in his first existing film footage
The Discovery
21 reels worth of footage from this serial printed on tinted nitrate stock, were discovered in the fall of 2003 in the home of a former theater projectionist and memorabilia collector whose estate has been liquidated. Episode numbers were hand-painted on the original metal cans--and the can for chapter 7 reveals the original owner's enthusiasm for the serial, which he no doubt saw, and/or projected, in his youth. One reel of the film had decomposed to liquid and was discarded by those handling the estate. This appears to have been the first reel of Chapter 1. Other cans were marked Episodes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14,
The Story
The Masked Rider appears to have been the first great mystery-rider Western chapter play and the character may have served as a prototype for The Riddle Rider, The Lone Ranger and all the great masked rider serials which followed it.
The setting of the story is Mexico. Violent bandit and cattle rustler Pancho (Paul Panzer), his rude henchman Santas and a group of raiders have sworn to drive the settlers out of the Border country and kill Texas Ranger Harry Burrel's father Bill. In the conflict that follows Pancho's hands are crushed, supposedly by the ranchers. Pancho swears bitter revenge on the Burrels and the two factions resolve to destroy each other.
Pancho's daughter Juanita, frequently assaulted by his men, is shocked by her father's cruelty and takes surreptitious action to prevent his murdering innocent captives when she can. Rugged "Ma Chadwick," Ruth's mother, supports the Rangers and whups into shape any who aren't tough enough to take on the bad guys.
The action is tense and convincing, and surprisingly violent, hard-hitting and even shocking in parts. Some scenes at right are from the conclusion of one chapter which ends with a group of raiders attacking a house, a kidnapped child, her mother told if she does not bow to the villain's desires he will kill the child's father, and a climactic ride through a river by the mysterious Masked Rider. Title cards follow: A five-reel drama condensed in two. Pancho brings back the days of the inquisition in the next episode entitled "Pancho finds Revenge."
"See the miracle which prevents the arms of Ruth from being torn from their sockets. At the word of command, the horses start in opposite directions and Ruth faints ad the first pull on her wrists. Watch and wait for this episode." And the scene does indeed take place in the following episode, to surprising resolution. This serial was made in the "pre-code" era and pulls no punches. Pancho's bitterness and cruelty come across as frighteningly realistic, and the stark and dangerous cliffs and other locations in which the story takes place only add to the atmosphere of threatening danger which permeates the serial.
The Cast
Harry Myers as rancher Harry Burrel
Harry Myers (1882-1938) began acting in 1908 and played the title character in the serial Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. He wrote and directed over 30 films between 1914 and 1917. One of his final screen appearances was as an uncredited detective in The Spider's Web.
Ruth Stonehouse as Harry's sweetheart Ruth Chadwick
Ruth Stonehouse began acting at an early age and appeared in the serials Adventures of Peg O'the Ring and The Master Mystery starring Harry Houdini.
Paul Panzer as Pancho, cattle rustler and bandit
Paul Panzer, born in Bavaria, began his career acting in silent Shakespearian films, and achieved notoriety as the villainous Koerner in The Perils of Pauline. He would later appear in other serials including The Exploits of Elaine, Jimmie Dale Alias the Gray Seal, The Mystery Mind, Hawk of the Hills, The Black Book, and Tarzan the Tiger. He appeared, often uncredited, in sound films (he can be glimpsed as a graveside mourner in Frankenstein) until the early 1950s.
Robert Taber as Santas, Pancho's lieutenant
Marie Treador as Ma Chadwick, Ruth's mother
Edna M. Holland as Pancho's daughter Juanita
? as the Masked Rider, emissary of evil
Blanche Gillespie as Harry's young sister Blanche Burrel
Jack Chapman as Captain Jack of the Rangers
? as Terrazas, neighboring ranchero and bitter enemy of Pancho
and Boris Karloff in a bit role as a Mexican roughneck in the bar scene of Chapter 2 (his earliest existing screen appearance). The serial, mistitled The Masked Raider, appears in at least one reputable biography of the actor's filmography.
Other probable additional cast members include George Cravy, Clarissa Selwyne, and George Murdock.
The DVD
Film and Transfer Quality: The original nitrate image is absolutely stunning in its detail and greys. As you can see in the framegrabs there are occasional scratches on the film but they do not detract. The finest professional (Rank) transfer equipment available will be used to create a digital version of this film. You may pledge to own a DVD copy of this transfer, which will include an entirely new original score composed especially for this presentation.
You can see a 3-minute trailer now of The Masked Rider on the Squadron Painted Stallion, Zorro Rides Again and Beatrice Fairfax DVDs.
This serial will be mastered on 2 or 3 DVDs with illustrated chapter and reel-index menus and any extra features we can provide. To pledge for a DVD copy of this serial, send $60 to:
Eric Stedman
440 S. State Street G6
Newtown PA 18940
Multiple pledges are allowed and encouraged. You can use the Squadron Mail-Order Form Generator to print an order form for pledges by mail. You may also pledge using PayPal using "ericstedman @ aol.com" as the email address.
Latest News
The pledge drive has successfully completed and the final chapters of The Masked Rider have been transferred -- they look fantastic, by the way -- and the entire serial will be released in a 2-DVD set as soon as it has been fully restored and scored.
You may still pledge for this serial which will remain available. Funds raised by further pledges will be used toward getting a safety print made of the original film, which is unstable nitrate.
Several reels of raw footage of The Masked Rider were shown at SerialFest on May 22, 2004 and the conclusion of the serial in rough form was shown at SerialFest 2005.
Checking Pledge Information
Your name should appear subsequently on the Masked Rider pledge list thread on the Movie Serial Message Boards / Squadron DVD Pledges board. To correct any information on the list, simply add a post to the Masked Rider thread.
For questions on existing pledges, contact BeatriceFairfax@comcast.net.
Check the Release Schedule to see when this project will be completed.
