The Phantom Empire
Mascot 1935 / 12 Chapters
Directed by: Otto Brower, B. Reeves Eason
Music: Arthur Kay (Director); Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette (Songs)
Starring Gene Autry as himself
Frankie Darro as Frankie Baxter
Betsy King Ross as Betsy Baxter
Dorothy Christie as Queen Tika
Wheeler Oakman as Lord Argo
Lester "Smiley" Burnette as Oscar
Cowboy Gene Autry has no idea what's in store for him as he sings "Uncle Noah's Ark" cheerfully on his daily Radio Ranch program broadcast--he and his young friends Frankie and Betsy are about to embark on some of the most amazing adventures in serialdom. You see, not only do some crooked scientists plan to run him off the property to gain the rich radium deposits on the ranch, there's a whole underground civilization that's ticked about getting awakened in the middle of the afternoon by his singing--
and determined that no "surface people" discover the secret cave entrance to their "scientific city." Frankie and Betsy have seen the mysterious helmeted "Thunder Riders" with their own eyes, and heard the ominous rumble of their horses, and decided to create their own national Junior Thunder Riders' Club in their honor. The gesture isn't appreciated, though, as Gene, Frankie, and Betsy are mistreated again and again by Queen Tika and her men, who detest the selfish, violent ways of the surface people.
Finally, all three must escape imprisonment, giant ray cannons and even execution to save each other from the Queen's vengeance.
There's plenty to see and hear in this wild story--western action, crazy sci-fi devices, music by Gene and others in most chapters, comedy relief from the bumbling Oscar and Pete, and some terrific no-faking trick riding by the very capable Betsy King Ross. This world's first sci-fi Western is sometimes quaint, sometimes nutty, sometimes suspenseful and always surprising.
Ken Maynard was originally to have played the leading role in this serial, however, the producers changed their minds and in doing so launched Gene Autry to film stardom.
Legend has it that the story for The Phantom Empire was dreamed up by the producer while sitting in a dentist's chair and experiencing the effects of nitrous oxide gas. We believe it--the story's original, all right, and it influenced many other films to come, from Flash Gordon to the Star Wars films, for which it provided two title inspirations.
The Squadron's film print of this serial has been digitally restored here to as much of its original glory as possible (many Mascot serial negatives, including this one, appear to have been destroyed in a fire). The sound is back in synch, some missing sound has been replaced, contrast and brightness wherever possible has been adjusted and reel change markers and damage removed. The result is the highest quality presentation of this serial possible on the small screen.
3
DVD-R Collector’s edition includes:
All
12 Chapters, painstakingly restored (there
is no higher quality version available anywhere, and
probably never will be), tinted, and newly scored with
period studio music
Animated
menus
Mysteries of Murania
Restoration Notes
Cast Bios
Extended photo cast list
Music video of "Uncle Noah's Ark" (includes
bloopers)
Pictures
on this page are actual framegrabs from the Squadron
digital restoration.
Released
2003
List
price $24.95
Special
Sale Price $19.95
