The Phantom Creeps (1939)

Top cast35

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Bela Lugosi

Dr. Alex Zorka

Robert Kent

Capt. Bob West

Dorothy Arnold

Jean Drew

Edwin Stanley

Dr. Fred Mallory

Regis Toomey

Jim Daly

Jack C. Smith

Monk

Edward Van Sloan

Jarvis [Chs. 2-12]

Dora Clement

Ann Zorka [Chs. 1-2]
(as Dora Clemant)

Anthony Averill

Rankin - Henchman [Chs. 2-12]

Hugh Huntley

Perkins - Mallory's Lab Assistant [Chs. 2-12]

Monte Vandergrift

Al - Guard [Ch. 5]

Frank Mayo

Train Engineer [Ch. 6]

Jim Farley

Skipper [Ch. 9]
(as James Farley)

Eddie Acuff

Mac - AMI Agent [Chs. 2-12]

Reed Howes

Signalman [Ch. 10]

Ed Wolff

The Robot
(as Edw. Wolff)

Hooper Atchley

Experimental Lab Tech
(uncredited)

Roy Barcroft

Parker - AMI Agent
(uncredited)

Did you know

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Trivia
When Dr. Zorka drops the bomb on the dirigible, the stock footage is of the actual news footage of the explosion and crash of the Hindenburg.

Goofs
During the car chase the reporter is shown driving on the right side of the car, although before and after the chase plus in overhead shots she is shown correctly on the left side.

Quotes
[after surviving a car crash, Zorka notices the hitch hiker they picked up, who looks like him, is dead.]
Dr. Alex Zorka: How fortunate, this will simplify everything!

Alternate versions
This serial was edited down to a feature film running 78 minutes and also titled "The Phantom Creeps."

Connections
Edited into The Phantom Creeps (1949)

To me, this 12 part serial seemed a touch cliche, but it was still quite enjoyable. If you are not a fan of the classic horror genre or of Bela Lugosi, you may wish to pass on this one, but if you like corny old Bela films, you are in for a REAL treat.

One point of interest to me was that I can't help but think George Lucas had watched this serial in particular when he was preparing for Star Wars. The title of the series is "The Phantom Creeps" with the first Episode being titled "The Menacing Power" (Phantom Menace anyone?) Additionally, the scrolling text of Star Wars seems to owe a lot to this serial right down to the usage of capitalization. You'll have to wait for Chapter 2 to get your first glimpse of how it's used- Chapter 1 has no foreward.

This is the first serial I've seen, though, so it's possible that the scrolling text is common with most serials.