''Buck Rogers'' is a 1939
science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...
film serial
A serial film, film serial (or just serial), movie serial, or chapter play, is a motion picture form popular during the first half of the 20th century, consisting of a series of short subjects exhibited in consecutive order at one theater, gene ...
, produced by
Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...
. It stars
Buster Crabbe
Clarence Linden Crabbe II (; February 7, 1908 – April 23, 1983), known professionally as Buster Crabbe, was an American two-time Olympic swimmer and film and television actor. He won the 1932 Olympic gold medal for 400-meter freestyle swimmi ...
(who had previously played the
title character
The title character in a narrative work is one who is named or referred to in the title of the work. In a performed work such as a play or film, the performer who plays the title character is said to have the title role of the piece. The title of ...
in two ''
Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon is the protagonist of a space adventure comic strip created and originally drawn by Alex Raymond. First published January 7, 1934, the strip was inspired by, and created to compete with, the already established ''Buck Rogers'' adve ...
'' serials and would return for a third in 1940) as the eponymous hero,
Constance Moore
Constance Moore (January 18, 1920 or January 18, 1921Additional on April 23, 2017. – September 16, 2005) was an American singer and actress. Her most noted work was in wartime musicals such as ''Show Business'' and ''Atlantic City'' and the ...
,
Jackie Moran
Jackie Moran (January 26, 1923 – September 20, 1990) was an American movie actor who, between 1936 and 1946, appeared in over thirty films, primarily in teenage roles.
Early life and Hollywood career
A native of Mattoon, Illinois, Jo ...
and
Anthony Warde
Anthony Warde (born Benjamin Schwartz; January 1, 1909 – January 8, 1975) was a noted American actor who appeared in over 150 films between 1937 and 1964.
Early years
Born as Benjamin Schwartz in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on New Year' ...
. It is based on the
Buck Rogers
Buck Rogers is a science fiction adventure hero and feature comic strip created by Philip Francis Nowlan first appearing in daily US newspapers on January 7, 1929, and subsequently appearing in Sunday newspapers, international newspapers, books ...
character created by
Philip Francis Nowlan
Philip Francis Nowlan (; November 13, 1888 – February 1, 1940) was an American science fiction writer, best known as the creator of Buck Rogers.
Biography
Nowlan was born on November 13, 1888. While attending the University of Pennsylvania, N ...
, who had appeared in magazines and
comic strips
A comic strip is a Comics, sequence of drawings, often cartoons, arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often Serial (literature), serialized, with text in Speech balloon, balloons and Glossary of comics ter ...
since 1928.
Plot
In 1938, Lieutenant
Buck Rogers
Buck Rogers is a science fiction adventure hero and feature comic strip created by Philip Francis Nowlan first appearing in daily US newspapers on January 7, 1929, and subsequently appearing in Sunday newspapers, international newspapers, books ...
(
Buster Crabbe
Clarence Linden Crabbe II (; February 7, 1908 – April 23, 1983), known professionally as Buster Crabbe, was an American two-time Olympic swimmer and film and television actor. He won the 1932 Olympic gold medal for 400-meter freestyle swimmi ...
) and Buddy Wade (
Jackie Moran
Jackie Moran (January 26, 1923 – September 20, 1990) was an American movie actor who, between 1936 and 1946, appeared in over thirty films, primarily in teenage roles.
Early life and Hollywood career
A native of Mattoon, Illinois, Jo ...
) are part of the crew of a
dirigible
An airship or dirigible balloon is a type of aerostat or lighter-than-air aircraft that can navigate through the air under its own power. Aerostats gain their lift from a lifting gas that is less dense than the surrounding air.
In early ...
flying over the
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is the point in the Northern Hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface. It is called the True North Pole to distinguish from the Mag ...
. They are caught in a savage storm and crash. They are ordered to release the experimental Nirvano Gas, which (unbeknownst to them) will put them in
suspended animation
Suspended animation is the temporary (short- or long-term) slowing or stopping of biological function so that physiological capabilities are preserved. It may be either hypometabolic or ametabolic in nature. It may be induced by either endogen ...
until they are rescued. The Nirvano Gas works, but the dirigible is buried in an avalanche and is not found until 500 years have passed. When Buck and Buddy are found, they awaken in the year 2440 to a world ruled by the ruthless dictator,
Killer Kane
Killer Kane is a fictional character in the ''Buck Rogers'' comic strip and its subsequent 1939 ''Buck Rogers'' serial film produced by Universal Studios.M. Keith Brooker, ''Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels''.Santa Barbara, Calif. ...
(
Anthony Warde
Anthony Warde (born Benjamin Schwartz; January 1, 1909 – January 8, 1975) was a noted American actor who appeared in over 150 films between 1937 and 1964.
Early years
Born as Benjamin Schwartz in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on New Year' ...
), and his army of "super-
racketeers". Only those who live in the "Hidden City", run by the benevolent scientist Dr. Huer (
C. Montague Shaw
Charles Montague Shaw (23 March 1882 – 6 February 1968) was an Australian character actor, often appearing in small supporting parts in more than 150 films.
Shaw was born in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
He began his acting care ...
) and his military counterpart,
Air Marshal Kragg (
William Gould), resist the criminal rulers of Earth.
Buck and Buddy join the resistance. They volunteer to go to
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas giant with an average radius of about nine and a half times that of Earth. It has only one-eighth the average density of Earth; h ...
, where they hope that they can find help in their fight against Kane. Wilma Deering (
Constance Moore
Constance Moore (January 18, 1920 or January 18, 1921Additional on April 23, 2017. – September 16, 2005) was an American singer and actress. Her most noted work was in wartime musicals such as ''Show Business'' and ''Atlantic City'' and the ...
) is assigned to accompany them. Saturn is run by Aldar (Guy Usher), the Council of the Wise and Prince Tallen. To the dismay of Buck and Buddy, they also discover that Kane has dispatched ambassadors of his own, headed by his loyal henchman, Captain Laska (
Henry Brandon). The serial then becomes a back-and-forth struggle between Buck and Kane to secure the planet's military support.
Chapters
Source:
# "Tomorrow's World"
# "Tragedy on Saturn"
# "The Enemy's Stronghold"
# "The Sky Patrol"
# "The Phantom Plane"
# "The Unknown Command"
# "Primitive Urge"
# "Revolt of the Zuggs"
# "Bodies Without Minds"
# "Broken Barriers"
# "A Prince in Bondage"
# "War of the Planets"
Cast
*
Buster Crabbe
Clarence Linden Crabbe II (; February 7, 1908 – April 23, 1983), known professionally as Buster Crabbe, was an American two-time Olympic swimmer and film and television actor. He won the 1932 Olympic gold medal for 400-meter freestyle swimmi ...
as
Buck Rogers
Buck Rogers is a science fiction adventure hero and feature comic strip created by Philip Francis Nowlan first appearing in daily US newspapers on January 7, 1929, and subsequently appearing in Sunday newspapers, international newspapers, books ...
*
Constance Moore
Constance Moore (January 18, 1920 or January 18, 1921Additional on April 23, 2017. – September 16, 2005) was an American singer and actress. Her most noted work was in wartime musicals such as ''Show Business'' and ''Atlantic City'' and the ...
as
Wilma Deering
Wilma Deering is a fictional character featured in the various iterations of Buck Rogers which have spanned many media over the years.Robert Jennings,"Bucking the Future: From 1928 to the 25th Century With Anthony Rogers". '' Comic Buyer's Guide ...
*
Jackie Moran
Jackie Moran (January 26, 1923 – September 20, 1990) was an American movie actor who, between 1936 and 1946, appeared in over thirty films, primarily in teenage roles.
Early life and Hollywood career
A native of Mattoon, Illinois, Jo ...
as George "Buddy" Wade
*
Anthony Warde
Anthony Warde (born Benjamin Schwartz; January 1, 1909 – January 8, 1975) was a noted American actor who appeared in over 150 films between 1937 and 1964.
Early years
Born as Benjamin Schwartz in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on New Year' ...
as
"Killer" Kane
*
C. Montague Shaw
Charles Montague Shaw (23 March 1882 – 6 February 1968) was an Australian character actor, often appearing in small supporting parts in more than 150 films.
Shaw was born in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
He began his acting care ...
as Doctor Huer
*
Jack Mulhall
John Joseph Francis Mulhall (October 7, 1887 – June 1, 1979) was an American film actor beginning in the silent film era who successfully transitioned to sound films, appearing in over 430 films in a career spanning 50 years.
Early years
Mu ...
as Captain Rankin
*
Guy Usher
James Guy Usher (May 9, 1883 – June 16, 1944) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 190 films between 1932 and 1943.
Born in Mason City, Iowa, Usher acted on stage before venturing into films. Billed as James Guy Usher, h ...
as Aldar
*
William Gould as Air Marshal Kragg
* Philson Ahn as Prince Tallen
*
Henry Brandon as Captain Laska
*
David Sharpe as Kane pilot / Hidden City sentry / Saturnian lieutenant
Production
The 12-part serial launched in 1939.
Buster Crabbe
Clarence Linden Crabbe II (; February 7, 1908 – April 23, 1983), known professionally as Buster Crabbe, was an American two-time Olympic swimmer and film and television actor. He won the 1932 Olympic gold medal for 400-meter freestyle swimmi ...
had played Flash Gordon in the serials
of the same name and ''
Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars
''Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars'' is a 1938 Universal Pictures 15–chapter science-fiction movie serial based on the syndicated newspaper comic strip ''Flash Gordon''. It is the second of the three Flash Gordon serials made by Universal between 1 ...
''.
Constance Moore
Constance Moore (January 18, 1920 or January 18, 1921Additional on April 23, 2017. – September 16, 2005) was an American singer and actress. Her most noted work was in wartime musicals such as ''Show Business'' and ''Atlantic City'' and the ...
played Lieutenant Wilma Deering, the sole female character, and
Jackie Moran
Jackie Moran (January 26, 1923 – September 20, 1990) was an American movie actor who, between 1936 and 1946, appeared in over thirty films, primarily in teenage roles.
Early life and Hollywood career
A native of Mattoon, Illinois, Jo ...
as "Buddy" Wade, an original character who was modeled on the Sunday strip character Buddy Deering.
Anthony Warde
Anthony Warde (born Benjamin Schwartz; January 1, 1909 – January 8, 1975) was a noted American actor who appeared in over 150 films between 1937 and 1964.
Early years
Born as Benjamin Schwartz in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on New Year' ...
was cast as "Killer" Kane, Rogers' enemy; this was the only time that Warde, who usually portrayed evil underlings in serials, played a lead villain. Korean-American actor Philson Ahn, younger brother of
Philip Ahn
Philip Ahn (born Pillip Ahn (), March 29, 1905 – February 28, 1978) was an American actor and activist of Korean descent. With over 180 film and television credits between 1935 and 1978, he was one of the most recognizable and prolific Asi ...
, played Prince Tallen, a Saturnian native who befriends Rogers.
Noted actor and "crown prince of stuntmen"
David Sharpe, who appeared in over 4,500 films over the course of a seven-decade career, appeared in several roles.
The serial had a small budget and saved money on special effects by re-using material from other stories: background shots from the futuristic 1930 musical ''
Just Imagine
''Just Imagine'' is a 1930 American pre-Code science fiction musical-comedy film, directed by David Butler. The film is known for its art direction and special effects in its portrayal of New York City in an imagined 1980. ''Just Imagine'' st ...
'', as the city of the future, the garishly stenciled walls from the Azura palace set in ''Trip to Mars'', and even the studded leather belt that Crabbe wore in ''Trip'', turned up as part of Buck's uniform.
Feature adaptations
In 1953, the serial was edited into a
feature film
A feature film or feature-length film is a narrative film (motion picture or "movie") with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole presentation in a commercial entertainment program. The term ''feature film'' originall ...
entitled ''Planet Outlaws'', by Sherman Krellberg for release via Goodwill Pictures Inc.
It was edited again to feature length and titled ''Destination Saturn'' for syndication to television, in 1965. Finally, the serial was edited once again into feature film format in the late 1970s, this version simply entitled ''Buck Rogers'' with the theatrical poster advertising, "''Star Wars'' owes it all to Buck Rogers", and which was later sold on videotape in the early 1990s by VCI Entertainment under the catalogue title of ''Planet Outlaws'' (which title, to make it appear legitimate, was also superimposed onto the first shot of film following the main titles). The original "Planet Outlaws" and also "Destination Saturn" have both been available in video format since the early 1980s, and as early as 1970 were both available for user-purchase in 16mm film format from Thunderbird Pictures. VCI released all twelve installments on DVD in September 2000. In November 2009, VCI released a special 70th anniversary edition on DVD, with extras including "The History of Buck Rogers" by Clifford "Laughing Gravy" Weimer, a photo gallery, and the 1935 Buck Rogers short feature originally shown at the 1933-34
World's Fair
A world's fair, also known as a universal exhibition or an expo, is a large international exhibition designed to showcase the achievements of nations. These exhibitions vary in character and are held in different parts of the world at a specif ...
.
Legacy
''Planet Outlaws'' received comedic commentary treatment in 2018 as a "...Presents" feature by Matthew J. Elliott and
Ian Potter
Sir William Ian Potter (25 August 190224 October 1994), known as Ian Potter, was an Australian stockbroker, businessman and philanthropist. Potter was knighted in 1962. The Ian Potter Foundation, which he established in 1964, has made grants t ...
as part of
RiffTrax
RiffTrax is an American company that produces scripted humorous commentary tracks which are synced to mostly public domain feature films, education shorts, and television episodes. With the talents of former ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' (''M ...
, an offshoot of cult movie-mocking TV series ''
Mystery Science Theater 3000
''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' (abbreviated as ''MST3K'') is an American science fiction comedy film review television series created by Joel Hodgson. The show premiered on KTMA-TV (now WUCW) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 24, 1988. ...
''.
See also
*
List of film serials
A list of film serials by year of release.
1910s
1920s
1930s
Films still exist from this point on unless noted otherwise:
1940s
1950s
See also
* Serial (film)
* List of film serials by studio
References
{{reflist
External linksSerial ...
by year
*
List of film serials by studio
This is a list of film serials by studio, separated into those released by each of the five major studios, and the remaining minor studios.
The five major studios produced the greater number of serials. Of these the main studios are consider ...
References
External links
"Buck Rogers" OFFICIAL WEBSITE(c) The Dille Family Trust
*
*
*
Buck Rogers.com
{{Authority control
1939 films
1930s science fiction adventure films
American black-and-white films
American science fiction adventure films
American space adventure films
1930s English-language films
Films based on comic strips
Films directed by Ford Beebe
Films set in 1938
Films set in the future
Films set in the 25th century
Universal Pictures film serials
Buck Rogers
1930s American films