Fred C. Brannon (April 26, 1901 – April 6, 1953) was an American

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, p ...

of the 1940s and 1950s. He directed over 40 films between 1945 and his death. His first film ''

The Purple Monster Strikes ''The Purple Monster Strikes'' is a 1945 Republic Movie serial. It was also released as a Century 66 television film under the title ''D-Day on Mars'' (1966). The original production title for the serial was ''The Purple Shadow Strikes''. The ...

'' in 1945 was co-directed with

Spencer Gordon Bennet Spencer Gordon Bennet (January 5, 1893 – October 8, 1987) was an American film producer and director. Known as the "King of Serial Directors", he directed more film serials than any other director. Biography Born in Brooklyn, New York, Benne ...

Filmography

*1945: ''

'' *1946: '' The Phantom Rider'' (as Fred Brannon) *1946: ''

King of the Forest Rangers ''King of the Forest Rangers'' (1946) is a Republic film serial. Cast *Larry Thompson as Forest Ranger Captain Steve King *Helen Talbot as Marion Brennan * Stuart Hamblen as Prof Carver *Anthony Warde as Burt Spear *LeRoy Mason as "Flush" Halida ...

'' (as Fred Bannon) *1946: ''

Daughter of Don Q ''Daughter of Don Q'' (1946) is a Republic Movie serial. It combines elements of the B-Western genre with contemporary crime films, especially the popular "land grab" plot in which the villain attempts to steal apparently worthless land from t ...

'' *1946: ''

The Crimson Ghost ''The Crimson Ghost'' is a 1946 American film serial directed by Fred C. Brannon and William Witney. Produced by Republic Pictures and written by Albert DeMond, Basil Dickey, Jesse Duffy, and Sol Shor, it was the last serial that Witney direct ...

'' *1947: ''

Son of Zorro ''Son of Zorro'' is a 1947 American Western film serial from Republic Pictures. It was the 43rd of the 66 serials produced by that studio. The serial was directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon. George Turner starred as a descend ...

'' *1947: ''

Jesse James Rides Again ''Jesse James Rides Again'' is a 1947 American Republic Western film serial. Plot Gunfighter Jesse James is framed for a Missouri bank job and murder by a black-cowled outlaw gang, known as "The Black Raiders". Unable to clear his name, him an ...

'' *1947: '' The Black Widow'' *1948: ''

G-Men Never Forget ''G-Men Never Forget'' is a 1948 Republic movie serial. The serial was condensed into a feature film in 1966 and re-released under the title ''Code 645''. Plot Escaped criminal Victor Murkland (Roy Barcroft) kidnaps the police commissioner an ...

'' *1948: ''

Dangers of the Canadian Mounted ''Dangers of the Canadian Mounted'' is a 1948 Northern Republic film serial. Plot A criminal gang discovers a Genghis Khan treasure ship on the Canada-Alaska border. However, the treasure itself is hidden on land. In their efforts to find the ...

'' (as Fred Bannon) *1948: ''

Adventures of Frank and Jesse James ''Adventures of Frank and Jesse James'' is a 1948 Republic film serial directed by Fred C. Brannon and Yakima Canutt and starring Clayton Moore, Steve Darrell, Noel Neill, George J. Lewis, John Crawford, and Sam Flint. Plot Cast * Clayto ...

'' (as Fred Brannon) *1949: '' Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc.'' *1949: ''

Ghost of Zorro ''Ghost of Zorro'' is a 1949 Republic Movie serial. It uses substantial stock footage from earlier serials, including ''Son of Zorro'' and ''Daredevils of the West''. This film was shot in Chatsworth, Los Angeles. Plot The year is 1865 and the ...

'' *1949: ''

Frontier Investigator ''Frontier Investigator'' is a 1949 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Fred C. Brannon and written by Robert Creighton Williams. The film stars Allan Lane, Eddy Waller, Roy Barcroft, Gail Davis, Robert Emmett Keane and Clayton M ...

'' *1949: ''

King of the Rocket Men ''King of the Rocket Men'' is a 1949 12-chapter black-and-white movie serial from Republic Pictures, produced by Franklin Adreon, directed Fred C. Brannon, that stars Tristram Coffin, Mae Clarke, Don Haggerty, House Peters, Jr., James Craven, ...

'' *1949: ''

Bandit King of Texas ''Bandit King of Texas'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Fred C. Brannon and written by Olive Cooper. The film stars Allan Lane, Eddy Waller, Helene Stanley, James Nolan, Harry Lauter and Robert Bice. The film was released on Augus ...

'' *1949: ''

The James Brothers of Missouri ''The James Brothers of Missouri'' is a 1949 American Republic Western film serial. Cast * Keith Richards as Jesse James * Robert Bice as Frank James * Noel Neill as Peg Royer * Roy Barcroft as Ace Marlin * Patricia Knox as Belle Calhoun * L ...

'' *1949: '' Radar Patrol vs. Spy King'' *1950: ''

Gunmen of Abilene ''Gunmen of Abilene'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Fred C. Brannon and written by M. Coates Webster. The film stars Allan Lane, Eddy Waller, Roy Barcroft, Donna Hamilton, Peter Brocco and Selmer Jackson. The film was released as ...

'' *1950: ''

Code of the Silver Sage ''Code of the Silver Sage'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Fred C. Brannon and starring Allan Lane. Plot Cast *Allan Lane as Lieutenant Rocky Lane *Eddy Waller as Nugget Clark *Roy Barcroft as Hulon Champion *Kay Christopher as ...

'' *1950: ''

Salt Lake Raiders ''Salt Lake Raiders'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Fred C. Brannon and starring Allan Lane. Plot Ghost-town crooks make a lawman ( Allan "Rocky" Lane), a falsely accused escaped convict (Myron Healey), and an old coot (Eddy Wal ...

'' *1950: ''

The Invisible Monster ''The Invisible Monster'' is a 1950 Republic film serial, starring Richard Webb and Aline Towne. Plot A would-be dictator and scientist, known only as ''The Phantom Ruler'', has developed a formula which, when sprayed on some solid object, rend ...

'' *1950: ''

Desperadoes of the West ''Desperadoes of the West'' (1950) is a 12-chapter Republic film serial. Cast *Richard Powers as Ward Gordon *Judy Clark as Sally Arnold *Roy Barcroft as Hacker, a henchman * I. Stanford Jolley as J. B. "Dude" Dawson *Lee Phelps as Rusty Steele ...

'' *1950: '' Vigilante Hideout'' *1950: ''

Rustlers on Horseback ''Rustlers on Horseback'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Fred C. Brannon and starring Allan Lane, Claudia Barrett and Eddy Waller.Drew p.18 The film's art direction was by Frank Arrigo. The film released as a Fawcett Movie Comic# ...

'' *1950: ''

Flying Disc Man from Mars ''Flying Disc Man from Mars'' is a 1950 Republic Pictures 12-chapter black-and-white science fiction adventure film serial, produced by Franklin Adreon, directed by Fred C. Brannon, that stars Walter Reed, Lois Collier, Gregory Gaye, James Crav ...

'' *1951: ''

Arizona Manhunt ''Arizona Manhunt'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by Fred C. Brannon and starring Michael Chapin, Eilene Janssen and James Bell.Drew p.656 The film's sets were designed by the art director Frank Hotaling. Plot Cast * Michael ...

'' *1951: ''

Lost Planet Airmen ''Lost Planet Airmen'' is a 1951 black-and-white American science fiction film produced and distributed by Republic Pictures, which is actually the feature film condensation of their 1949 12-chapter serial, ''King of the Rocket Men''. ''Lost Pl ...

'' *1951: ''

Government Agents vs Phantom Legion ''Government Agents vs Phantom Legion'' (1951) is a 12-chapter American black-and-white action film serial produced and distributed by Republic Pictures Corporation in 1951. It is an original, studio-commissioned screenplay by Ronald Davidson, p ...

'' *1951: ''

Don Daredevil Rides Again ''Don Daredevil Rides Again'' (1951) is a Republic Movie serial. It makes heavy use of stock footage from Republic's previous Zorro serials. The character of ''Don Daredevil'' (Ken Curtis) was created for this serial as the rights to Zorro bel ...

'' *1951: ''

Night Riders of Montana ''Night Riders of Montana'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by Fred C. Brannon and written by M. Coates Webster. The film stars Allan Lane, Chubby Johnson, Roy Barcroft, Claudia Barrett, Arthur Space and Myron Healey. The film was rel ...

'' *1951: ''

Rough Riders of Durango ''Rough Riders of Durango'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by Fred C. Brannon and written by M. Coates Webster. The film stars Allan Lane, Walter Baldwin, Aline Towne, Steve Darrell, Ross Ford, and Denver Pyle. The film was release ...

'' *1952: ''

Radar Men from the Moon ''Radar Men from the Moon'' is a 1952 black-and-white Republic Pictures' 12-chapter movie serial, the first Commando Cody serial starring newcomer George Wallace as Cody, Aline Towne as his sidekick Joan Gilbert, and serial veteran Roy Barcroft ...

'' *1952: ''

Captive of Billy the Kid ''Captive of Billy the Kid'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by Fred C. Brannon and starring Allan Lane, Grant Withers and Penny Edwards.Boggs p.112 The film's sets were designed by the art director Frank Arrigo. Plot Cast * Alla ...

'' *1952: '' Wild Horse Ambush'' *1952: ''

Zombies of the Stratosphere ''Zombies of the Stratosphere'' is a 1952 black-and-white Republic Studios serial directed by Fred C. Brannon, with a screenplay by Ronald Davidson, and special effects by Republic's Lydecker brothers. It was intended to be Republic's second ser ...

'' *1953: ''

Jungle Drums of Africa ''Jungle Drums of Africa'' is a 1953 12-episode American serial film shot in black-and-white. It was an original commissioned screenplay by Ronald Davidson produced by Franklin Adreon and directed by Fred C. Brannon for Republic Pictures. The s ...

'' *1955: '' Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe'' *1958: ''

Missile Monsters ''Flying Disc Man from Mars'' is a 1950 Republic Pictures 12-chapter black-and-white science fiction adventure film serial, produced by Franklin Adreon, directed by Fred C. Brannon, that stars Walter Reed, Lois Collier, Gregory Gaye, James Crave ...

'' *1958: '' Satan's Satellites'' *1959: ''

'' *1964: '' Cyclotrode 'X''' *1965: '' R.C.M.P. and the Treasure of Genghis Khan'' (as Fred Brannon) *1966: '' D-Day on Mars''

External links

* American film directors Film serial crew 1901 births 1953 deaths {{US-film-director-1900s-stub