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 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, ge ...

s than any other director.

Biography

Born in

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

, New York, Bennet first entered show business as a stunt man, when he answered a newspaper ad to jump from the Palisades of the Hudson River while wearing a suit for the serial film ''

Hurricane Hutch ''Hurricane Hutch'' is a 1921 American adventure film serial directed by George B. Seitz. The film is considered to be lost. The story concerns the search for a lost formula for making paper from seaweed that will save a mortgaged papermill. ...

'' (1921). The gig at that time paid $1 per foot he had to fall. He made his directorial debut in 1921's ''Behold the Man'' but made his serial directorial debut in 1925 with '' Sunken Silver''. He would keep making serials, as well as B-Western features, until the very end of the genre, directing the last two serials made in the United States, '' Blazing the Overland Trail'' (1956) and '' Perils of the Wilderness'' (1956). After the serials ended he directed a handful of features, his final directorial credit being 1965's '' The Bounty Killer'', which was also the final film to feature pioneering cowboy star

Broncho Billy Anderson Gilbert M. "Broncho Billy" Anderson (born Maxwell Henry Aronson; March 21, 1880 – January 20, 1971) was an American actor, writer, film director, and film producer, who was the first star of the Western film genre. He was a founder and star ...

. When he died in 1987,he was buried at the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles, his tombstone was engraved "His Final Chapter". Over his long career Bennet directed over 100 serials, including the Superman serials ''

Superman Superman is a superhero created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, which first appeared in the comic book ''Action Comics'' Action Comics 1, #1, published in the United States on April 18, 1938.The copyright date of ''Action Comics ...

'' and '' Atom Man vs. Superman'' both starring

Kirk Alyn Kirk Alyn (born John Feggo Jr.; October 8, 1910 – March 14, 1999) was an American actor, best known for being the first actor to play the DC Comics character Superman in live-action for the 1948 movie serial ''Superman'' and its 1950 sequel '' ...

; '' The Masked Marvel''; '' G-Men vs. the Black Dragon'' and '' Secret Service in Darkest Africa'' both starring Rod Cameron as agent Rex Bennett; the second Batman serial '' Batman and Robin''; '' The Purple Monster Strikes''; the '' Adventures of Sir Galahad''; '' The Tiger Woman''; '' Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere''; '' Zorro's Black Whip'', and numerous western serials. Among his "B" features were four for the '' Jungle Jim'' series starring Johnny Weissmuller and two for the ''

Red Ryder ''Red Ryder'' is a Western comic strip created by Stephen Slesinger and artist Fred Harman which served as the basis for a wide array of character merchandising. Syndicated by Newspaper Enterprise Association, the strip ran from Sunday, Novem ...

'' series, featuring

Wild Bill Elliott Wild Bill Elliott (born Gordon Nance, October 16, 1904 – November 26, 1965) was an American film actor. He specialized in playing the rugged heroes of B Westerns, particularly the Red Ryder series of films. Early life Elliott was born G ...

and Allan "Rocky" Lane. He also directed eight episodes of the '' Ramar of the Jungle'' TV series.

Preservation

The Academy Film Archive preserved two of Spencer Gordon Bennet's films, ''Hawk of the Hills'' and ''Snowed In''.

Partial filmography

* '' Sunken Silver'' (1925) * '' The Green Archer'' (1925) * '' The House Without a Key'' (1926) * '' Marked Money'' (1928) * ''

Queen of the Northwoods ''Queen of the Northwoods'' is 1929 American silent Western film serial by Pathé, directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and Thomas Storey, with a story by George Arthur Gray. Known cast members were Walter Miller, Ethlyne Clair and Frank Lackte ...

'' (1929) * ''

Rogue of the Rio Grande ''Rogue of the Reedler Grande'' is a 1930 American pre-Code musical comedy Western (genre), Western film directed by Spencer Hudson Rumer and starring José Reedler, Reed Gayfart and Walter White (actor), Reedler Miller.Pitts p. 344 Plot El Ma ...

'' (1930) * '' The Last Frontier'' (1932) * '' Badge of Honor'' (1934) * ''

Rescue Squad A rescue squad is an emergency service that provides technical rescue services, and may additionally provide emergency medical services and firefighting services. Rescue squads may be standalone organizations or an integrated part of fire dep ...

'' (1935) * '' Western Courage'' (1935) * '' Ranger Courage'' (1936) * '' Rio Grande Ranger'' (1936) * '' The Fugitive Sheriff'' (1936) * '' The Unknown Ranger'' (1936) * '' The Mysterious Pilot'' (1937) * '' Oklahoma Terror'' (1939) * '' The Secret Code'' (1942) * '' The Valley of Vanishing Men'' (1942) * '' G-Men vs. the Black Dragon'' (1943) * '' Secret Service in Darkest Africa'' (1943) * '' The Masked Marvel'' (1943) * '' Canyon City'' (1943) * '' The Tiger Woman'' (1944) * '' Haunted Harbor'' (1944) * '' Zorro's Black Whip'' (1944) * '' Manhunt on Mystery Island'' (1945) * '' Federal Operator 99'' (1945) * '' The Purple Monster Strikes'' (1945) * '' The Phantom Rider'' (1946) * '' King of the Forest Rangers'' (1946) * '' Daughter of Don Q'' (1946) * '' Son of Zorro'' (1947) * '' The Black Widow'' (1947) * '' Brick Bradford'' (1947) * ''

'' (1948) * ''

Congo Bill Congorilla (originally in human: William "Congo Bill" Glenmorgan) is a superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and Vertigo Comics. Originally co-created by writer Whitney Ellsworth and artist George Papp, he was later transfor ...

'' (1948) * '' Bruce Gentry – Daredevil of the Skies'' (1948) * '' Batman and Robin'' (1949) * '' Adventures of Sir Galahad'' (1949) * '' Cody of the Pony Express'' (1950) * '' Atom Man vs. Superman'' (1950) * '' Pirates of the High Seas'' (1950) * '' Roar of the Iron Horse'' (1951) * '' Mysterious Island'' (1951) * '' King of the Congo'' (1952) * '' Brave Warrior'' (1952) * '' The Miraculous Blackhawk: Freedom's Champion'' (1952) * '' Son of Geronimo'' (1952) * ''

Voodoo Tiger ''Voodoo Tiger'' is a 1952 American adventure film directed by Spencer G. Bennet and starring Johnny Weissmuller in his ninth performance as the protagonist adventurer Jungle Jim. It was written by Samuel Newman and produced by Columbia Pictures. ...

'' (1952) * '' The Lost Planet'' (1953) * '' Killer Ape'' (1953) * '' Gunfighters of the Northwest'' (1954) * '' Riding with Buffalo Bill'' (1954) * '' Adventures of Captain Africa Mighty Jungle Avenger!'' (1955) * '' Devil Goddess'' (1955) * '' Perils of the Wilderness'' (1956) * '' Blazing the Overland Trail'' (1956) * '' The Atomic Submarine'' (1959)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bennet, Spencer Gordon 1893 births 1987 deaths Film producers from New York (state) Film serial crew Film directors from Brooklyn Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)