Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Six writers! Three directors! And Linda Stirling! 'Manhunt On Mystery Island' is a fast moving and entertaining serial set on the eponymous island and concerns Claire Forrest looking for her kidnapped scientist father, helped by Lance Reardon. The villain of the piece is supposedly long dead Captain Mephisto who is also another character in the serial due to his ability to change his bodily form (in what looks like an electric chair!). In the usual way of serials there are lots of chases, traps, mysteries, fights and ups and downs until everything is resolved. The fist fights are great. Before they start you can guess what will be broken or upset, whether it is a table, cupboard, set of shelves, bookcases, barrels etc. and the participants fight with great gusto. Linda Stirling as Claire Forrest is splendid as usual, her character is smart, sexy and very handy with a gun. She does rescuing as well as the male lead so is definitely not the helpless female. Roy Barcroft chews the scenery as Captain Mephisto (when not breaking up the scenery in fights) and is a pleasure to watch. Kudos must also go to Dale Van Sickel who plays Barker and Ritter and Lewis and Frazier and Sardon. Talk about versatile! The rest of the cast are adequate.Some people don't like serials because of the repetition of certain things but they were not meant to be watched all at once but at intervals, so each episode had to have things to remind viewers of previous episodes. Anyway, if you like serials this is a good one.

*Spoiler/plot- 1945, A breakthrough scientific device will revolutionize the world's energy usage if the kidnapped inventor can be found. To rescue her father, Claire Forrest enlists the help of ace sleuth Lance Reardon. Clues lead them to a Pacific isle, where the two confront sinister and astonishing forces. The descendants of a long-dead pirate, Mephisto are holding the scientist for their own nefarious gain. And one of the heirs has a 'transformation chair' that changes him into the molecular duplicate of Captain Mephisto. By the time Claire and Lance learn the truth about the pirate's plot, it maybe too late. *Special Stars- Richard Bailey, Linda Stirling, Roy Barcroft. Dir: Yakima Canutt, Spencer Gordon Bennet*Theme- Greed and crime go hand in hand.*Based on- Comic book themes of the time period.*Trivia/location/goofs- The ocean chase and beach scenes are shot in Southern California. Nice to see stuntman and stunt arranger, Yakima Canutt, get some screen credit.*Emotion- A somewhat forgettable Republic post WW2 serial with only one gimmick, the 'Transformation Chair'. Those transformation scenes become tedious and several repetitive flashback scenes near the last episode is confusing to the viewer. Suspense and excitement might build as the lead actors are lowered toward a watery doom nearly squashed like grapes, dropped off a bridge, and much more in this amazing 15 chapters theatrical serial. The pirate costume is something to be seen and only laughed at while on screen.

One of the main reasons I enjoyed this serial so much is because Linda Stirling seemed to rescue our hero almost as many times as he rescues her! This made her role a little ahead of its time, I think. She was more a team player than just a damsel in distress. Really fun stuff and Linda plays her part to the fullest. It must have been a drag having to wear the same outfit for 15 episodes, but,in true serial fashion, none of the guys lost their hats during the numerous fight scenes. I tend to watch for that - it's kind of a trademark of serials. I thought it was fun to try and figure out which one of the cast was the real Captain Mephisto! This is great "Rainy Day" fare - and relatively family-friendly! I recommend it.

Top of the line serial from Republic. Great cliffhanger endings, flagging only slightly in later chapters. Bailey is an effective (if slightly dorky looking) hero, Linda Stirling is lovely and gets involved in the action (although she does get knocked cold every other chapter), and Duncan is an effective henchman. Roy Barcroft, as Captain Mephisto, steals the show. Barcroft considered this role his best and personal favorite, and it's easy to see why: he obviously relishes his villainy, looks great in the costume, and throws himself into the fights. All around classic from the Republic thrill factory.