The Secret of Treasure Island
Encyclopedia
The Secret of Treasure Island (1938) is a Columbia
movie serial
based on Robert Louis Stevenson
's novel Treasure Island
. The serial is broken into fifteen chapters. Reporter Larry Kent travels to an island in the Caribbean
to investigate the disappearance of his colleague, and discovers that the island contains a lost treasure trove of gold. Kent meets Toni Morrell, the daughter of a shipmate whose partner knew the location of the treasure, who helps him in his investigation and they search for the treasure together. During their investigation they are opposed by a villain named Collins and Dr. X., who attempts to kill Kent. Kent defeats Dr. X. in the final installment of the serial.
The story was written by L. Ron Hubbard
, at the time a pulp
science fiction
writer who went on to found Scientology
. Associate producer Louis Weiss hired Elmer Clifton
to direct, and Yakima Canutt
worked on the action sequences. The serial was well received by fans, and William C. Cline wrote positively of the action sequences in his book In the Nick of Time: Motion Picture Sound Serials. The serial received a one and a half star rating from Allmovie.
), the daughter of a shipmate whose murdered partner knew where the treasure was buried, agrees to help Kent investigate his friend's disappearance and locate the treasure. Morrell and Kent are opposed by a villain named Collins (Walter Miller
) who uses his henchmen and supply of weapons and land mines in an attempt to stop them. Kent's enemy in the film is Dr. X. (Hobart Bosworth
) who wears a skull mask and pirate clothing, and is in the process of developing a powerful explosive. Due to the actions of Dr. X., Kent is nearly buried alive, killed with dynamite and slashed in a sword battle. He defeats Dr. X. in the last installment of the serial titled "Justice".
Columbia movie serial, The Spider Returns
.
Producer Jack Fier
brought in Louis Weiss as associate producer, and hired Elmer Clifton
to direct. Yakima Canutt
worked on the action sequences in this serial and in The Mysterious Pilot
, which William C. Cline, author of In the Nick of Time: Motion Picture Sound Serials referred to as "outstanding" work. Earl Bun and Ken Peach handled special effects for the serial, including work on the appearance of the mysterious pirate villain.
The serial was highlighted as part of "Serial Fest 2002" in Pennsylvania
, which also included serials Batman and Robin
, Mysterious Doctor Satan
and The Adventures of Rex and Rinty
. The serial was shown along with the 1922 Down to the Sea in Ships
at the 2006 Memphis Film Festival, and in an article about the festival John Beifuss of The Commercial Appeal
called the two serials "Elmer Clifton classics".
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
movie serial
Serial (film)
Serials, more specifically known as Movie serials, Film serials or Chapter plays, were short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a feature film. They were related to pulp magazine serialized fiction...
based on Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. His best-known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
's novel Treasure Island
Treasure Island
Treasure Island is an adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, narrating a tale of "pirates and buried gold". First published as a book on May 23, 1883, it was originally serialized in the children's magazine Young Folks between 1881–82 under the title Treasure Island; or, the...
. The serial is broken into fifteen chapters. Reporter Larry Kent travels to an island in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
to investigate the disappearance of his colleague, and discovers that the island contains a lost treasure trove of gold. Kent meets Toni Morrell, the daughter of a shipmate whose partner knew the location of the treasure, who helps him in his investigation and they search for the treasure together. During their investigation they are opposed by a villain named Collins and Dr. X., who attempts to kill Kent. Kent defeats Dr. X. in the final installment of the serial.
The story was written by L. Ron Hubbard
L. Ron Hubbard
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard , better known as L. Ron Hubbard , was an American pulp fiction author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology...
, at the time a pulp
Pulp magazine
Pulp magazines , also collectively known as pulp fiction, refers to inexpensive fiction magazines published from 1896 through the 1950s. The typical pulp magazine was seven inches wide by ten inches high, half an inch thick, and 128 pages long...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
writer who went on to found Scientology
Scientology
Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
. Associate producer Louis Weiss hired Elmer Clifton
Elmer Clifton
Elmer Clifton, was an American writer, director, and actor from the early silent days. A collaborator of D. W. Griffith, he appeared in The Birth of a Nation and Intolerance before giving up acting in 1919 to concentrate on work behind the camera...
to direct, and Yakima Canutt
Yakima Canutt
Yakima Canutt , also known as Yak Canutt, was an American rodeo rider, actor, stuntman and action director.-Biography:...
worked on the action sequences. The serial was well received by fans, and William C. Cline wrote positively of the action sequences in his book In the Nick of Time: Motion Picture Sound Serials. The serial received a one and a half star rating from Allmovie.
Plot
The serial is set on a remote island in the Caribbean, where reporter Larry Kent (Don Terry) and his enemies search for a lost treasure trove of gold. Kent arrives on the island in search of another reporter who had gone missing. Kent discovers that valuable lost treasure is buried on the island, and finds half of a map which holds a clue to its location. Toni Morrell (Gwen GazeGwen Gaze
Alta Gwendolyn "Gwen" Gaze was an American-based film actress , born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Her best known role may have been opposite John Wayne in the 1937 film I Cover the War....
), the daughter of a shipmate whose murdered partner knew where the treasure was buried, agrees to help Kent investigate his friend's disappearance and locate the treasure. Morrell and Kent are opposed by a villain named Collins (Walter Miller
Walter Miller (actor)
Walter Miller was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 248 films between 1911 and 1940.He was born in Dayton, Ohio, and died in Hollywood, California, from a heart attack, aged 48...
) who uses his henchmen and supply of weapons and land mines in an attempt to stop them. Kent's enemy in the film is Dr. X. (Hobart Bosworth
Hobart Bosworth
Hobart Bosworth was an American film actor, director, writer, and producer.-Early life:Born Hobart Van Zandt Bosworth, he was a direct descendant of Miles Standish and John and Priscilla Alden on his father's side and of New York's Van Zandt family, the first Dutch settlers to land in the New...
) who wears a skull mask and pirate clothing, and is in the process of developing a powerful explosive. Due to the actions of Dr. X., Kent is nearly buried alive, killed with dynamite and slashed in a sword battle. He defeats Dr. X. in the last installment of the serial titled "Justice".
Production
Columbia announced plans to produce the serial in a June 29, 1937 press release describing their 1937-38 program. It was the third serial by Columbia, and the first of five costume chapter-plays. According to Columbia, the story was updated from Treasure Island, and adapted to fit the time period; L. Ron Hubbard asserted instead that he had adapted the screenplay from his novel Murder at Pirate Castle. An advertisement in the Motion Picture Herald described Hubbard as a "famous action writer, stunt pilot and world adventurer", and stated that he had written an "excitement-jammed yarn with one of the best box office titles in years". After his work on The Secret of Treasure Island, L. Ron Hubbard also helped with the script for the 19411941 in film
The year 1941 in film involved some significant events.-Events:Citizen Kane, consistently rated as one of the greatest films of all time, was released in 1941.-Top grossing films :-Academy Awards:...
Columbia movie serial, The Spider Returns
The Spider Returns
The Spider Returns is a Columbia movie serial based on the pulp magazine character The Spider. It was the fourteenth of the 57 serials released by Columbia and a sequel to its 1938 serial The Spider's Web. The first episode runs 32 minutes; the rest are about 17 minutes each.-Plot:Amateur...
.
Producer Jack Fier
Jack Fier
Jack Fier was an American film producer. He worked on over 140 films between 1938 and 1965.-Selected filmography:* The Secret of Treasure Island * The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok...
brought in Louis Weiss as associate producer, and hired Elmer Clifton
Elmer Clifton
Elmer Clifton, was an American writer, director, and actor from the early silent days. A collaborator of D. W. Griffith, he appeared in The Birth of a Nation and Intolerance before giving up acting in 1919 to concentrate on work behind the camera...
to direct. Yakima Canutt
Yakima Canutt
Yakima Canutt , also known as Yak Canutt, was an American rodeo rider, actor, stuntman and action director.-Biography:...
worked on the action sequences in this serial and in The Mysterious Pilot
The Mysterious Pilot
The Mysterious Pilot is a Columbia movie serial based on the book by William Byron Mowery and starring the record-breaking aviator Frank Hawks...
, which William C. Cline, author of In the Nick of Time: Motion Picture Sound Serials referred to as "outstanding" work. Earl Bun and Ken Peach handled special effects for the serial, including work on the appearance of the mysterious pirate villain.
Cast
- Don Terry as Larry Kent, a reporter investigating the disappearance of a colleague in the area
- Gwen GazeGwen GazeAlta Gwendolyn "Gwen" Gaze was an American-based film actress , born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Her best known role may have been opposite John Wayne in the 1937 film I Cover the War....
as Toni Morrell - Walter MillerWalter Miller (actor)Walter Miller was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 248 films between 1911 and 1940.He was born in Dayton, Ohio, and died in Hollywood, California, from a heart attack, aged 48...
as Carter 'The Shark' Collins, owner of the island - Grant WithersGrant WithersGrant Withers was an American film actor. With early beginnings in the silent era, Withers moved into talkies establishing himself with a list of headlined features as a young and handsome male lead...
as Roderick Gridley - George RosenerGeorge RosenerGeorge Michael Rosener wrote and acted in the Frank Buck serial Jungle Menace. -Career:...
as Capt. Samuel Cuttle - Hobart BosworthHobart BosworthHobart Bosworth was an American film actor, director, writer, and producer.-Early life:Born Hobart Van Zandt Bosworth, he was a direct descendant of Miles Standish and John and Priscilla Alden on his father's side and of New York's Van Zandt family, the first Dutch settlers to land in the New...
as Dr X. - Sandra Karina as Nurse Zanya
- Patrick J. KellyPatrick J. KellyPatrick J. Kelly was one of the founders and the first commissioner of the East Coast Hockey League in 1989. Kelly was named Commissioner Emeritus of the ECHL following the 1995–96 season, after serving as Commissioner for the first eight seasons of the ECHL. The league playoff champions wins a...
as Professor Gault - Yakima CanuttYakima CanuttYakima Canutt , also known as Yak Canutt, was an American rodeo rider, actor, stuntman and action director.-Biography:...
as Dreer, Leader of the Mole Men, Collins' slave diggers
Reception
The serial was well received by fans, and helped to solidify Columbia's presence in movie serials. Hal Erickson of Allmovie gave the serial a rating of one and a half stars. In his book In the Nick of Time: Motion Picture Sound Serials, William C. Cline described the action in the serial as "well paced and lively". Alan G. Barbour's book Days of Thrills and Adventure: History of the American motion picture serial from 1930-50 called The Secret of Treasure Island "one of Columbia's few good serials", and described actor Don Terry's performance as "excellent".The serial was highlighted as part of "Serial Fest 2002" in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, which also included serials Batman and Robin
Batman and Robin (serial)
Batman and Robin is a 15-chapter serial released in 1949 by Columbia Pictures. Robert Lowery played Batman, while Johnny Duncan played Robin...
, Mysterious Doctor Satan
Mysterious Doctor Satan
Mysterious Doctor Satan is a 1940 film serial named after its chief villain. Doctor Satan's main opponent is The Copperhead, a masked mystery man secretly Bob Wayne....
and The Adventures of Rex and Rinty
The Adventures of Rex and Rinty
The Adventures of Rex and Rinty is a Mascot film serial starring the Rex and canine actor Rin Tin Tin, Jr..-Cast:* Rex as Rex, The King of Wild Horses* Rin Tin Tin, Jr...
. The serial was shown along with the 1922 Down to the Sea in Ships
Down to the Sea in Ships
Down to the Sea in Ships is a 1922 American silent film about a 19th century Massachusetts whaling family. Directed by Elmer Clifton, the film stars William Walcott, Marguerite Courtot, and Clara Bow.-Plot:...
at the 2006 Memphis Film Festival, and in an article about the festival John Beifuss of The Commercial Appeal
The Commercial Appeal
The Commercial Appeal is the predominant daily newspaper of Memphis, Tennessee, and its surrounding metropolitan area. It is owned by The E. W. Scripps Company, a major North American media company. Scripps also owned the former afternoon paper, the Memphis Press-Scimitar, which it folded in...
called the two serials "Elmer Clifton classics".
Chapter titles
Source- The Isle of Fear
- The Ghost Talks
- The Phantom Duel
- Buried Alive
- The Girl Who Vanished
- Trapped by the Flood
- The Cannon Roars
- The Circle of Death
- The Pirate's Revenge
- The Crash
- Dynamite
- The Bridge of Doom
- The Mad Flight
- The Jaws of Destruction
- Justice