A 12-part Film Serial released by Republic Pictures in 1946. Starring Charles Quigley, Linda Stirling, and Clayton Moore.
Patriotic physicist Dr. Chambers has created the "Cyclotrode," a device capable of generating a powerful Electro-Magnetic Pulse. He intends to hand his invention over to the government as a measure to repel a possible nuclear attack. Unfortunately for Dr. Chambers, another party is interested in his device: one of his fellow faculty members is secretly The Crimson Ghost, a Supervillain who wants the Cyclotrode for his own nefarious plans. Assisted by the gangster Ashe (Moore) and his array of scientific gadgetry, the Ghost aims to kidnap the scientist and get his hands on the device. Chambers' colleagues, criminologist Duncan Richards (Quigley) and secretary Diana Farnsworth (Stirling), are on the case, to foil the Crimson Ghost and bring him to justice.
It only takes them 12 episodes to do it.
With an original run-time over over 230 minutes, the serial was edited and re-released twice: as a six-part half-hour TV series in the 1950's, and as a 90-minute colorized feature film in 1966.
The series has attained a minor cult following in popular culture, due to the distinct appearance of the Crimson Ghost's costume. The visage of his skull mask is a recurring image in horror fandom and punk music. The Misfits adopted the image as a main part of their iconography.
Tropes:
- Accidental Murder: Duncan inadvertently causes the death of two of the Crimson Ghost's operatives by attempting to remove their explosive "control collars" after knocking them out.
- Action Girl: Diana, at least compared to most female leads in other film serials of the time. She's a pilot, a stunt driver, and a decent shot with a pistol. Even during her inevitable capture she doesn't go down without a fight.
- Artistic License – Physics: The description of the Cyclotrode makes it sound like an EMP device, but it's somehow able to detect nuclear bombs as well as deactivate them.
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Blooper: The dramatic introduction of the title villain is undermined by the actor stumbling as he makes his way through the dark in his long robes. - Clip Show: Episode 8 is largely a recap of the action so far, with recycled footage from the first three episodes.
- The Dragon: Ashe is the Crimson Ghost's right-hand man and main field operative.
- Explosive Leash: The Crimson Ghost makes use of "control collars" on his henchmen that will explode if removed, killing them instantly.
- Famed In-Story: It would seem that the Crimson Ghost is already a well-known Supervillain by the time the story begins; he brags about being wanted by the FBI and other investigative bodies, at least.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Chambers dies saving Duncan from a trap he set himself to kill the Ghost.
- Leitmotif: The soundtrack hits us with a frantic woodwind sting whenever the Crimson Ghost enters the scene.
- Locking MacGyver in the Store Cupboard: When the Crimson Ghost demands that Chambers build a larger-scale version of the Cyclotrode, he makes the cardinal mistake of leaving a brilliant engineer in a fully-stocked electronics laboratory, under the supervision of a henchman who doesn't understand anything Chambers is doing. One improvised death ray later, Chambers is free to make his own escape.
- Made of Iron: As required by a film serial, in nearly every episode Duncan finds himself getting into a brutal fistfight, diving from an out-of-control car, or being drugged or otherwise rendered unconscious (if not all three). By the next episode he's perfectly fine.
- Mad Scientist: The Crimson Ghost, obviously.
- Mind Control: The Ghost suborns operatives by injecting them with a "will-destroying compound" that makes them more susceptible to his commands.
- Nebulous Evil Organization: The Ghost's organization seems to be as large or as small as the plot demands. Some of his henchmen are under control with drugs and explosive collars, while others appear to be working for him of their own free will (including the lab cleaning lady).
- Non-Action Big Bad: Criminal Mastermind the Crimson Ghost may be, but skilled fighter he is not. The few times Duncan gets his hands on him he tosses him like a ragdoll (the fact that he's really a middle-aged academic may have something to do with that). Clearly this is why he keeps Ashe around.
- Offscreen Villainy: Kidnapping Dr. Chambers happens off-screen, as do a lot of the Ghost's machinations that actually sound like they'd be exciting to watch.
- Omnidisciplinary Scientist: As well as being a criminologist, Duncan Richards is also one of the top physicists in the country.
- Only in It for the Money: Ashe only works for the Crimson Ghost because he pays well; he could care less about the politics.
- Reverse Whodunit: Of a sort. We viewers learn early on in the series that the Crimson Ghost is really one of the other scientists on the committee overseeing Chambers' research, but we don't know which one. Watching each of the committee members' reactions to Duncan's investigations closing in can be a fun Rewatch Bonus.
- Super Villain: Rather than just sell the Cyclotrode to a foreign government, the Crimson Ghost plans to use it to hold cities to ransom.
- When Things Spin, Science Happens: The Cyclotrode has one of those swirling disc thingies that another film serial would likely use as a mind control device. Maybe Chambers is actually a fraud hypnotising everyone into thinking his Cyclotrode works better than it does?
