Captain America
(1944)
Adventure / Serial
Republic serial of Captain America was the first Marvel superhero to make it to the screen, with Dick Purcell playing the title role.
Few other serials caused as much dissent as this one. Republic, renowned for taking liberties with the characters on whom the serials were based, rejected the original premise of the comic book character and came up with their own version of prior events, and then went on to make more changes to the character for the serial they produced. Nevertheless, many fans see it as one of Republic's most action-packed, exciting, and well-acted serials that the company ever produced.
Plot:
In an unidentified city several bizarre suicides have been taking place. Prominent scientists and businessmen hear strange voices commanding them to kill themselves. Police find the dead men clutching a jewelled scarab in their hand and the presence of an unknown drug in their system. Enter Superhero Captain America who battles the evil forces of the arch villain, The Scarab, who poisons his enemies and steals a secret device capable of destroying buildings with sound vibrations.
Cast:
Dick Purcell as District Attorney Grant Gardner and Captain America
Lorna Gray as Gail Richards, Grant Gardner's secretary
Lionel Atwill as Dr. Cyrus Maldor/The Scarab
Charles Trowbridge as Police Commissioner Dryden
Russell Hicks as Mayor Randolph
George J. Lewis as Bart Matson
John Davidson as Gruber
Stanley Price as Purple Death chemist
Chapter titles
Chapter 1 - The Purple Death
Chapter 2 - Mechanical Executioner
Chapter 3 - The Scarlet Shroud
Chapter 4 - Preview of Murder
Chapter 5 - Blade of Wrath
Chapter 6 - Vault of Vengeance
Chapter 7 - Wholesale Destruction
Chapter 8 - Cremation in the Clouds
Chapter 9 - Triple Tragedy
Chapter 10 - The Avenging Corpse
Chapter 11 - The Dead Man Returns
Chapter 12 - Horror on the Highway
Chapter 13 - Skyscraper Plunge
Chapter 14 - The Scarab Strikes
Chapter 15 - The Toll of Doom
