Considered by many to be the finest serial ever made, The Adventures of Captain Marvel chronicles the exploits of “The World’s Mightiest Mortal” as he combats The Scorpion, a hooded villain intent on obtaining six optical lenses that, when aligned properly, turn ordinary stones into gold! Highlighting the serial were the fabulous flying sequences by Republic’s ace special effects team, Howard and Theodore Lydecker. Combining a wired dummy photographed against real backgrounds in natural sunlight, with spectacular take-off leaps and landings supplied by action ace, David Sharpe, the final effects are still as fascinating today as they were in 1941.

Adventures of Captain Marvel

Chapter 1: Curse of the Scorpion

Billy Batson is given the ability to become Captain Marvel after the curse of the Scorpion is unleashed.

On a scientific expedition to Siam young Billy Batson is given the ability to change himself into the super-powered Captain Marvel by the wizard Shazam, who tells him his powers will last only as long as the Golden Scorpion idol is threatened. Finding the idol, the scientists realize it could be the most powerful weapon in the world and remove the lenses that energize it, distributing them among themselves so that no one would be able to use the idol by himself. Back in the US, Billy Batson, as Captain Marvel, wages a battle against an evil, hooded figure, the Scorpion, who hopes to accumulate all five lenses, thereby gaining control of the super-powerful weapon.

Cast and Crew:

Tom Tyler / Captain Marvel
Frank Coghlan Jr. / Billy Batson
William ‘Billy’ Benedict / Whitey Murphy

# Writers: Ronald Davidson

# Director: John English, William Witney

Production Company: Republic Pictures
Original Air Date: 1941
Audio & Video: Mono – Black and White

Additional details in: IMDB

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