ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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Entertaining feature version of the modest Republic serial "Hawk of the Wilderness", about an uncharted island near the North Pole which possesses a temperate climate, a smoldering volcano, and a tribe of hostile Indians (polar Indians?).

The Indians threaten a group of explorers who arrive in search of treasure. Kioga (Bruce Bennett) is a combination Tarzan-and-Tonto, a bare-chested and buckskin-clad hero. He's the orphaned son of a previous explorer, raised on the island by a faithful manservant. Kioga defends the explorers from two enemy groups: the Indians and the mutinous crew of the ship that brought the adventurers.

The scenic locations appear to be northern California, which makes it pretty tough for the viewer to buy the alleged near-polar locale. No explanation is given for the sunny weather, but there are some nice special effects of an exploding volcano.

William Witney's direction lacks flair, the acting is mediocre, and the plot never gets too exciting -- but it never gets too dull either. The cast includes Monte Blue, John English, Jill Martin, and Noble Johnson (the native chief in "King Kong").
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

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The video below is the entire serial, with fairly good picture!

Kioga (Herman Brix) plays this Tarzan-like character as educated and able to speak well, unlike Johnny Weissmuller version of Tarzan (something I've never liked).

The YouTube provider of the video offers this description of the serial's premise.
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Kioga (Herman Brix, “The New Adventures of Tarzan”) is very similar to the character of Tarzan, in that when his scientist father leads an expedition to an uncharted island that may be the ancestral home of all Native Americans, there’s a shipwreck.

The only survivors are the infant son and their Indian servant, Mokuyi (Noble Johnson, “The Ghost Breakers”).

Years later, an expedition sets out to find the island again, led by Dr. Monro (Tom Chatterton, “Captain America”). Part of the crew, led by smuggler Solerno (William Royle, “Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe”), mutinies when they reach the island.

But Dr Munro and company are rescued by Kioga, who has been raised on the island by Mokuyi and the natives.
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___________ Hawk of the Wilderness (1938 Serial)


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

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I don't know about the rest of this serial, but the last ten minutes of chapter 12 is a rip-roaring, thrill-packed extravaganza!

There's several landslides, a flash flood, an erupting volcano, a shoot-out between white men with pistols and Indians with bows, and a dramatic attempt to escape from the whole thing by a group in a airplane!

And all this happens in rapid succession!

Not a bad finish for this obscure Republic serial.
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____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)