Production
The Masked Marvel was budgeted at $157,110 (equivalent to $2,766,345in 2023) although the final negative cost was $179,960 (equivalent to $3,168,680in 2023)—a $22,850, or 14.5%, overspend. [1]
It was filmed between 14 July and 18 August 1943. [1] In terms of cost per chapter, this was Republic's third most expensive serial, behind Radar Men from the Moon and The Tiger Woman . [1] The serial's production number was 1296. [1]
The Masked Marvel is a reverse of the "old mystery villain theme". The identity of the Masked Marvel is kept secret from the audience until the last chapter. Clues and red herrings about the hero's identity are unveiled throughout the serial. Four possible candidates are shown: Bob Barton (David Bacon), Frank Jeffers (Richard Clarke), Terry Morton (Bill Healy) and Jim Arnold (Rob Bacon). [2]
The Masked Marvel is really stuntman Tom Steele throughout the serial except the very final shot, in which he removes his mask. The mask was directly moulded from Steele's face. Despite this, Tom Steele was given no screen credit at all, even for the bit parts and stunts he performed in addition to the title role. [2] The voice of the Masked marvel was dubbed in by radio actor Gayne Whitman, since Steele's natural voice was a light tenor, somewhat similar to Henry Fonda's, and did not record as particularly "tough". However, in Steele's most visible secondary role, as a murderous assassin, he disguises his voice, apparently believing that his natural voice would be used for the Marvel.
Bob Barton was a "jinxed" role. David Bacon got the role because four previous actors had injured themselves and were unable to work. While filming one of the serial's big fight scenes, every actor but Bacon was seriously injured. He had joked: "I'll probably get hurt going home in the car". Just two weeks after the production of the serial had been completed, Bacon was murdered and died moments after exiting his car.
Rod Bacon who played Jim Arnold was murdered in 1948.
The Masked Marvel was screenwriter George Plympton's only work at Republic. [3]
Cliffhangers
Chapter four has an unusual cliffhanger, especially for Republic, as it has no action or death involved. Instead, Sakima, sitting behind his desk in his secret basement, simply (although incorrectly) announces "So, Jim Arnold is the Masked Marvel". [2]
Stunts
In addition to playing the main character, Tom Steele was also the stunt gaffer on this serial. As stated above, he received no screen credit for this. [2] As an odd outcome of playing both the Masked Marvel and other stunts and bit parts, in one scene Tom Steele chased himself up some stairs. [2]
Steele himself was doubled by a dummy in the scene in which the Marvel is thrown off the top of an enormous gas tank. On the way down one of the dummy's arms gets caught in the rigging of the tank and is clearly ripped off. Yet when the Marvel lands in the back of the truck below, he has both arms intact. The budget and schedules of serials mandated that retakes only occur in the most dire circumstances.
One stunt in Chapter 10 is particularly notable: to prevent a rolling handcar filled with explosives from destroying a train transporting aircraft parts, the Masked Marvel crashes his own car into the handcar. The Masked Marvel survives by jumping aside at the last second. Harmon and Glut write that "the scene is both thrilling and perfect craftsmanship". [2]
- Tom Steele, Republic's stunt gaffer
- Fred Graham doubling Roy Barcroft & Harry Woods
- Duke Green doubling Anthony Warde & Stanley Price
- Betty Miles doubling Louise Currie
- Allen Pomeroy
- Ken Terrell doubling Johnny Arthur
- Carey Loftin
- Eddie Parker
Special effects
The effects in The Masked Marvel were produced by Republic's team, the Lydecker brothers.
