PLANET OUTLAWS 1953 (MILL CREEK)

This is the 1939 serial Buck Rogers edited into feature form for a release in the early 50's.

Buster Crabbe stars as Rogers who is an American soldier who crashes his ship and wakes up from suspended animation in the year 2500.

Here he finds an incredible world, but one still besieged by trouble. Rogers and his co-pilot Buddy who also was in suspended animation find themselves fighting an evil ruler named Killer Kane (Anthony Warde) who wants to rule the universe.

To edit a serial into a feature requires a lot of footage lost and what we have here is almost non-stop action and very little explanation. Perhaps that is a good thing. For being re-released in 1953 I do have to admit that even by 1953 this serial was dated and looks rather out of place.

Don't misunderstand, I love the 30's serials as they have a charm all their own, but I guess I don't understand the reasoning behind this re-release. It's fun to watch, and Buck Rogers is a favorite of mine, but I think I would prefer the entire chapter play as opposed to the re-edit feature.

The rest of the cast includes Constance Moore as Wilma Deering, Jackie Moran as Buddy, Philson Ahn, Kenne Duncan, and Reed Howes. I can recommend this is you're a serial fan. I know I am.