Back in the 70's I read Famous Monsters Of Filmland and in the back of each issue they had digest versions of movies on Reular 8 and Super 8 film. It was retitled "Captain Mephisto And The Transformation Machine. I always but this on the back burner for other things and therefore never got to see it.
Now fast forward to 2023 and I finally got to see the entire 15 chapter serial, and it was well worth the wait. The daughter of a famous scientist discovers he's being held on Mystery Island and seeks to get him out.
Claire Forrest (Linda Stirling) enlists the aid of government agent Lance Reardon (Richard Bailey) to help rescue her father William Forrest (Forrest Taylor).
They discover that he is being held by a gang of criminals led by a 200 year old pirate named Mephisto (Roy Barcroft) who uses a strange machine to become anyone he wants. Needless to say this is going to be a major problem for Claire and Lance.
This is simply great stuff. 15 chapters of non stop action and dozens of fistfights and a high body count as the enemies of Claire and Lance fall quickly.
Barcroft is perfect as the crazed pirate Mephisto and he was quoted as saying it was a role he enjoyed almost more than anything else he had ever done. Of course lovely Linda Stirling is ALWAYS a huge plus and she does a great job as Claire.
Easily one of the best serials I have ever seen. The chapters are 1. Secret Weapon 2. Satan's Web 3. The Murder Machine 4. The Lethal Chamber 5. Maphisto's Mantrap 6. Ocean Tomb 7. The Death Drop 8. Bombs Away 9. Fatal Flood 10. The Sable Shroud 11. Satan's Shadow 12. Cauldron Of Cremation 13. Bridge To Eternity 14. Power Dive To Doom 15. Fatal Transformation.
The rest of the cast includes Kenne Duncan, Jack Ingram, Forbes Murray and Harold Strang. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
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