Daredevils of the Red Circle

Plot synopsis:
An escaped criminal, known as Harry Crowl, but preferring to be called by his prison number 39013 (pronounced Thirty Nine - Oh - Thirteen), seeks revenge on the man who sent him to prison, millionaire philanthropist Horace Granville. He kidnaps Granville, imprisoning him within his own house, and disguises himself to take Granville's place, as the frail old man in a clean room, necessary for his health. The only other person allowed past the glass barrier being his doctor. He then sets about methodically destroying everything Granville owns. When we enter the film, he has already destroyed a number of Granville properties, and has set his sights on the Granville Amusement Centre, at which a trio of acrobats is performing. The daredevils, Gene, Bert, and Tiny escape but Gene's kid brother is badly wounded in the blaze, and later dies of his injuries. Seeking revenge they take jobs as private investigators for the man they believe to be Horace Granville. Through a series of deadly traps, and with the help of a mysterious cloaked figure, known only as "The Red Circle", the daredevils begin to unravel the truth.
In the first chapter, we are introduced to all the above facts, and even shown the secret room within the Granville estates where 39013 is keeping the real Granville. He is kept in a cell, the exact duplicate of the one in which 39013 resided for his abruptly ended sentence. This room is trapped, so that in the event that 39013 does not return, a dripping reservoir will run dry. The loss of weight will tip the scale, causing deadly gas capsules to break upon the floor, killing Granville in a very short time. This causes him to spout the characteristic line, "You best hope I continue to live, Granville."

Tags: revenge, mystery

Review:
39013, an escaped convict, carries out his revenge on the man who put him in prison, by imprisoning Granville and impersonating him, with the aid of Granville's traitorous aides.
When destroying all of Granville's holdings in order to ruin him, he burns down the Granville Amusement Center, which claims the life of the younger brother of one of three circus daredevils.
The three daredevils then swear vengeance against 39013, and are hired by Granville to hunt him down, even though the impersonation is in effect.
Brilliant plot, with the best chapter endings caught on film, especially one and eight, and one is probably the greatest of all, with Gene trying to outrace on motorcycle a torrent of water quickly filling up a tunnel.
In terms of serials, 10 out of 10..
flooded tunnel ending for Chapter One. In looking over previous comments of Daredevils of the Red Circle, many of you comment on the ending of Chapter One where Charles Quigley is trying to outrace a torrent of water riding on a motorcyle.
I had the privilege of knowing Barry Shipman, the scriptwriter for "Daredevils." He would pen many of the famous Republic serials, including the Lone Ranger, before going over to Columbia to write the Durango Kid features.
Bill Witney relays the story of how the chapter came to be written in his autobiography.
First, they found a real tunnel in downtown Los Angeles.
At that time, the L.A. traffic had not grown to the proportion it is today and Republic got permission from the city to block traffic while they shot footage inside the tunnel.
A miniature replica of the tunnel was designed and a process screen was used to show the water seemingly coming from behind Quigley.
It was Barry's suggestion that the hero narrowly escapes downing by getting to the end of the tunnel where he turns the wheel to close the watertight doors.
This conclusion was known as the take-out or the solution to the cliffhanger..
review of serial.
This is a serial that has it all!
The leads,Herman Brix[Bruce Bennett],Charles Quigley,and David Sharpe are top notch.Carole Landis is fine as the herione,and Charles Middleton does his usual fne work as the master villian.Sharpe shows that he can act as well as perform those great stunts!Location filming adds to the scenic values,good story line,music score,and special effects from the Lydecker brothers.
It all adds up to 12 chapters of non-stop action.One of my top ten serials from Republic..
Top of the line serial.
It has the best music score of any serial and a great serial cast including Charles Middleton, Herman Brix, C.
Montague Shaw, David Sharpe and Charles Quigley.
Also pretty Carole Landis and Miles Mander and you have one of the most energetic serials you will ever see.
If you have never seen a serial and want to see one this may be the one to watch.
It has been voted in the top 10 of an expert panel of serial fans appearing on all 25 panelist's lists..
One of the BEST serials ever!.
Now this serial had a lot of hype to live up to...I had heard or read that it was one of the best serials ever made from every source I encountered.
It was spoken of in the same awed tones as The Adventures of Captain Marvel, Zorro's Fighting Legion, Fighting Devil Dogs, and Drums of Fu Manchu.
And it lived up to all the hype.Charles Quigley, David Sharpe and Bruce Bennett are great as the three circus daredevils who join the police in their efforts to stop the escaped convict who is known by the name 39013.
The action and thrills are easily on a par with most of the SFX blockbusters today...and these old time SFX are pretty believable too.
Just watch the motorcycle racing ahead of the water in the flooding tunnel!This chapter play doesn't really fall into the ruts of many of the genre.
The cliffhanger resolutions are all very believable,  and there is only about a half a chapter of recap.
Carole Landis has a minor though pivotal role that really doesn't use her comic talents, but Charles Middleton plays the archtypical villain role that he became known for...especially after he took on the role of Ming the Merciless in Flash Gordon.There are few serials that I can recommend wholeheartedly.
But Daredevils of the Red Circle has definitely joined that list!.
This Republic serial is about as good as they get.
The chapter ending involving a tunnel under the river is quite memorable, as I pass through the Lincoln Tunnel every morning on the way to work.I was also impressed with the always-excellent Charles Middleton (best remembered as Ming the Merciless) as the villain.
How many numerically-named characters do YOU remember from old movies?.
As a kid in the early TV era of the 1950s, I had the opportunity to view several serials from the late '30s and the 1940s.
Apparently these were syndicated to TV stations to use as "fillers" since the network feeds weren't available (or the station didn't want to pay) during certain hours, including the after-school--i.e. late afternoon--time frame.
In retrospect, it seems that our local station (WSBT in South Bend, Indiana) had a very astute--or very lucky--program director who chose the best serials out there.
"Zorro's Fighting Legion," "The Mysterious Dr. Satan," "Fighting Devildogs," "The Black Widow"...they were all there.
But the best of the best, in my opinion, was "Daredevils of the Red Circle." Drama, suspense, action, and a morality play (the best revenge is not to destroy one's opponent, as 39013 attempted to do, but to outdo him legally and ethically, as 39013 possibly could have done were his superior mind not warped and twisted)...these were the most memorable features of this 6-day, 15 minutes per episode odyssey that trumped sandlot baseball and other boyhood pursuits typical of the early baby boom generation.
The plot, acting, special effects, and musical score may seem primitive by today's high-tech standards, but in the context of the times in which this serial was created, it "raised the bar," as we like to say today, for all that followed.
Imagine yourself in the late Art Deco era of engineering feats (the tunnel), sexy vehicles (the "Heritage Softtail" precursor motorcycle and '37 Buick Century straight 8 convertible, among others), and beautiful people (the impeccably coiffed and dressed "Blanche;" the trio of heroes in their flawlessly ironed suits, shirts, and ties; the elegant Granville; and even the villain 39013 as played so convincingly by Charles Middleton in first-class clothing that we seldom see today outside of a corporate boardroom), and enjoy.
Maybe the subtitle of this serial should be: "the Lost World, Never to Return"....
One of the better movie serials.
This is a good example of what old movie serials were all about.
This had plenty of action, outdoor locations and original storylines.
This was better than most "B" movies of it's time.
Republic made the best serials and this was one of the best..
I remember seeing this as an eight year old kid back at the Amo Theater in Detroit.
I see it now every six months and it still thrills me to see the best of Republic at work.
Charles Middleton is supurb once again as the nasty villan.
The one episode that has really stuck with me all my 71 years is the outstanding tunnel scenes.
Everytime I'm in San Francisco and take the BART under the Bay waters I think of that episode and get a little relived when I reach the other side.
Fantastic 1939 Movie Serial.
In the Year 1939 you would have to visit the movie theater for about twelve weeks in a row in order to find out the complete ending to this film.
This film involves three Circus Stuntmen who are acrobats and one of their brothers is killed which is caused by #39013, Harry Crowel in revenge for Horace Granville sending him to jail who was his former partner in his business.
Carole Landis, (Blanche Granville)"I Wake Up Screaming" is the daughter to Horace Granville and finds out about a wicked scheme that #39013 has planned against her farther and if she tells her father will die.
There is plenty of action, secret doors, secret panels and plenty of bombs being set off, with water rushing through tunnels and more and more.
Great Classic film from 1939, this one you will really enjoy..
I saw the first chapter of Daredevils of the Red Circle on TV as a kid.
Almost 60 years later I saw the famous tunnel scene again in the TCM presentation The Republic Story.
Finally I knew the name of the serial.
I purchased the video tape with some trepidation because first and last episodes are always the best, often with dross in between.
Great action, great stunts, great plot, great villains.
Still loved it.I have a soft spot in my heart for the serials of my youth, particularly The Phantom Empire.
I watch it and other syfy serials regularly.
But despite the lack of futuristic hokum I have to admit that Daredevils is a notch above any serial I've seen..
A Great Serial Played by Interesting People.
The daredevils/heroes are: Gene-- the brains of the outfit, Tiny  a gifted strongman, and Bert -- an agile escape artist.
They are aided by Carole Landis who plays Blanche Grandville  the granddaughter of Horace Grandville whose multimillion dollar industrial complex is under attack by master criminal 39013.
This film is twelve chapters of action packed cliff-hanging fun.
I particularly liked the fact that these circa 1939 daredevils did almost all of their action scenes in double breasted three piece suits!
The history of the major actors is quite interesting: Dave Sharpe,Bert, became an Army pilot during WWII and a major stuntman; having a long and celebrated career in the industry.
Charles Quigley, Gene, had a good career but died of cirrhosis of the liver before he turned sixty.
Bruce Bennet aka Herman Brix, who played Tiny, was a 1928 Olympic champion who went on to a very long career and lived to be over 100 years old.
Carole Landis was 29 when she committed suicide.
One of the best produced serials.
Story of Three circus daredevils who take on the evil 39013 an escaped convict who seeks to destroy the possessions of Horace Granville the man responsible for sending him to jail.Considered by man to be one of Republics Finest hours it certainly has a sterling cast that includes Charles Quigley, Herman Brix, Miles Mander and Charles Middleton in one of his best villain roles.
The action in the serial is top notch and most if not all of the cliffhangers were reused several times by the studio in serials that followed this one.
The action is balanced by a good story which doesn't really repeat itself again and again.Actually the problem with the serial is not so much the plot being repeated but the locations.
My lack of love for the serial (I'm not a lover of it, I like it) comes from the fact that the film is constantly using industrial locations for its cliffhangers.
Its in keeping with the plot, but at the same time I'd have liked to see something else.That said this is a really good action serial that should be seen if you want to see one thats near the top of the pile..
flooded tunnel ending for Chapter One. In looking over previous comments of Daredevils of the Red Circle, many
of you comment on the ending of Chapter One where Charles Quigley is
trying to outrace a torrent of water riding on a motorcyle.
privilege of knowing Barry Shipman, the scriptwriter for "Daredevils."
He would pen many of the famous Republic serials, including the Lone
Bill Witney relays the story of how the chapter came to be
First, they found a real tunnel in
the proportion it is today and Republic got permission from the city to
block traffic while they shot footage inside the tunnel.
replica of the tunnel was designed and a process screen was used to
show the water seemingly coming from behind Quigley.
suggestion that the hero narrowly escapes downing by getting to the end
of the tunnel where he turns the wheel to close the watertight doors.
Excitement, thy name is "Daredevils of the Red Circle".
His grace and athleticism plus his good looks and charm made him almost perfect.Funny thing: He was mostly a stunt man.But he sure got a chance to shine in this excellent Republic serial -- and when you say "Republic serial" you've said "excitement, fun, thrills, action.""Republic" -- I like the sound of that word -- also means special effects by the Lydecker brothers and direction by Witney and English.Add the excellent stars Charles Quigley and Bruce Bennett, well, as I said, almost perfect.But we're not through: Yakima Canutt, the king of the stuntmen, gets to play, albeit uncredited, a G-Man, a good guy!He and the other stuntmen provide plenty of action, especially lots of fights, at which the Republic stuntmen were surely the best.Carole Landis, really a good actress as she got to show in future excellent performances, is the leading lady, but doesn't really do much.There are genuinely dozens of very good actors, too many to name here, and who are also un-named in the film credits, but any film with them in it is improved.Finally, add a score by William Lava, with a couple helpers, and you have a movie serial that is, yes, almost perfect."Daredevils of the Red Circle" is available in a truncated version at YouTube -- apparently copyright problems, and it's a wonder even part of it is up -- and of course on DVD.
But I do hope you watch this excellent serial, one of the very best ever, and one I highly recommend..
One of Republic's best serials!.
Each chapter has 2 reels, except the first which has 3.
SYNOPSIS: After fifteen years in a federal penitentiary, convict #39013 escapes and begins a campaign of vengeance against Granville, his former partner, who is responsible for his conviction.
The Daredevils of the Red Circle, three college athletes who are working in a sideshow on Granville's amusement pier, are enraged when 39013's plot to burn the pier results in the death of a small brother of one of them.
Gene, Burt, and Tiny resolve to bring the perpetrator of this crime to justice, and make it their business to be on hand to stymie every plot 39013 attempts.
In this they have an ally in Blanche, the granddaughter of the real Granville.
NOTES: Republic's 14th serial commenced shooting on 28 March 1939 and finished on 28 April 1939.
Real locations included Rincon and Sea Cliff (near Santa Barbara) and the Standard Oil Company's factory in Baldwun Hills.
COMMENT: One of Republic's best serials, I'm surprised this one isn't better known.
The only dim star among the principals is Charles Quigley, and he's still okay.
David Sharpe is at his most personable, and whilst Bruce Bennett and Carole Landis are but half as colorful here as they were soon to become, it's still great to see them in action.
Charles Middleton as usual is the perfect villain and has a vivid crew of henchmen including Raymond Bailey.
Ridiculous as it is, the plot still manages to introduce a fair amount of atmosphere and wonderfully bizarre effects, what with sliding doors and panels, secret rooms and corridors — including a dungeon — equipped with peep-holes; and more importantly it serves as a peg for some wonderful action spots.
Just about each episode contains at least three action highlights.
Chapter 3 is a great example.
It starts off in fine style with a recap of the stunning factory action which was the cliff-hanger in the previous episode, with the hero getting out of his quandary in a both a logical and action=full manner.
We get back to the Granville mansion to look in on the villain at his peep-hole and then do his transformation act in the dungeon — complete with skillful double exposure so that Mander is able to talk to himself — which is quickly followed by a speeding car chase, including a nice bit of stunt-work, and then capped by some excitingly staged fisticuffs.
Our heroes, alerted by the mysterious Red Circle, find themselves trapped in a gas-filled garage for an intriguing fade- out.Direction and technical credits are first-rate..
Plotting From The Inside.
The daredevils in Daredevils Of The Red Circle consist of three circus stuntman who when the little brother of one of them is killed in an arson fire on that circus.
The circus is one of many things owned by millionaire Miles Mander and his old partner who Mander had sent to jail, Charles Middleton, is busy plotting to wreck and dismantle his fortune.The three heroes are Charles Quigley, David Sharpe, and Bruce Bennett under his real name of Herman Brix.
Because they managed to save Mander's granddaughter Carole Landis, Landis gets the three of them hired by the millionaire to find out who's causing all the problems and to apprehend same.But this is a really deep conspiracy because Grandpa isn't who he seems.
It turns out that Mander was kidnapped and Middleton is in the house impersonating him with the use of a lifelike mask and a good imitation of his voice.
They've given out the cover story of a stroke and they have him behind this glass panel, rigged something Howard Hughes would later do for real.Our intrepid heroes get inside information about various plans of wrecking that Middleton has going and spend most of the 12 chapters foiling same.
The kids loved it back in the day, I'm sure its chapters played with whatever Gene Autry or Roy Rogers or whatever Republic cowboy feature film was coming out.It all looks so silly now though.