Lively, entertaining reviews of, and essays on, old and newer films and everything relating to them, written by professional author William Schoell.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

THE BLACK COIN


THE BLACK COIN (1936). Director: Albert Herman.

Agents Walter Prescott (Ralph Graves) and Dorothy Dale (Ruth Mix) are on the trail of some nefarious folk who are after a series of black coins that are said to carry a curse, and which when put together will lead right to a treasure. While the action in this creaky serial from Stage and Screen Productions -- no Republic Studios were they -- is all over the lot, the music is generally the only exciting thing about it. There's a fairly exciting bit with our hero thrown to the sharks in chapter two, and a rather elaborate ocean liner sinking in chapter four. In chapter eleven the hero stupidly drives right into a train. Despite the occasional glimmer of interest, The Black Coin is mostly flat and dull. Yakima Canutt, who plays a thug, later co-directed Manhunt of Mystery Island.

Verdict: One of the worst serials ever made. *1/2.

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