Davis, Hank (University of Guelph, Ontario)

Classic Cliffhangers: Volume 1, 1914-1940 - Classic Cliffhangers Davis, Hank (University of Guelph, Ontario)

Even today, movie serials continue to enchant movie fans. The innocence, energy and undeniable skill that permeate every reel of these chapter plays is a tribute to the true pioneers of gorilla filmmaking make em fast, make em as good as possible with as little as possible, and make em fun. The best serials are classic examples of early American low-budget filmmaking. The bad ones are silly and stilted, but always charming and sometimes bizarre. At the very least, they offer a window into another time and place. And with the state the world is in today, it s a very welcome place where the good guys always win, the kid saves the day and the hero gets the girl.