Perils of Pauline (' 30s) in Thrills and Chills Forum

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Perils of Pauline (' 30s)

Author	Comment
Grant	Perils of Pauline (' 30s)	Lead	[-]
Aug 23 11 11:17 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I just found this one (though it's the Pearl White silent one I'm always hoping to see), and I don't know if it's been brought up here or not. It's full of things that you're supposed to either find entertaining or just roll with, but somehow I found it hard to do either - like African "savages" and sinister Orientals (even more of those than you'd expect), and the "Odious Comic Relief," an effete cowardly character named Dodge. He's entertaining enough, except that he isn't cowardly now and then but almost constantly. Evalyn Knapp is good as Pauline except for one thing that presumably wasn't even her decision - the idea that the heroine screams constantly in these kinds of stories has been exaggerated, but it's not a great exaggeration when it comes to THIS one (although plenty of the screams actually come from Dodge!). What do any of you think of it?
Pa Stark.movieserialmess...		#1	[-]
Aug 24 11 1:23 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Many serials of the 30's had comedy relief which almost always failed, but Sonny Ray as Willie Dodge was hands down the most annoying and worst actor ever in any serial. Universal's THE PERILS OF PAULINE has been discussed on other boards, and almost every post mentioned Ray's terrible over acting. Remember, you can always trust Honest Pa Stark
Shonokin		#2	[-]
Aug 24 11 10:55 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I agree, Serial humor almost always falls flat. But then really you're watching for a car crash, a fist fight, a shootout. Not really so much for the clever writing and golden acting skills. But if you do want to see a serial with good adventure AND has really great humor that may have you laughing out loud, I suggest the silent Officer 444 (1926). -Shonokin The Pulp Reader
Pa Stark.movieserialmess...		#3	[-]
Aug 24 11 1:21 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	OFFICER 444 is a real hoot. It is much more insane than anything James Horne did at Columbia. Remember, you can always trust Honest Pa Stark
Grant		#4	[-]
Aug 24 11 1:22 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I guess it started out for me on a low note, with the way that ' 30s era Boxer Rebellion-type event was shown. I'm not saying that something like that is COMPLETELY full of Orientals with proper grievances vs. evil white guys, but this film went just about to the other extreme, with that "heroic" bombing raid on the town, which showed the same pagoda blowing up about three times. If you thought Apocalypse Now revelled in showing Buddhist shrines blowing up, just watch this.
rockinrichard		#5	[-]
Aug 26 11 8:45 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Grant wrote: (though it's the Pearl White silent one I'm always hoping to see), All that survives is the 9-chapter version that Pathe released in Europe in 1916. It's available on DVD from Grapevine and others.
Grant		#6	[-]
Aug 26 11 9:06 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thank you. I've known the NAME Perils of Pauline ever since that odd ' 60s parody (mentioned on another thread), but I've been interested in Pearl White herself since first seeing that kind of odd comedy-drama biopic of her with Betty Hutton. Which confusingly, is also called Perils of Pauline.
MYST0		#7	[-]
Sep 3 11 1:09 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The Grapevine is the version to get. It came with a bonus DVDr with quite a few bits and pieces of other Pearl White films. The serial was on a pressed DVD. Not sure if the bonus disc is still offered.
rockinrichard		#8	[-]
Sep 5 11 1:29 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It's no longer a bonus disc, but you can still get the other Pearl White collection from Grapevine.
bela lugosi		#9	[-]
May 13 12 7:34 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	TCM has been airing these every Saturday and I've really been enjoying them. I think Evelyn is really a honey to look at, wow! They keep her in skin tight dresses most of the time. It's kind of fluff, but fun.
taraco		#10	[-]
May 13 12 3:07 PM Burgomaster Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	THE PERILS OF PAULINE (1933), does feature one of the all-time yet unsung villains -- John Davidson as Doctor Bashan, whose deep baritone voice and oily makeup (is it a mask?), are truly creepy. He's been what has been keeping me watching these last few weeks.
Maldor		#11	[-]
May 13 12 9:51 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Watched the Alpha dvd of this recently not a bad serial worth following in TCM or cheap on dvd Supernatural perhaps bologna perhaps not. Bela Lugosi the Black Cat
MYST0		#12	[-]
May 15 12 7:33 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	John Davidson is also one of my favorites to look out for in serials. I especially like him in THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL.
Black Tigrrr.movieserialmess...		#13	[-]
May 15 12 11:22 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Not to mention Davidson's turns in "Dick Tracy vs. Crime Inc.", "Captain America" and "Perils of Nyoka". One of serialdom's finest.
bela lugosi		#14	[-]
May 19 12 1:39 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	TCM aired a fantastic print. Does anyone know what DVD release this might be on?
Black Tigrrr.movieserialmess...		#15	[-]
May 21 12 2:07 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It hasn't been released yet. VCI had a vhs release years ago but the quality wasn't remotely as good as this.
TheHoldingCoat		#16	[-]
Jun 4 12 11:29 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I thought PERILS OF PAULINE was a terrific serial. Knapp was a plucky heroine and easy on the eyes, John Davidson as Dr. Bashan and Frank Lackteen as his minion Fang were great villains, even the oddious Sonny Ray had a superb moment of physical comedy when he shot off two guns in serveral directions, his legs flew out from under him and he landed on his butt! Sure, the Orientals were mostly bad guys, but quite a few of them were actually played by actors who were ehtnically appropriate for their roles. There was even a little bit of pre-code nudity!

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Perils of Pauline (' 30s)

Perils of Pauline (' 30s)