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"Buck Rogers"
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After making two serials as Flash Gordon, Buster Crabbe took on Flash's comic strip rival with nearly as much success. The films are in fact so similar that they could be considered as members of the same series. The only similarity between this serial's premise and that of its newspaper strip predecessor, is the fact that Buck Rogers is put to sleep for 500 years. But it's not the result of a cave-in, and he's not alone.
Buck and Buddy get caught in a 20th century blizzard where they are forced to crash their aircraft in the Arctic. A recent invention called Nirvano gas is onboard, and the two are instructed to inhale it. The gas is intended to put them in a state of suspended animation until such a time they can be rescued. Of course, they never are rescued or even discovered for another 500 years, when two future servicemen happen upon them and escort them to the "hidden" city.
In the original strip Buck's 500 year sleep was the result of a cave-in--what
you might call a freak accident. Also, in the original strip Buddy was later
introduced as Wilma's little brother, not someone who accompanies Buck from the
20th century. Wilma was also the one who finds Buck in the 25th century.
As with the Gordon serials, Buck Rogers was filmed with more care and a larger budget than usual, and it effectively captures the vitality of the newspaper strip despite its subtle differences.
The serial was re-released in edited versions in 1953 as Planet Outlaws for theatrical release, and in 1965 as Destination Saturn for television.
Summary
Preserved in a state of suspended animation for 500 years by the Nirvano gas in the gondola of their dirigible wrecked in the arctic ice wastes, Buck Rogers and Buddy are rescued by scientists in the year 2440 to find the world under the despotic rule of Killer Kane and his super gangsters. Using an arsenal of fantastic weapons created in the Huer's clandestine laboratory, the group attempts to seek aid from the planet Saturn to oust the tyrannical ruler only to find that his henchmen have already taken over control of the Prince of Saturn. After several harrowing adventures with the Zugg men, Buck and Buddy return to Earth only to be shot down, imprisoned and finally rescued to participate in a spectacular air battle to wrest control of the Universe from the sinister intergalactic despot.
The Chapters
1. Tomorrow's World
2. Tragedy on Saturn
3. The Enemy's Stronghold
4. The Sky Patrol
5. The Phantom Plane
6. The Unknown Command
7. Primitive Urge
8. Revolt of the Zuggs
9. Bodies Without Minds
10. Broken Barriers
11. A Prince in Bondage
12. War of the Planets
Credits
Larry "Buster" Crabbe as Colonel Buck Rogers
Constance Moore as Lieutenant Wilma Deering
Jackie Moran as Buddy Wade
Jack Mulhall as Captain Rankin
Anthony Warde as Killer Kane
Philson Ahn as Prince Tallen
C. Montague Shaw as Dr. Huer
Guy Usher as Aldar
With:
William Gould
Henry Brandon
Wheeler Oakman
Kenneth Duncan
Carleton Young
Reed Howes
Karl Hackett
Stanley Price
David Sharpe
Approx. time: 209 minutes / B&W
Screenplay by Norman S. Hall and Ray Trampe
Photography by Jerome Ash, A.S.C.
Art Director: Ralph DeLacy
Music Director: Charles Previn
Sound Supervisor: Bernard B. Brown
Edited by Alvin Todd, Louis Sackin and Joseph Glick
Directed by Ford Beebe and Saul A. Goodkind
Associate Producer: Barney A. Sarecky
Based on the newspaper feature entitled Buck Rogers in the 25th Century owned and copyrighted © by John F. Dille Co. Written and drawn by Phil Nolan and Dick Calkins.
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This page was last updated on July 17, 2007.
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