Fans of Bela Lugosi will be certain to enjoy THE PHANTOM CREEPS, a feature film version comprised of 12 episodes of the serial regarding a determined mad scientist often staying one step ahead of those out to stop his diabolical schemes to sell a deadly radioactive meteorite, while also using it's properties to create a vast array of gadgets and weapons.
Lugosi is Dr. Alex Zorka, who, along with his dim-witted nincompoop assistant, Monk(Jack C Smith), has created wonderful inventions which could benefit the American government, but he is not willing to hand over his research and experiments to others, as former scientist/colleague, Dr. Fred Mallory(Edwin Stanley)insists. Mallory is Zorka's nemesis, a scientist who wishes to see good use from the discoveries..but Zorka doesn't want others' hands on his hard work, and he has built a giant metallic robot, ray gun which renders victims unconscious, a homing device which attracts a mechanical spider that, upon explosion, can leave the victim paralyzed or dead, and invisibility(..a little belt contains a button which causes him to vanish and reappear). Capt. Bob West(Robert Kent)and newspaper reporter, Jean Drew(Dorothy Arnold)are on Zorka's trail, as a manhunt is underway knowing that the diabolical scientist perhaps plans to sell his meteorite to foreign enemies or, worse even, use it's power to destroy the world.
I'm pretty sure many will watch THE PHANTOM CREEPS, point at the screen, and laugh uncontrollably at the primitive effects used throughout because the filmmakers were attempting to wow the theater-goers with lots of cool methods derived from Zorka's evil and brilliant mind..this was 1939, so many of the effects are positively dated, but I certainly was impressed with how they make Lugosi disappear(..a haze is created to often display a silhouette shortly after turning invisible). The ray gun blasts and giant robot(..which is too tall, a head too large, with long arms flailing around all over the place)are not as impressive, but I'm pretty sure the kids attending the theaters at that time in 1939 were blown away. While Lugosi lets it all hang out, without much restraint, as Zorka(..gleefully proclaiming to his assistant about how he'll defeat those that oppose him)the heroes of the film are all rather bland and less interesting. Lots of stock war footage, featuring explosions, are used to swell effect at the end, as Zorka drops bombs on ships and buildings below from a plane he commandeered with Monk. For most of this film, expertly edited from the serial into a stunningly cohesive format, has Zorka cleverly evading his foes time and time again, before finally succumbing to his own destruction and madness. Dora Clement portrays Ann Zorka, the mad doctor's beloved wife, who dies in a plane crash when one of his dangerous schemes goes awry..this motivates Zorka even more to vanquish his enemies, those he blames for her death. Fans of Browning's Dracula will get a kick out of seeing Edward Van Sloan as a corrupt spy desiring the meteorite, sending his goons to fetch it before fleeing the country in a hidden submarine. The gags involving Zorka, while invisible, are obviously produced through the use of strings moving objects (..quite apparently in some cases). Animated lightning bolts and beams are used when Zorka fires his ray gun. Again, you must have an appreciation for what filmmakers were trying to do for the young audiences attending matinées at this time..most will find this hokey and unintentionally hilarious. One does wonder why Zorka would allow such an untrustworthy birdbrain as Monk to remain an assistant after he tries to betray him multiple times..this unfortunate mistake costs Zorka dearly at the end when Monk wishes to bail on him as a company of planes draw near.