Production Company
|
TitleGordon
|
Chapters
|
Genre
|
Director
|
Cast
|
Notes
|
1930
|
Ben Wilson Productions
|
The Voice from the Sky
|
10
|
Science fiction
|
Ben F. Wilson
|
Wally Wales, Neva Gerber
|
First serial with full sound; print exists[32]
|
Mascot Pictures
|
The Lone Defender
|
12
|
Western
|
Richard Thorpe
|
Rin Tin Tin, Buzz Barton
|
Also exists as a feature version
|
Talking Picture Epics Inc.
|
Across the World with Mr & Mrs Martin Johnson
|
|
Documentary
|
James Leo Meehan
|
Martin and Osa Johnson
|
|
|
Hunting Tigers in India
|
|
Documentary
|
James Leo Meehan
|
George Miller Dyott
|
|
Universal Studios
|
The Jade Box
|
10
|
Fantasy Mystery
|
Ray Taylor
|
Jack Perrin, Louise Lorraine, Francis Ford
|
Partial sound; an incomplete print exists in Universal's vault
|
|
The Lightning Express
|
10
|
Western
|
Henry MacRae
|
Louise Lorraine, Lane Chandler
|
Based on the "Whispering Smith" character created by novelist Frank H. Spearman; considered a lost film
|
|
Terry of the Times
|
10
|
Crime
|
Henry MacRae
|
Reed Howes, Lotus Thompson, Sheldon Lewis
|
Universal's last partial sound serial; considered a lost film
|
|
The Indians are Coming
|
12
|
Western
|
Henry MacRae
|
Tim McCoy, Allene Ray
|
First Universal all-talking serial; based on a novel The Great West That Was by "Buffalo Bill" Cody[33]
|
1931
|
Les Films Osso
|
Méphisto
|
4
|
Mystery
|
Henri Debain and Georges Vinter
|
Jean Gabin
|
French Based on a novel by Arthur Bernède
|
Mascot Pictures
|
The Phantom of the West
|
10
|
Western
|
D. Ross Lederman
|
Tom Tyler, Dorothy Gulliver
|
|
|
King of the Wild
|
12
|
Jungle
|
Richard Thorpe
|
Walter Miller, Nora Lane, Boris Karloff
|
|
|
The Vanishing Legion
|
12
|
Western
|
Ford Beebe and Reaves Eason
|
Harry Carey, Edwina Booth, Rex King of the Wild Horses, Boris Karloff (voice only), Frankie Darro
|
|
|
The Galloping Ghost
|
12
|
Sports
|
Reaves Eason
|
Real-life football star Harold "Red" Grange, Creighton Chaney (uncredited)
|
|
|
The Lightning Warrior
|
12
|
Western
|
Benjamin H. Kline and Armand Schaefer
|
Rin Tin Tin, Frankie Darro
|
This was Rin Tin Tin's last role, being replaced in 1932 by Rin Tin Tin Jr.[34]
|
Metropolitan Pictures
|
The Sign of the Wolf
|
10
|
Western
|
Forrest Sheldon and Harry S. Webb
|
Rex Lease, Virginia Brown Faire, Rex the Wonder Dog
|
|
Syndicate Pictures
|
The Mystery Trooper
|
10
|
Western
|
Stuart Paton and Harry S. Webb
|
Robert Frazer, Buzz Barton
|
|
Universal Studios
|
Finger Prints
|
10
|
Crime
|
Ray Taylor
|
Kenneth Harlan, Edna Murphy
|
considered a lost film
|
|
Heroes of the Flames
|
12
|
Crime
|
Robert F. Hill
|
Tim McCoy, Andy Devine
|
Print was rediscovered and preserved by Universal, but is not available on dvd
|
|
Danger Island
|
12
|
Jungle
|
Ray Taylor
|
Kenneth Harlan, Lucile Browne, Walter Miller, Andy Devine
|
considered a lost film
|
|
Battling with Buffalo Bill
|
12
|
Western
|
Ray Taylor
|
Tom Tyler, Lucile Browne
|
Based on a novel The Great West That Was by "Buffalo Bill" Cody[33]
|
|
The Spell of the Circus
|
12
|
Crime
|
Robert F. Hill
|
Francis X. Bushman Jr., Alberta Vaughn
|
considered a lost film
|
1932
|
Mascot Pictures
|
The Shadow of the Eagle
|
12
|
Crime, Aviation
|
Ford Beebe
|
John Wayne's first serial
|
Edited into a feature film version when released years later on video[35]
|
|
The Last of the Mohicans
|
12
|
Western
|
Ford Beebe and B. Reeves Eason
|
Harry Carey, Hobart Bosworth
|
Based on the novel by James Fenimore Cooper
|
|
The Hurricane Express
|
12
|
Railroad
|
J. P. McGowan and Armand Schaefer
|
John Wayne
|
|
|
The Devil Horse
|
12
|
Western
|
Otto Brower
|
Harry Carey, Noah Beery, Frankie Darro
|
|
RKO Radio Pictures (produced by Van Beuren Productions)
|
The Last Frontier
|
12
|
Western
|
Spencer Gordon Bennet
|
Creighton Chaney
|
Based on a novel by Courtney Ryley Cooper
|
Universal Studios
|
Detective Lloyd
|
12
|
Crime
|
Ray Taylor and Henry MacRae
|
Jack Lloyd
|
US/British co-production with British cast, released in Europe as Lloyd of the C.I.D.; a.k.a. The Green Spot Mystery (feature version); considered a lost film
|
|
The Airmail Mystery
|
12
|
Aviation
|
Ray Taylor
|
James Flavin, Lucile Browne, Al Wilson, Walter Brennan
|
considered a lost film
|
|
Heroes of the West
|
12
|
Western
|
Ray Taylor
|
Noah Beery Jr., Diane Duval, Onslow Stevens
|
based on the novel "The Tie That Binds" by Peter B. Kyne[36]
|
|
Jungle Mystery
|
12
|
Jungle
|
Ray Taylor
|
Tom Tyler, Noah Beery Jr., Cecilia Parker, William Desmond
|
based on a novel "The Ivory Trail" by Talbot Mundy[37] A complete film print exists only in Universal's vault
|
|
The Lost Special
|
12
|
Railroad
|
Henry MacRae
|
Frank Albertson, Cecilia Parker
|
Based on The Lost Special by Arthur Conan Doyle
|
1933
|
Mascot Pictures
|
The Whispering Shadow
|
12
|
Mystery
|
Colbert Clark and Albert Herman
|
Bela Lugosi's first sound serial
|
Also exists as a feature version
|
|
The Three Musketeers
|
12
|
Foreign Legion
|
Colbert Clark and Armand Schaefer
|
John Wayne, Jack Mulhall, Ruth Hall, Creighton Chaney
|
|
|
Fighting with Kit Carson
|
12
|
Western
|
Colbert Clark and Armand Schaefer
|
Johnny Mack Brown, Noah Beery
|
|
|
The Wolf Dog
|
12
|
Western
|
Colbert Clark and Harry L. Fraser
|
Rin Tin Tin Jr., Frankie Darro
|
Rin Tin Tin Jr.'s first serial film, having replaced the original dog star in 1932[38]
|
|
The Mystery Squadron
|
12
|
Aviation
|
Colbert Clark and David Howard
|
Bob Steele, J. Carrol Naish
|
|
Principal Pictures
|
Tarzan the Fearless
|
12
|
Jungle Fantasy
|
Robert F. Hill
|
Buster Crabbe, Jacqueline Wells
|
(Only an edited feature version exists)
|
Universal Studios
|
Clancy of the Mounted
|
12
|
Northern
|
Ray Taylor
|
Tom Tyler, Jacqueline Wells
|
( Only the first 6 chapters are available on DVD, but the British Film Institute (BFI) holds a complete 35mm print of all 12 chapters)
|
|
The Phantom of the Air
|
12
|
Aviation
|
Ray Taylor
|
Tom Tyler, William Desmond, Walter Brennan
|
|
|
Gordon of Ghost City
|
12
|
Western
|
Ray Taylor
|
Buck Jones, Madge Bellamy
|
Based on the novel "Oh Promise Me!" by Peter B. Kyne
|
|
The Perils of Pauline
|
12
|
Damsel in distress
|
Ray Taylor
|
Evalyn Knapp, William Desmond
|
|
1934
|
Mascot Pictures
|
The Lost Jungle
|
12
|
Jungle
|
David Howard and Armand Schaefer
|
Clyde Beatty, Syd Saylor, Gabby Hayes
|
Followed by a sequel Darkest Africa in 1936
|
|
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
|
12
|
Sports (auto racing)
|
Colbert Clark and Armand Schaefer
|
Frankie Darro, Jack Mulhall, Lola Lane
|
Loose remake of the 1921 silent film of the same name[39]
|
|
The Law of the Wild
|
12
|
Western
|
B. Reeves Eason and Armand Schaefer
|
Rin Tin Tin Jr., Rex the Wonder Horse, Bob Custer, Ben Turpin
|
|
|
Mystery Mountain
|
12
|
Western
|
Otto Brower and B. Reeves Eason
|
Ken Maynard, Gene Autry
|
|
Principal Pictures
|
The Return of Chandu
|
12
|
Fantasy
|
Ray Taylor
|
Bela Lugosi
|
Based on the popular Chandu the Magician radio program; later released as two separate feature versions[40]
|
Romance Productions Incorporated
|
Young Eagles
|
12
|
Boy Scouts, Jungle
|
Edward Laurier, Vin Moore
|
Bobby Cox, Jim Vance
|
|
Universal Studios
|
Pirate Treasure
|
12
|
Maritime
|
Ray Taylor
|
Richard Talmadge
|
|
|
The Vanishing Shadow
|
12
|
Science fiction
|
Lew Landers
|
Onslow Stevens
|
|
|
The Red Rider
|
15
|
Western
|
Lew Landers
|
Buck Jones
|
|
|
Tailspin Tommy
|
12
|
Aviation
|
Lew Landers
|
Maurice Murphy, Noah Beery Jr., Grant Withers
|
|
1935
|
Burroughs-Tarzan Enterprises
|
The New Adventures of Tarzan
|
12
|
Jungle Fantasy
|
Edward A. Kull
|
Herman Brix
|
Based on the Tarzan character created by novelist Edgar Rice Burroughs
|
Mascot Pictures
|
The Phantom Empire
|
12
|
Western, Fantasy
|
Otto Brower and B. Reeves Eason
|
Gene Autry, Frankie Darro
|
|
|
The Miracle Rider
|
15
|
Western
|
Otto Brower and B. Reeves Eason
|
Tom Mix, Charles Middleton
|
|
|
The Adventures of Rex and Rinty
|
12
|
Crime
|
B. Reeves Eason and Ford Beebe
|
Rin Tin Tin Jr., Rex the Wonder Horse
|
|
|
The Fighting Marines
|
12
|
War
|
B. Reeves Eason and Joseph Kane
|
Grant Withers, Adrian Morris
|
Last Mascot serial – merged into Republic Pictures
|
Screen Attractions
|
Queen of the Jungle
|
12
|
Jungle
|
Robert F. Hill
|
Mary Kornman, Reed Howes
|
|
Super Serial Productions Inc.
|
The Lost City
|
12
|
Science Fiction, Jungle
|
Harry Revier
|
Wm. (stage) Boyd, Kane Richmond, Claudia Dell
|
later edited into four different feature versions
|
Universal Studios
|
Rustlers of Red Dog
|
12
|
Western
|
Lew Landers
|
Johnny Mack Brown, Raymond Hatton, Chief Thundercloud
|
|
|
The Call of the Savage
|
12
|
Jungle Fantasy
|
Lew Landers
|
Noah Beery, Jr.
|
Based on a story "Jan of the Jungle" by Otis Adelbert Kline
|
|
The Roaring West
|
15
|
Western
|
Ray Taylor
|
Buck Jones
|
|
|
Tailspin Tommy in the Great Air Mystery
|
12
|
Aviation
|
Ray Taylor
|
Clark Williams, Jean Rogers, Noah Beery Jr.
|
|
1936 Beginning of the Golden Age of Serials[41]
|
Republic Pictures
|
Darkest Africa
|
15
|
Jungle
|
B. Reeves Eason and Joseph Kane
|
Clyde Beatty, Manuel King, Elaine Shepard, Lucien Prival
|
First Republic serial
|
|
Undersea Kingdom
|
12
|
Fantasy
|
B. Reeves Eason and Joseph Kane
|
Ray (Crash) Corrigan, Lois Wilde
|
|
|
The Vigilantes Are Coming
|
12
|
Western
|
Ray Taylor and Mack V. Wright
|
Robert Livingston, Ray Corrigan
|
|
|
Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island
|
14
|
Maritime
|
Ray Taylor and Mack V. Wright
|
Mala, Rex, Mamo Clark
|
|
Stage & Screen Productions (Weiss Bros.)
|
Custer's Last Stand
|
15
|
Western
|
Elmer Clifton
|
Rex Lease
|
|
Stage & Screen Productions (Weiss Bros.)
|
The Clutching Hand
|
15
|
Mystery
|
Albert Herman
|
Jack Mulhall, Mae Busch
|
A Craig Kennedy mystery
|
Stage & Screen Productions (Weiss Bros.)
|
The Black Coin
|
15
|
Mystery
|
Albert Herman
|
Ralph Graves, Ruth Mix, Dave O'Brien, Yakima Canutt
|
|
Universal Studios
|
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
|
12
|
Sports
|
Ford Beebe and Clifford Smith
|
Donald Briggs, Jean Rogers
|
Based on the Frank Merriwell novels
|
|
Flash Gordon
|
13
|
Science fiction
|
Frederick Stephani
|
Buster Crabbe, Jean Rogers, Charles Middleton
|
Based on the comic strip by Alex Raymond
|
|
The Phantom Rider
|
15
|
Western
|
Ray Taylor
|
Buck Jones
|
|
|
Ace Drummond
|
15
|
Aviation
|
Ford Beebe and Clifford Smith
|
John King, Jean Rogers, Noah Beery, Jr., Lon Chaney, Jr.
|
Based on a comic strip by Eddie Rickenbacker
|
Victory Pictures (Sam Katzman)
|
Shadow of Chinatown
|
15
|
Mystery, Yellow peril
|
Robert F. Hill
|
Bela Lugosi, Herman Brix
|
Also exists as a feature version
|
1937
|
Columbia Pictures
|
Jungle Menace
|
15
|
Jungle
|
Harry L. Fraser and George Melford
|
Frank Buck Charlotte Henry[42]
|
First Columbia serial (produced by Weiss Bros.)
|
|
The Mysterious Pilot
|
15
|
Aviation
|
Spencer Gordon Bennet
|
Frank Hawks
|
Produced by Weiss Bros.
|
Republic Pictures
|
Dick Tracy
|
15
|
Crime
|
Alan James
|
Ralph Byrd
|
Based on the famous comic strip by Chester Gould
|
|
The Painted Stallion
|
12
|
Western
|
Alan James
|
Ray Corrigan, Hoot Gibson
|
|
|
S.O.S. Coast Guard
|
12
|
Maritime, Science fiction
|
Alan James
|
Ralph Byrd, Bela Lugosi
|
Also exists as a feature version
|
|
Zorro Rides Again
|
12
|
Western
|
William Witney
|
John Carroll, Noah Beery
|
Based on the Zorro character created by novelist Johnston McCulley
|
Universal Studios
|
Jungle Jim
|
12
|
Jungle
|
Ford Beebe and Clifford Smith
|
Grant Withers, Henry Brandon
|
|
|
Secret Agent X-9
|
12
|
Crime
|
Ford Beebe and Clifford Smith
|
Scott Kolk, Jean Rogers, Henry Brandon, Lon Chaney Jr.
|
|
|
Wild West Days
|
13
|
Western
|
Ford Beebe and Clifford Smith
|
Johnny Mack Brown, Chief Thundercloud
|
|
|
Radio Patrol
|
12
|
Crime
|
Ford Beebe and Clifford Smith
|
Grant Withers, Robert Armstrong
|
|
|
Tim Tyler's Luck
|
12
|
Jungle
|
Ford Beebe and Wyndham Gittens
|
Frankie Thomas
|
|
Victory Pictures (Sam Katzman)
|
Blake of Scotland Yard
|
15
|
Crime
|
Robert F. Hill
|
Ralph Byrd
|
Last independent American serial
|
1938
|
Columbia Pictures
|
The Secret of Treasure Island
|
15
|
Jungle
|
Elmer Clifton
|
Don Terry, Gwen Gaze, Walter Miller
|
Last serial produced by Weiss Bros.
|
|
The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
|
15
|
Western
|
Mack V. Wright and Sam Nelson
|
William Elliott, Frankie Darro
|
|
|
The Spider's Web
|
15
|
Superhero
|
Ray Taylor and James W. Horne
|
Warren Hull, Kenne Duncan
|
|
Republic Pictures
|
The Lone Ranger
|
15
|
Western
|
William Witney and John English
|
Lee Powell, Chief Thundercloud
|
|
|
The Fighting Devil Dogs
|
12
|
Science fiction
|
William Witney and John English
|
Lee Powell, Herman Brix
|
Later re-edited and released to TV as Torpedo of Doom
|
|
Dick Tracy Returns
|
15
|
Crime
|
William Witney and John English
|
Ralph Byrd, Charles Middleton
|
|
|
Hawk of the Wilderness
|
12
|
Jungle
|
William Witney and John English
|
Herman Brix, Mala
|
based on the novel by pulp writer William L. Chester;[43] later re-edited and released to TV as The Lost Island of Kioga
|
Universal Studios
|
Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars
|
15
|
Science fiction
|
Frederick Stephani
|
Buster Crabbe
|
Based on the comic strip by Alex Raymond
|
|
Flaming Frontiers
|
15
|
Western
|
Alan James and Ray Taylor
|
Johnny Mack Brown
|
based on "The Tie That Binds" (a novel) by Peter B. Kyne[36]
|
|
Red Barry
|
13
|
Crime
|
Alan James
|
Buster Crabbe
|
|
1939
|
Columbia Pictures
|
Flying G-Men
|
15
|
Aviation
|
Ray Taylor and James W. Horne
|
Robert Paige, Richard Fiske, James Craig, Lorna Gray
|
|
|
Mandrake the Magician
|
12
|
Fantasy
|
Sam Nelson and Norman Deming
|
Warren Hull, Al Kikume
|
|
|
Overland with Kit Carson
|
15
|
Western
|
Sam Nelson and Norman Deming
|
Bill Elliott, Kenne Duncan
|
|
Republic Pictures
|
The Lone Ranger Rides Again
|
15
|
Western
|
William Witney and John English
|
Robert Livingston, Chief Thundercloud, Glenn Strange
|
This serial was considered lost for a long time but copies have since been found and re-issued
|
|
Daredevils of the Red Circle
|
12
|
Adventure
|
William Witney and John English
|
Charles Quigley, Herman Brix, David Sharpe, Carole Landis
|
|
|
Dick Tracy's G-Men
|
15
|
Crime
|
William Witney and John English
|
Ralph Byrd, Irving Pichel, Ted Pearson, Phylis Isley
|
|
|
Zorro's Fighting Legion
|
12
|
Western
|
William Witney and John English
|
Reed Hadley
|
Based on the Zorro character created by novelist Johnston McCulley
|
Universal Studios
|
Scouts to the Rescue
|
12
|
Boy scouts
|
Alan James and Ray Taylor
|
Jackie Cooper
|
|
|
Buck Rogers
|
12
|
Science fiction
|
Ford Beebe and Saul A. Goodkind
|
Buster Crabbe, Henry Brandon
|
Based on the comic strip by Philip Francis Nowlan
|
|
The Oregon Trail
|
15
|
Western
|
Ford Beebe and Saul A. Goodkind
|
Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight
|
|
|
The Phantom Creeps
|
12
|
Science fiction
|
Ford Beebe and Saul A. Goodkind
|
Bela Lugosi, Edward Van Sloan
|
Also exists as a feature version
|