Category Archives: The Back Row’s Weekly Serial Review

The Back Row with Extra Pulp: The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu

“Imagine a person, tall, lean and feline, high-shouldered, with a brow like Shakespeare and a face like Satan, a close-shaven skull, and long, magnetic eyes of the true cat-green. Invest him with all the cruel cunning of an entire Eastern … Continue reading

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The Back Row with Extra Pulp: John Carter of Mars

We at The Back Row feel that, despite its lackluster showing at the box office, John Carter was a fun, well written bit of swashbuckling sci-fi. And why shouldn’t it be seen as such? It was based on a series … Continue reading

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The Back Row’s Weekly Serial Review: Dick Tracy Returns

Basic Story Line Dick Tracy has to take on the Starks, a crime family terrorising the area. Quick Facts Released in 1938 Directed by William Witney and John English Written by Barry Shipman, Franklin Adreon, Ronald Davidson, Rex Taylor, and … Continue reading

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The Back Row’s Weekly Serial Review: Drums of Fu Manchu

Basic Story Line Criminal mastermind Fu Manchu is attempting to find the lost sceptre of Genghis Khan, that will allow him to proclaim himself ruler of Asia. It is a race between him and Detective Sir Nayland Smith to decipher … Continue reading

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The Back Row’s Weekly Serial Review: The Lost City

Basic Story Line Bruce Gordon launches an expedition to darkest Africa to find the source of an electrical storm that is threatening the world. There he finds a megalomaniac named Zolok who has been holding the scientific genius Dr. Manyus … Continue reading

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The Back Row’s Weekly Serial Review: SOS Coast Guard

Basic Story Line Lieutenant Terry Kent of the Coast Guard is hunting down the mad scientist who killed his brother and has created a deadly disintegrating gas. Quick Facts Released in 1937 Directed by Alan James and William Witney Written … Continue reading

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The Back Row s Weekly Serial Review: Secret Agent X-9 (1945)

Basic Story Line During the Second World War the Japanese are planning on stealing a formula for making synthetic jet engine fuel. Secret Agent X-9 and a handful of spies from allied countries have banded together to stop them. Quick … Continue reading

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The Back Row’s Weekly Serial Review: Secret Agent X-9 (1937)

Basic Story Line A mysterious master criminal, known only as Brenda, steals the crown jewels of Belgravia (not found on all maps) and Secret Agent X-9 is brought in to retrieve them. Quick Facts Released in 1937 Directed by Ford … Continue reading

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The Back Row’s Weekly Serial Review: Mandrake the Magician

Basic Story Line Professor Houston invents a powerful new device to aid humanity. (Although we’re not exactly sure how. All it seems to do is blow stuff up. But they keep telling us that it will be a great benefit … Continue reading

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The Back Row’s Weekly Serial Review: Jungle Girl

Basic Story Line A fortune in diamonds is hidden in an ancient African temple. Our heroes, Nyoka, a woman raised by her father in the jungle, and Jack Stanton, a young pilot, must do battle against a gang of unscrupulous … Continue reading

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