''Secret Agent X-9'' is a 1945

Universal Universal is the adjective for universe. Universal may also refer to: Companies * NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment company ** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of NBCUniversal ** Universal TV, a ...

movie serial A serial film, film serial (or just serial), movie serial, or chapter play, is a motion picture form popular during the first half of the 20th century, consisting of a series of short subjects exhibited in consecutive order at one theater, gene ...

based on the comic strip ''

Secret Agent X-9 ''Secret Agent X-9'' is a comic strip created by writer Dashiell Hammett ('' The Maltese Falcon'') and artist Alex Raymond (''Flash Gordon''). Syndicated by King Features, it ran from January 22, 1934 until February 10, 1996. Premise and publ ...

''. It was the second serial with this name, the first was released by Universal in 1937.

Plot

On a neutral island in the Pacific called Shadow Island (above the island of

Formosa Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is an island country located in East Asia. The main island of Taiwan, formerly known in the Western political circles, press and literature as Formosa, makes up 99% of the land area of the territori ...

), run by American gangster Lucky Kamber, both sides in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

attempt to control the secret of element 722, which can be used to create synthetic aviation fuel.

Cast

Lloyd Bridges Lloyd Vernet Bridges Jr. (January 15, 1913 – March 10, 1998) was an American film, stage and television actor who starred in a number of television series and appeared in more than 150 feature films. He was the father of four children, includi ...

as Phil Corrigan aka Secret Agent X-9 *

Keye Luke Keye Luke (, Cantonese: Luk Shek Kee; June 18, 1904 – January 12, 1991) was a Chinese-born American film and television actor, technical advisor and artist and a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild. He was known for playing Lee Chan, t ...

as Ah Fong, Chinese agent *

Jan Wiley Jan Wiley (February 21, 1916 – May 26, 1993) was an American film actress. Early years Wiley was born Jan Harriet Wiley in Marion, Indiana and early in her career was billed as Harriet Brandon. Film Beginning in 1937 with '' New Faces of ...

as Lynn Moore, Australian agent *

Victoria Horne Victoria Horne (November 1, 1911 – October 10, 2003) was an American character actress, appearing in 49 films (uncredited in 25 of these) during the 1940s and 1950s. Early years Horne was born on November 1, 1911, in New York City, to Ig ...

as Nabura,

villain A villain (also known as a "black hat" or "bad guy"; the feminine form is villainess) is a stock character, whether based on a historical narrative or one of literary fiction. ''Random House Unabridged Dictionary'' defines such a character a ...

ous Japanese agent *

Samuel S. Hinds Samuel Southey Hinds (April 4, 1875 – October 13, 1948) was an American actor and former lawyer. He was often cast as kindly authority figures and appeared in more than 200 films until his death. Early years Hinds was born in Brooklyn, New Y ...

as Solo *

Cy Kendall Cyrus Willard Kendall (March 10, 1898 – July 22, 1953) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 140 films between 1935 and 1950. Kendall's heavy-set, square-jawed appearance and deep voice were perfect for wiseguy roles such ...

as Lucky Kamber, self-proclaimed governor of the neutral Shadow Island * Jack Overman as Marker * George Lynn as Bach, one of Nabura's henchmen *

Clarence Lung Clarence Lung (1914–1993) was a film and television actor. He appeared in films such as '' Dragon Seed'', '' Song of the Sarong'', ''Experiment in Terror'', ''Prisoner Of War'', ''Operation Petticoat'', '' China'' and ''The Hundred Days of the ...

as Takahari, one of Nabura's henchmen *

Benson Fong Benson Fong ( Chinese: ; October 10, 1916 – August 1, 1987) was an American character actor. Born in Sacramento, California, Fong was from a mercantile family of Chinese extraction. After graduating from high school in Sacramento, he studi ...

as Dr. Hakahima *

Arno Frey Arnold Frey (11 October 1900 – 26 June 1961) was a German actor who portrayed the Nazi villain Dr. Lang in the Frank Buck movie '' Tiger Fangs'' (1943). Biography Frey arrived in the United States in October 1926, according to the New Yo ...

as Kapitan Grut, Nazi captain * Ferdinand Munier as Papa Pierre Dupray *

Ann Codee Ann Codee (born Anna Marie Vannuefflin, 5 March 1890 – 18 May 1961) was a Belgian actress with numerous hit films on her résumé, such as '' Can-Can'', '' Kiss Me Kate'', and '' Interrupted Melody''. Born in Antwerp, Belgium, her name was ...

as "Mama Pierre" Dupray * Edward Howard as Drag Dorgan

Production

''Secret Agent X-9'' is based on the comic strip ''

'' by Dashiell Hammett,

Leslie Charteris Leslie Charteris (born Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin, 12 May 1907 – 15 April 1993), was a List of British Chinese people, British-Chinese author of adventure fiction, as well as a screenwriter.

and others. It was Universal's last comic strip adaptation (from 1936 to 1945, Universal made almost as many serial adaptations of comic strips as both of their rivals,

Columbia Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region in ...

and Republic, combined). The serial reuses footage and

Frank Skinner Christopher Graham Collins (born 28 January 1957), professionally known as Frank Skinner, is an English comedian, actor, presenter and writer. At the 2001 British Comedy Awards, he was named Best Comedy Entertainment Personality. His televisi ...

's score from Universal's ''

Gung Ho! ''Gung Ho!'' (full title: ''Gung Ho!: The Story of Carlson's Makin Island Raiders'') is a 1943 American war film directed by Ray Enright and starring Randolph Scott. The story is based somewhat on the real-life World War II Makin Island raid led ...

'' (1943).

Stunts

* Eddie Parker doubling Lloyd Bridges *

John Daheim John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

doubling Benson Fong

Chapter titles

# Torpedo Rendezvous # Ringed by Fire (or "The Flaming Lake" per the on screen teaser card) # Death Curve # Floodlight Murder # Doom Downgrade # Strafed by a Zero # High Pressure Deadline # The Dropping Floor # The Danger Point # Japanese Burial # Fireworks for Deadmen # Big Gun Fusillade # Zero Minute _Source:

References

External links

* * * 1945 films American black-and-white films 1940s English-language films Seafaring films American spy films Universal Pictures film serials American World War II films Films based on comic strips Films based on works by Alex Raymond Films directed by Ray Taylor Films directed by Lewis D. Collins World War II films made in wartime Films based on works by Dashiell Hammett American action adventure films 1940s action adventure films Films scored by Paul Sawtell {{comics-film-stub