Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island

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1936 American film

Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island

Directed by| Ray Taylor
Mack V. Wright
Written by| Morgan Cox
Maurice Geraghty
Barry Shipman
Produced by| Nat Levine
Sol C. Siegel
Starring| Ray Mala
Mamo Clark
Herbert Rawlinson
William Newell
John Ward
John Dilson
Selmer Jackson
John Picorri
Cinematography| Edgar Lyons
William Nobles
Edited by| Helene Turner
William Witney
Music by| Hugo Riesenfeld
Distributed by| Republic Pictures

Release date

* November 14, 1936 (1936-11-14) (serial)

Running time

| 14 chapters (256 minutes) (serial)
71 minutes (feature)
6 26½-minute episodes (TV)
100 minutes (TV movie)[1]
Country| United States
Language| English
Budget| $106,779 (negative cost: $111,848)[1]
Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island, Chapter 1: The Mysterious Island

Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island (1936) is a Republic movie serial starring Ray Mala. It was the fourth of the 66 serials produced by Republic and the last (of four) to be released in 1936. Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island is notable for being the first Republic serial to contain another common aspect of serials—a Re-Cap Chapter, similar to a clipshow in modern television, whereby the events of the previous chapters are repeated via clips (in order to save money). Contrary to popular belief, this was not the invention of the concept, which had been routinely used in serial production before the release of this serial. The serial was edited into the film Robinson Crusoe of Mystery Island, which was released in 1966.

## Plot

[edit]

Agent Mala, an intelligence operative, investigates sabotage on the remote Clipper Island. A gang of spies causes the eruption of a volcano, for which Mala is blamed. He convinces the native Princess Melani of his innocence and helps her ward off a takeover by rival high priest and spy collaborator Porotu and discover the identity of spy ringleader H.K.

## Cast

[edit]

* Ray Mala as Mala, operative of the United States Intelligence Department undercover as a Pacific Dirigible Airlines radio operator. Mala was a rare non-Caucasian hero in serials.[2]
* Rex the Wonder Horse
* Buck the Dog
* Mamo Clark as Princess Melani, princess and ruler of the Komatoans
* Herbert Rawlinson as Grant Jackson
* William Newell as Hank McGlaurie, Agent Mala's partner
* John Ward as Anthony Tupper, British Novelist accompanying Agent Mala
* John Dilson as E. G. Ellsworth, joint owner of Pacific Dirigible Airlines
* Selmer Jackson as Canfield, joint owner of Pacific Dirigible Airlines, alias H.K
* Tiny Roebuck as Eppa - the Wrestler.

## Production

[edit]

The serial was budgeted at $106,779 although the final negative cost was $111,848 (a $5,069, or 4.7%, overspend). It was filmed between August 31 and September 25, 1936, under the working title Robinson Crusoe. The serial's production number was 419. This serial has very little to do with Robinson Crusoe.[1][2]

### Special effects

[edit]

The special effects were created by John T. Coyle and the Lydecker brothers.

## Chapter titles

[edit]

Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island is the only 14-chapter sound serial.[1][3]

1. The Mysterious Island (31 min 21s)
2. Flaming Danger (20 min 46s)
3. Fathoms Below (18 min 03s)
4. Into the Enemy's Camp (17 min 27s)
5. Danger in the Air (17 min 41s)
6. The God of the Volcano (17 min 19s)
7. Trail's End (15 min 41s)
8. The Jaws of the Beast (16 min 17s)
9. The Cave of the Winds (17 min 22s)
10. Wings of Fury (16 min 29s)
11. Agents of Disaster (16 min 22s) \-- Re-Cap Chapter
12. The Sea Trap (16 min 41s)
13. Mutiny (18 min 35s)
14. Thunder Mountain (16 min 21s)

Source:[1][4]

## Cliffhangers

[edit]

1. The burning mainmast of the Tuloa falls on Mala.
2. Mala is captured by natives and forced to fall into a volcano.
3. While diving, and with the ship above being shelled by a submarine, Mala begins to suffocate.
4. Mala and Lamar are caught in the explosion of an overheated boiler.
5. The plane carrying Mala crashes into the Pacific Ocean.
6. Mala and Melani are caught in a landslide caused by an earthquake.
7. While escaping from aggressive natives, Mala and Melani slip off a cliff.
8. With his vine cut, Mala falls into alligator-infested water.
9. While scaling a cliff, Mala is shot at and falls.
10. Struggling with the pilot of a biplane causes it to crash into the Pacific Ocean.
11. Mala's car is forced off the road and over an embankment.
12. Mala and Melani, escaping in a motorboat, are shot at by a cannon.
13. Mala is caught by gas aboard an airship, which begins to crash.

Note: Many of the resolutions of these cliffhangers are "cheats": When the event is repeated at the start of a new chapter, there is a crucial and sometimes obvious difference from what was shown at the end of the preceding chapter.

## See also

[edit]

* List of film serials
* List of film serials by studio
* List of films in the public domain in the United States

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Mathis 1995. pp. 3, 10, 18–19.
2. ^ a b Harmon and Glut 1973, p. 327.
3. ^ Cline 1984, p. 37.
4. ^ Cline 1984. p. 216.

### Bibliography

[edit]

* Cline, William C. "Filmography". In the Nick of Time. Jefferson, North Carolina" McFarland & Company, Inc., 1984. ISBN 0-7864-0471-X.
* Harmon, Jim and Donald F. Glut. "13". The Great Movie Serials: Their Sound and Fury. London: Routledge, 1973. ISBN 978-0-7130-0097-9.
* Mathis, Jack. Valley of the Cliffhangers Supplement. Barrington, Illinois: Jack Mathis Advertising, 1995. ISBN 0-9632878-1-8.

## External links

[edit]

* Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island at IMDb
* Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island at the TCM Movie Database

* v
* t
* e

Republic serials

Pre-war serials
(1936–1941)|

* Darkest Africa
* Undersea Kingdom
* The Vigilantes Are Coming
* Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island
* Dick Tracy
* The Painted Stallion
* S.O.S. Coast Guard
* Zorro Rides Again
* The Lone Ranger
* The Fighting Devil Dogs
* Dick Tracy Returns
* Hawk of the Wilderness
* The Lone Ranger Rides Again
* Daredevils of the Red Circle
* Dick Tracy's G-Men
* Zorro's Fighting Legion
* Drums of Fu Manchu
* Adventures of Red Ryder
* King of the Royal Mounted
* Mysterious Doctor Satan
* Adventures of Captain Marvel
* Jungle Girl
* King of the Texas Rangers
* Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc.

War-time serials
(1942–1945)|

* Spy Smasher
* Perils of Nyoka
* King of the Mounties
* G-Men vs. the Black Dragon
* Daredevils of the West
* Secret Service in Darkest Africa
* The Masked Marvel
* Captain America
* The Tiger Woman
* Haunted Harbor
* Zorro's Black Whip
* Manhunt of Mystery Island
* Federal Operator 99
* The Purple Monster Strikes

Post-war serials
(1946–1955)|

* The Phantom Rider
* King of the Forest Rangers
* Daughter of Don Q
* The Crimson Ghost
* Son of Zorro
* Jesse James Rides Again
* The Black Widow
* G–Men Never Forget
* Dangers of the Canadian Mounted
* Adventures of Frank and Jesse James
* Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc
* Ghost of Zorro
* King of the Rocket Men
* The James Brothers of Missouri
* Radar Patrol vs Spy King
* The Invisible Monster
* Desperadoes of the West
* Flying Disc Man from Mars
* Don Daredevil Rides Again
* Government Agents vs. Phantom Legion
* Radar Men from the Moon
* Zombies of the Stratosphere
* Jungle Drums of Africa
* Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe
* Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders
* Trader Tom of the China Seas
* Man with the Steel Whip
* Panther Girl of the Kongo
* King of the Carnival

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Ray Taylor

* Fighting with Buffalo Bill (1926)
* Whispering Smith Rides (1927)
* The Avenging Shadow (1928)
* Beauty and Bullets (1928)
* The Crimson Canyon (1928)
* A Final Reckoning (1928)
* Greased Lightning (1928)
* Quick Triggers (1928)
* Tarzan the Mighty (1928)
* The Vanishing Rider (1928)
* The Ace of Scotland Yard (1929)
* Come Across (1929)
* Eyes of the Underworld (1929)
* The Pirate of Panama (1929)
* The Jade Box (1930)
* Battling with Buffalo Bill (1931)
* Danger Island (1931)
* Detective Lloyd (1931)
* Finger Prints (1931)
* The One Way Trail (1931)
* The Airmail Mystery (1932)
* Heroes of the West (1932)
* Jungle Mystery (1932)
* Clancy of the Mounted (1933)
* Gordon of Ghost City (1933)
* The Perils of Pauline (1933)
* The Phantom of the Air (1933)
* Pirate Treasure (1934)
* The Return of Chandu (1934)
* The Ivory-Handled Gun (1935)
* Outlawed Guns (1935)
* The Roaring West (1935)
* Tailspin Tommy in the Great Air Mystery (1935)
* The Throwback (1935)
* The Cowboy and the Kid (1936)
* Flash Gordon (1936)
* The Phantom Rider (1936)
* Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island (1936)
* Silver Spurs (1936)
* Sunset of Power (1936)
* The Three Mesquiteers (1936)
* The Vigilantes Are Coming (1936)
* Boss of Lonely Valley (1937)
* Dick Tracy (1937)
* Drums of Destiny (1937)
* The Painted Stallion (1937)
* Raw Timber (1937)
* Flaming Frontiers (1938)
* Frontier Town (1938)
* Hawaiian Buckaroo (1938)
* Panamint's Bad Man (1938)
* Rawhide (1938)
* The Spider's Web (1938)
* Flying G-Men (1939)
* Scouts to the Rescue (1939)
* Bad Man from Red Butte (1940)
* Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940)
* The Green Hornet (1940)
* Law and Order (1940)
* Pony Post (1940)
* Ragtime Cowboy Joe (1940)
* Riders of Pasco Basin (1940)
* West of Carson City (1940)
* Winners of the West (1940)
* Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie (1941)
* Fighting Bill Fargo (1941)
* Man from Montana (1941)
* Rawhide Rangers (1941)
* Riders of Death Valley (1941)
* Sky Raiders (1941)
* Don Winslow of the Navy (1942)
* Gang Busters (1942)
* Junior G-Men of the Air (1942)
* Stagecoach Buckaroo (1942)
* Treat 'Em Rough (1942)
* The Adventures of Smilin' Jack (1943)
* Adventures of the Flying Cadets (1943)
* Cheyenne Roundup (1943)
* Don Winslow of the Coast Guard (1943)
* Boss of Boomtown (1944)
* The Great Alaskan Mystery (1944)
* Mystery of the River Boat (1944)
* Raiders of Ghost City (1944)
* Jungle Queen (1945)
* The Master Key (1945)
* The Royal Mounted Rides Again (1945)
* Secret Agent X-9 (1945)
* Lost City of the Jungle (1946)
* The Scarlet Horseman (1946)
* Black Hills (1947)
* Border Feud (1947)
* Cheyenne Takes Over (1947)
* The Fighting Vigilantes (1947)
* Ghost Town Renegades (1947)
* Law of the Lash (1947)
* The Michigan Kid (1947)
* Range Beyond the Blue (1947)
* Return of the Lash (1947)
* West to Glory (1947)
* Check Your Guns (1948)
* Dead Man's Gold (1948)
* Gunning for Justice (1948)
* Hidden Danger (1948)
* The Return of Wildfire (1948)
* The Tioga Kid (1948)
* Tornado Range (1948)
* The Westward Trail (1948)
* Crashing Thru (1949)
* Law of the West (1949)
* Outlaw Country (1949)
* Range Justice (1949)
* Shadows of the West (1949)
* Son of a Bad Man (1949)
* Son of Billy the Kid (1949)
* West of El Dorado (1949)

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