Trader Tom of the China Seas

1954 film by Franklin Adreon

Trader Tom of the China Seas

Directed by| Franklin Adreon
Written by| Ronald Davidson
Produced by| Franklin Adreon
Starring| Harry Lauter
Aline Towne
Lyle Talbot
Robert Shayne
Fred Graham
Richard Reeves
John Crawford
George Selk
Cinematography| Bud Thackery
Distributed by| Republic Pictures

Release dates

* January 6, 1954 (1954-01-06) (U.S. serial)[1]
* 1966 (1966) (U.S. TV)[1]

Running time

| 12 chapters (167 minutes (serial)[1]
100 minutes (TV)[1]
Language| English
Budget| $172,789 (negative cost: $169,248)[1]

Trader Tom of the China Seas is a 1954 Republic film serial directed by Franklin Adreon and starring Harry Lauter, Aline Towne, Lyle Talbot, Robert Shayne, Fred Graham, and Richard Reeves. In 1966 the serial was edited into Century 66 100-minute television film with the new title Target: Sea of China.

## Plot[edit]

The United Nations has island trader Tom Rogers and Vivian Wells, daughter of a schooner captain, spearheading the effort to keep subversive native groups from starting revolutions in Burmatra and neighboring Asian countries.

## Cast[edit]

* Harry Lauter as Tom Rogers
* Aline Towne as Vivian Wells
* Lyle Talbot as Barent
* Robert Shayne as Major Conroy
* Fred Graham as Kurt Daley
* Richard Reeves as Rebel Chief
* John Crawford as Bill Gaines
* George Selk as Ole

## Production[edit]

Trader Tom of the China Seas was budgeted at $172,789 although the final negative cost was $169,248 (a $3,541, or 2%, under spend). It was the cheapest Republic serial of 1954.[1] It was filmed between 8 September and 28 September 1953.[1] The serial's production number was 1937.[1]

### Stunts[edit]

* Dale Van Sickel as Tom Rogers/Rebel Assassin in Jeep (doubling Harry Lauter)
* Tom Steele as Gursan
* Fred Graham
* Bert LeBaron as Railroad Fireman
* Ken Terrell as Crewman

### Special Effects[edit]

Special effects were created by the Lydecker brothers.

## Release[edit]

### Theatrical[edit]

Trader Tom of the China Seas's official release date is 11 January 1954, although this is actually the date the sixth chapter was made available to film exchanges.[1] This was followed by a re-release of Secret Service in Darkest Africa, re-titled as Manhunt in the African Jungles, instead of a new serial. The next new serial, Man with the Steel Whip, followed in the summer.[1]

### Television[edit]

Trader Tom of the China Seas was one of twenty-six Republic serials re-released as a Century 66 film on television in 1966. The title of the film was changed to Target: Sea of China. This version was cut down to 100-minutes in length.[1]

## Critical reception[edit]

Cline describes this serial as just a "quickie."[2]

## Chapter titles[edit]

1. Sea Saboteurs (20min)
2. Death Takes the Deck (13min 20s)
3. Five Fathoms Down (13min 20s)
4. On Target (13min 20s)
5. The Fire Ship (13min 20s)
6. Collision (13min 20s)
7. War in the Hills (13min 20s)
8. Native Execution (13min 20s)
9. Mass Attack (13min 20s)
10. Machine Murder (13min 20s) - a re-cap chapter
11. Underwater Ambush (13min 20s)
12. Twisted Vengeance (13min 20s)

Source:[1][3]

## See also[edit]

* List of film serials
* List of film serials by studio

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Mathis, Jack (1995). Valley of the Cliffhangers Supplement. Jack Mathis Advertising. pp. 3, 10, 136–137. ISBN 0-9632878-1-8.
2. ^ Cline, William C. (1984). "5. A Cheer for the Champions (The Heroes and Heroines)". In the Nick of Time. McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 91. ISBN 0-7864-0471-X.
3. ^ Cline, William C. (1984). "Filmography". In the Nick of Time. McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 255–256. ISBN 0-7864-0471-X.

## External links[edit]

* Trader Tom of the China Seas at IMDb
* Trader Tom of the China Seas at AllMovie

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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

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