Man with the Steel Whip
Encyclopedia
Man with the Steel Whip is a Republic
Movie serial. It uses considerable stock footage
from previous Republic serials "Zorro's Black Whip
", "The Painted Stallion
" and "Daredevils of the West
". As with any serial from the 50s, it is not considered to be one of the best examples of the format. It uses the standard plot of an illicit "land grab" coupled with a new spin on the Zorro story (as Republic wished to use old stock footage from their Zorro serials but had since lost the licence for that property).
was $174,718 (a $1,924, or 1.1%, overspend). It was the most expensive Republic serial of 1954.
It was filmed between 2 March and 22 March 1954 under the working title
Man with a Whip. The serial's production number was 1938.
Man with the Steel Whip used stock footage
from all of the previous Zorro
serials produced by Republic Pictures. The result of this is that the costume and body shape of the hero, El Latigo, keeps changing between scenes, even becoming female in scenes taken from Zorro's Black Whip
(1944).
The serial contains many mistakes, such as Nancy (Barbara Bester) occasionally referring to the character Jerry Randall as "Dick" (Richard Simmons' real name), which were either not noticed or not considered worth correcting before release.
This was followed by a re-release of The Phantom Rider
, re-titled as Ghost Riders of the West, instead of a new serial. The next new serial, Panther Girl of the Kongo
, followed in 1955.
Source:
Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures was an independent film production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, operating from 1934 through 1959, and was best known for specializing in westerns, movie serials and B films emphasizing mystery and action....
Movie serial. It uses considerable stock footage
Stock footage
Stock footage, and similarly, archive footage, library pictures and file footage are film or video footage that may or may not be custom shot for use in a specific film or television program. Stock footage is of beneficial use to filmmakers as it is sometimes less expensive than shooting new...
from previous Republic serials "Zorro's Black Whip
Zorro's Black Whip
Zorro's Black Whip is a 1944 Republic Pictures film serial starring Linda Stirling. The film was made after the popular 1940 20th Century-Fox remake of The Mark of Zorro and Republic was unable to use the character himself, but still wanted to capitalize on it. However, and despite the title,...
", "The Painted Stallion
The Painted Stallion
The Painted Stallion is a 1937 Republic Movie serial. It was the sixth Republic serial of the sixty-six made by that company. Western serials such as this made up a third of the serials from Republic, a studio that was also heavily involved in making B-Western feature films at the time.This...
" and "Daredevils of the West
Daredevils of the West
Daredevils of the West is a Republic Movie serial.Daredevils of the West is a lightning-fast-paced Western cliffhanger serial released by Republic Pictures in 1943 starring Allan Lane and Kay Aldridge...
". As with any serial from the 50s, it is not considered to be one of the best examples of the format. It uses the standard plot of an illicit "land grab" coupled with a new spin on the Zorro story (as Republic wished to use old stock footage from their Zorro serials but had since lost the licence for that property).
Plot
In a version of a standard western plot, the saloon owner Barnett wants the land under the local Indian Reservation for its gold deposits. In order to drive off the people living on the reservation, he forms a gang to attack the local ranchers and frame the Indians. Rancher Jerry Randall opposes him using the legendary masked identity of "El Latigo", friend to the Indians.Cast
- Richard Simmons as Jerry Randall, a rancher, and El Latigo, legendary masked hero
- Barbara Bestar as Nancy Cooper, a school teacher
- Dale Van SickelDale Van SickelDale Harris Van Sickel was an American college football, basketball and baseball player during the 1920s, who later became a Hollywood motion picture actor and stunt performer for over forty years...
as Crane, a henchmanHenchmanHenchman referred originally to one who attended on a horse for his employer, that is, a horse groom. Hence, like constable and marshal, also originally stable staff, henchman became the title of a subordinate official in a royal court or noble household... - Mauritz Hugo as Barnett, saloon owner and villain attempting a traditional Western land grab
- Lane BradfordLane Bradford- Career :Born in Yonkers, New York, U.S.. He has appeared in many television series and b western movies. On stage, he co-starred in Desperadoes' Outpost , The Great Sioux Uprising , Apache Warrior .....
as Tosco - Pat HoganPat HoganPat Hogan was an American actor.- Career :Born in Oklahoma, U.S. to Native American family. He has appeared in many western television series and a few movies. Onstage, he starred in Arrowhead , The Last Frontier , . Indian Paint starred his brothers-in-law, Johnny Crawford and Robert "Bobby"...
as the Indian Chief - Roy BarcroftRoy BarcroftRoy Barcroft was an American character actor famous for playing villains in B-Westerns and other genres. Noted film critic Leonard Maltin acclaimed Barcroft as "Republic Pictures' number one bad guy".-Early life:...
as the Sheriff
Production
Man with the Steel Whip was budgeted at $172,794 although the final negative costNegative cost
Negative cost is the cost of actually producing and shooting a film. It does not include such costs as distribution and promotion.Low-budget movies, for example The Blair Witch Project, can have promotional expenses that are much larger than the negative cost.The term comes from the costs up to the...
was $174,718 (a $1,924, or 1.1%, overspend). It was the most expensive Republic serial of 1954.
It was filmed between 2 March and 22 March 1954 under the working title
Working title
A working title, sometimes called a production title, is the temporary name of a product or project used during its development, usually used in filmmaking, television production, novel, video game, or music album.-Purpose:...
Man with a Whip. The serial's production number was 1938.
Man with the Steel Whip used stock footage
Stock footage
Stock footage, and similarly, archive footage, library pictures and file footage are film or video footage that may or may not be custom shot for use in a specific film or television program. Stock footage is of beneficial use to filmmakers as it is sometimes less expensive than shooting new...
from all of the previous Zorro
Zorro
Zorro is a fictional character created in 1919 by New York-based pulp writer Johnston McCulley. The character has been featured in numerous books, films, television series, and other media....
serials produced by Republic Pictures. The result of this is that the costume and body shape of the hero, El Latigo, keeps changing between scenes, even becoming female in scenes taken from Zorro's Black Whip
Zorro's Black Whip
Zorro's Black Whip is a 1944 Republic Pictures film serial starring Linda Stirling. The film was made after the popular 1940 20th Century-Fox remake of The Mark of Zorro and Republic was unable to use the character himself, but still wanted to capitalize on it. However, and despite the title,...
(1944).
The serial contains many mistakes, such as Nancy (Barbara Bester) occasionally referring to the character Jerry Randall as "Dick" (Richard Simmons' real name), which were either not noticed or not considered worth correcting before release.
Stunts
- Tom SteeleTom Steele (stuntman)Tom Steele was a stunt man and actor, best remembered for appearing in serials, especially those produced by Republic Pictures, in both capacities.-Early life:...
as Jerry Randall/Henchman Tom/Henchman Gage (doubling Dick Simmons) - Babe De Freest as El Latigo (doubling Dick Simmons via stock footageStock footageStock footage, and similarly, archive footage, library pictures and file footage are film or video footage that may or may not be custom shot for use in a specific film or television program. Stock footage is of beneficial use to filmmakers as it is sometimes less expensive than shooting new...
) - Guy Teague as Price
- Chuck HaywardChuck HaywardCharles B. Hayward was an American motion picture stuntman and actor. He was associated particularly with the films of John Wayne...
as Barn Henchman - Robert 'Buzz' Henry as Orco
- Walt La Rue as a townsman
- Eddie ParkerEddie ParkerEddie Parker was a stuntman and actor who appeared in many classic films, mostly westerns and horror films...
(via stock footage) - Bill Yrigoyen (via stock footage)
- Joe Yrigoyen (via stock footage)
Theatrical
Man with the Steel Whips official release date is 19 July 1954, although this is actually the date the sixth chapter was made available to film exchanges.This was followed by a re-release of The Phantom Rider
The Phantom Rider (Republic serial)
The Phantom Rider is a Republic Movie serial. It was later re-released under the new title Ghost Riders of the West.-Plot:Dr Jim Sterling attempts to create a police force on the Big Tree Indian Reservation...
, re-titled as Ghost Riders of the West, instead of a new serial. The next new serial, Panther Girl of the Kongo
Panther Girl of the Kongo
Panther Girl of the Kongo is a Republic movie serial. It used a lot of stock footage from the 1941 Republic serial "Jungle Girl". This was the penultimate serial produced by Republic...
, followed in 1955.
Chapter titles
- The Spirit Rider (20min)
- Savage Fury (13min 20s)
- Mask of El Latiago (13min 20s)
- The Murder Cave (13min 20s)
- The Stone Guillotine (13min 20s)
- Flame and Battle (13min 20s)
- Double Ambush (13min 20s)
- The Blazing Barrier (13min 20s)
- The Silent Informer (13min 20s)
- Window of Death (13min 20s) - a re-cap chapter
- The Fatal Masquerade (13min 20s)
- Redskin Raiders (13min 20s)
Source: