Spencer Gordon Bennet
Encyclopedia
Spencer Gordon Bennet was an American
film producer
and director
. Known as the "King of Serial Directors", he directed more film serials than any other director.
, New York
, Bennet first entered show business as a stunt man, when he answered a newspaper ad to jump from the Palisades of the Hudson River while wearing a suit for the serial film Hurricane Hutch
(1921). The gig at that time paid $1 per foot he had to fall.
He made his directorial debut in 1921's Behold the Man but made his serial directorial debut in 1925 with Sunken Silver
. He would keep making serials, as well as B-Western features, until the very end of the genre, directing the very last two serials made in the United States, Blazing the Overland Trail
(1956) and Perils of the Wilderness
(1956). After the serials ended he directed a handful of features, his final directorial credit being 1965's The Bounty Killer, which was also the final film to feature pioneering cowboy star Broncho Billy Anderson
. When he died in 1987, his tombstone was engraved "His Final Chapter".
Over his long career Bennet directed over 100 serials, including both Superman
serials, The Adventures of Sir Galahad
, Batman and Robin
, The Tiger Woman
, Captain Video
, and numerous western serials. Among his western "B" features were his long-running Red Ryder
series, featuring Red Barry.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. Known as the "King of Serial Directors", he directed more film serials than any other director.
Biography
Born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Bennet first entered show business as a stunt man, when he answered a newspaper ad to jump from the Palisades of the Hudson River while wearing a suit for the serial film Hurricane Hutch
Hurricane Hutch
Hurricane Hutch is a 1921 adventure film serial directed by George B. Seitz. The film is considered to be lost. The story concerns the search for a lost formula for making paper from seaweed that will save a mortgaged papermill.-Cast:...
(1921). The gig at that time paid $1 per foot he had to fall.
He made his directorial debut in 1921's Behold the Man but made his serial directorial debut in 1925 with Sunken Silver
Sunken Silver
Sunken Silver is a 1925 film serial directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and George B. Seitz.-Cast:* Allene Ray - Claire Standish* Walter Miller - Gavin Brice* Frank Lackteen - Rodney Hade* Albert Roccardi - Conch Leader* Jean Bronte - Bobby Burns...
. He would keep making serials, as well as B-Western features, until the very end of the genre, directing the very last two serials made in the United States, Blazing the Overland Trail
Blazing the Overland Trail
Blazing the Overland Trail is a Columbia film serial. It was the last serial produced by Columbia and the last serial ever produced by any major studio...
(1956) and Perils of the Wilderness
Perils of the Wilderness
Perils of the Wilderness was the 55th serial released by Columbia Pictures. It was the penultimate serial produced by Columbia who were at this time the only studio still producing serials.-Plot:...
(1956). After the serials ended he directed a handful of features, his final directorial credit being 1965's The Bounty Killer, which was also the final film to feature pioneering cowboy star Broncho Billy Anderson
Broncho Billy Anderson
Gilbert M. "Broncho Billy" Anderson was an American actor, writer, film director, and film producer, who is best known as the first star of the Western film genre.-Early life:...
. When he died in 1987, his tombstone was engraved "His Final Chapter".
Over his long career Bennet directed over 100 serials, including both Superman
Superman (serial)
Superman is a 15-part black-and-white Columbia film serial based on the comic book character Superman. It stars an uncredited Kirk Alyn and Noel Neill as Lois Lane. It is notable as the first live-action appearance of Superman on film and for the longevity of its distribution...
serials, The Adventures of Sir Galahad
Adventures of Sir Galahad
Adventures of Sir Galahad is the 41st serial released by Columbia Pictures. It was based on Arthurian legend and, notably, was one of the very few serials of the time with a period setting that was not a western.-Plot:...
, Batman and Robin
Batman and Robin (serial)
Batman and Robin is a 15-chapter serial released in 1949 by Columbia Pictures. Robert Lowery played Batman, while Johnny Duncan played Robin...
, The Tiger Woman
The Tiger Woman (1944 film)
The Tiger Woman is a 12-chapter Republic film serial starring Allan Lane and Linda Stirling . The serial was re-released in 1951 under the title Perils of the Darkest Jungle and, in 1966, it was edited into the 100-minute Century-66 film Jungle Gold.Linda Stirling is a jungle girl lost in the...
, Captain Video
Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere
Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere is a 15-chapter serial released by Columbia Pictures in 1951. It was directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and Wallace A. Grissel with a screenplay by Royal G. Cole, Sherman I. Lowe and Joseph F. Poland, based on a treatment by George H. Plympton...
, and numerous western serials. Among his western "B" features were his long-running Red Ryder
Red Ryder
Red Ryder was a popular long-running Western comic strip created by Stephen Slesinger and artist Fred Harman. Beginning Sunday, November 6, 1938, Red Ryder was syndicated by Newspaper Enterprise Association, expanding over the following decade to 750 newspapers, translations into ten languages and...
series, featuring Red Barry.