Great Movie Serials
Fantasies are grounded on commensurate realities. During the depression years, we liked to identify with persons fated into calamitous situations and miraculous recoveries thus, one rationale for the popular movie serial. What are other social and historical perspectives for these serials? For instance the War: Serial villains often plotted to conquer the world the thematic spider's web offers a suitable metaphor for our international imbroglio hypnotic powers may reflect propaganda's closest attraction. Why are serial apes so prevailing? Because apes are early men? Were there latent, sublime themes which defined certain directors, writers and other serial auteurs? Why the obsession with Supermen (football stars, cowboys, Houdinis, jungle lords, animal trainers, pilots, dicks), a Germanic ideal at the time? Might perhaps the serial hero of the '60's have been a spectator? What significance are masks: cultural schizophrenia? covers for guilt? a means of showing that we are not as we look, not as weak? What are the literary and mythical roots of serials? None of these implications or questions are material to Harmon's and Glut's organized, adequate, wholly un-subjective reference book on the Great Serials. Nor even broached. Providing many names, dates, and particularly plot lines, the book is serviceable to the browser. However, condensed, suggestive sketches would have exhibited those serial folk to much better advantage. (Kirkus Reviews)
