As almost all of Charles Hutchison's daredevil work in silent films has disappeared, we are most fortunate to have this complete serial at our disposal, so that we too can discover what all the fuss was about. Alas, at this very late stage in his Hutch impersonation, the actor was no longer performing all his own stunts. He does use a drainpipe to climb up the façade of a building, but his clamber up the side of a mountain is obviously camera trickery; and you don't have to be particularly keen-eyed to notice that doubles are taking the falls from cliffs, boats and bicycles.
Furthermore, although still physically fit, he is obviously no longer the youthful, dashing Hurricane Hutch of old. In fact, he looks distinctly middle-aged. The character's retirement was not just around the corner but was actually sprung upon his audience less than three months later.
Nonetheless, this serial boasts more than its share of hairbreadth chases and spectacular stunts. The climax of the first chapter is a real stunner and you actually have to see that episode to catch it. All the other eps reprise the cliffhanger, but for some reason chapter two doesn't. Instead it picks up the action from the very point where it finishes.
Yes, this is a serial in the classic tradition with a cliffhanger at the end of every episodeand a thrilling one too, except for chapter four. Well, nine out of ten is not a bad effort at all.
As it happens, Hutchison's direction is far more competent and skillful than his acting. Not only does the action come across with often breathtaking vigor, but he has drawn some excellent performances from his cast, particularly heavy Sheldon Lewis, heroine Edith Thornton and lounge lizard Eddie Phillips.
An added bonus are the serial's splendid production values, which include some great sets and the superb tinted photography by Hollywood's self-proclaimed master of cameramen, Leon Shamroy. This was actually his first film, so we'll excuse him for not lighting Miss Thornton as attractively at the beginning of the movie as he does in the middle sections and at the finale. With time out for Tongues of Scandal, Shamroy went on to photograph Hutchison in Pirates of the Sky (directed by Hutchison under the pseudonym of Charles Andrews), The Trunk Mystery and Hidden Aces (all 1927).
Furthermore, although still physically fit, he is obviously no longer the youthful, dashing Hurricane Hutch of old. In fact, he looks distinctly middle-aged. The character's retirement was not just around the corner but was actually sprung upon his audience less than three months later.
Nonetheless, this serial boasts more than its share of hairbreadth chases and spectacular stunts. The climax of the first chapter is a real stunner and you actually have to see that episode to catch it. All the other eps reprise the cliffhanger, but for some reason chapter two doesn't. Instead it picks up the action from the very point where it finishes.
Yes, this is a serial in the classic tradition with a cliffhanger at the end of every episodeand a thrilling one too, except for chapter four. Well, nine out of ten is not a bad effort at all.
As it happens, Hutchison's direction is far more competent and skillful than his acting. Not only does the action come across with often breathtaking vigor, but he has drawn some excellent performances from his cast, particularly heavy Sheldon Lewis, heroine Edith Thornton and lounge lizard Eddie Phillips.
An added bonus are the serial's splendid production values, which include some great sets and the superb tinted photography by Hollywood's self-proclaimed master of cameramen, Leon Shamroy. This was actually his first film, so we'll excuse him for not lighting Miss Thornton as attractively at the beginning of the movie as he does in the middle sections and at the finale. With time out for Tongues of Scandal, Shamroy went on to photograph Hutchison in Pirates of the Sky (directed by Hutchison under the pseudonym of Charles Andrews), The Trunk Mystery and Hidden Aces (all 1927).