SOS Coast Guard!

Wow! What a serial that was. I've been watching a bunch of serials lately, those featuring Bela Lugosi. The latest one I've got hold of was the Republic SOS Coast Guard which offers up some delicious action, a decent hero, and some great villains.

The plot is simple, a scientist named Boroff has created a "Disintegrating Gas" which effects are demonstrated with the tried and true Republic melting image method. He is trying to sell it to a foreign power named "Morovania" and he's helped by a robust gang and a fantastic mute giant named Thorg. The Coast Guard officer named Terry Kent, a plucky girl reporter and a hapless photographer named Snapper all oppose him. Boroff in the outstanding first chapter kills Kent's brother and that's the motive to keep Kent on his trail.

There's lots of water action as you'd suspect and some good action otherwise. Kent has a habit of getting tied up a lot, three seperate times by my count, but other wise he's a worthy hero played by Ralph Byrd. But it's the villain Boroff played by Bela Lugosi who dominates many of the scenes thanks to some outstanding lighting effects. He looks menacing and downright mean all the dang time.



The real treat in this flick though is Thorg. Thorg is a mute giant who at once is slave to Boroff and hates for mutilating him, but Richard Alexander without saying a word presents one of the best screen baddies I've ever come across. Thorg is downright monstrous as he swims and climbs out of the shadows. Never saying a word, Alexander still communicates effectively and his large frame and powerful eyes make Thorg a great one. His demise is worthy of his standing in the flick, a great character.

This is a good serial through and through. But Thorg will stay with me always; who says they weren't making horror movies at this time. This is a classic!

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