Nyoka And The Tigermen!

Nyoka and the Tigermen (or Perils of Nyoka) is a sequel to Jungle Girl. Sequels were relatively rare in the serial marketplace. Flash Gordon, Dick Tracy and Rocketman got two sequels each and there was one each for the Lone Ranger, Green Hornet, Batman, and Superman. Off hand I cannot think of anymore except Tarzan who got several silents and a few sound serials. So for the powers at Republic to go a second time to the well with Nyoka is remarkable in and of itself.

The sequel though bares little connection to the first serial aside from the name Nyoka itself. None of the notions or ideas from the first make any play here, but one thing that is relentless in this serial is action. I cannot recall a serial film in which the action was so non-stop. Kay Aldridge as Nyoka is joined by the future Lone Ranger Clayton Moore as "Larry" (a lot of these hero types are named Larry it seems) and the two of them are on the run incessantly in this movie which tumbles back and forth among several locations, many of them exteriors. Moore looks ideal as the swashbuckling hero, his handsome mug here shining for all the world to see.

The good guys here are looking for an ancient tablet which could cure cancer and the bad guys are of course seeking that same tablet, but for its ability to lead them to treasure. The baddies have a lovely leader in Lorna Gray as "Vultura" and her second in command is none other than Ming himself, the reliable Charles Middleton. The rest of the cast is familiar and capable. There's even an ape named "Satan" played by Emil Van Horn who gets some dandy screen time.

But the one thing which stood out while I enjoyed this serial was the sheer volume of the shooting. There are guns blazing nearly non-stop as the good guys chase the bad guys and later when the tables are turned. They shoot from horseback, from behind rocks, from trees, in crypts, and anywhere they can find a target. As for the eponymous "Tigermen", all I can figure is one tribe wears robes with some strong stripes so I guess that's them -- no direct mention is ever made. The logic of what happens in this movie is often suspect, but there is no denying the sheer pleasure of vintage movie action.

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