Above: The DVD cover (based on the striking original poster from the 1930s) for SECRET AGENT X-9 (Universal, 1937).

SECRET AGENT X-9

Universal, 12 Chapters, 1937. Starring Scott Kolk, Jean Rogers, Henry Brandon, Monte Blue, David Oliver, Henry Hunter, Larry J. Blake, Lon Chaney Jr.

When VCI Home Video came out with its three long-lost Universal serials (JUNGLE JIM and the two SECRET AGENT X-9 cliffhangers) in the winter of 2002-2003, I was only enthused about two of them--JUNGLE JIM and the 1945 SECRET AGENT X-9. I had been looking forward to seeing the former for a long time, because of its cast (Grant Withers, Raymond Hatton, Henry Brandon, and Al Bridge) and because I was familiar with the Jungle Jim character from Johnny Weissmuller's movies. The 1945 X-9 had the "draw" of a young Lloyd Bridges as the star, but there was nothing to recommend the 1937 X-9 to me. The lead, Scott Kolk, was unfamiliar, and a pressbook summary of the serial that I'd read years ago made the whole thing sound way too confusing and illogical for me to want to see it. However, hearing glowing reviews on all sides, I decided to "take the plunge" and get the serial along with its two comrades--and I'm glad I did! Kolk is excellent, the plot is complex but not confusing, and the supporting cast is filled with pros. Once again, I have been made to realize that the vast majority of Universal serials are not (repeat: are not) "talk-a-thons", but fast-paced, well-written adventures.

The serial begins with the apparent death of Victor T. Brenda, a notorious but mysterious criminal mastermind, in Budapest, Hungary. Pursued by the Hungarian police, the villain's car tips over and his body is found in the wreckage. Sounds like an awfully short serial--but wait! Over in America, Secret Agent X-9 (Scott Kolk) suspects that the body found in the car wreck was not Brenda's; he believes the master criminal is still alive--and, what's more, in the United States. X-9's chief, Wheeler (Larry J. Blake) orders him to get Brenda at all costs, and assigns another G-man to X-9's former detail: guarding the Belgravian crown jewels, which have been on display in the US and are being shipped back to their home country. The two cases converge when Brenda heists the crown jewels, murdering the G-man in the process. X-9 vows vengeance, and follows the twisted trail of Brenda and his lieutenant Blackstone (Henry Brandon). Things are complicated by Baron Karsten (Monte Blue), the Belgravian ambassador, and art-shop proprietor Shara Graustark (Jean Rogers), who wish to recover the jewels for their country without any help from the FBI. Through a set of circumstances, the bad guys lose track of the jewels, too, and a desperate race develops between X-9, Brenda, and the Belgravians to recover the priceless gems.

SECRET AGENT X-9 frequently seems on the verge of lapsing into complete confusion, but always manages to keep things understandable and on track. Thought the plot is not easy to outline, it is quite easy to follow, and there are many fascinating twists and turns to it. The scramble for the jewels between the three factions gives way to the FBI's attempt to hang onto the recovered gems in the later chapters, which in turn gives way to the bad guys' second theft of the gems and the united efforts of the G-men and the Belgravians to recover them. Thanks to directors Ford Beebe and Cliff Smith and to screenwriters Wyndham Gittens and Norman Hall, plot and character consistency are maintained at all times. The pace is swift and the action, while not spectacular, is exciting, thanks to the presence of a young Tom Steele, doubling for both heroes and villains at different times. The music score is also eminently hum-able and catchy, and the script is vivid and well-rounded. The cliffhangers are mainly resolved with the old Universal standby "they lived through it", but in view of the near-perfect script and the deft handling of the plot, individual chapter endings aren't so important. However, this serial debuts one clever resolution that would see much duty at Republic: the gimmick of having the hero fight a similarly-costumed henchman, who hurtles out of the window, making you think it was the hero who took the plunge.

Star Scott Kolk compliments the fast pacing perfectly, with his brusque, authoritative delivery. He always seems on top of things and in command of the situation, much like Ralph Byrd's Dick Tracy. Kolk, however, has a hard edge that Byrd lacks; he frequently--and quite understandably--becomes annoyed with the skullduggery and subterfuge going on around him, and this is reflected in his hard-boiled interrogations of various suspects. Despite this fast-talking toughness, Kolk also comes off as a genuinely nice guy, and his friendly interaction with partner Henry Hunter and comic sidekick David Oliver seems heartfelt and genuine. Kolk is given a further chance to stretch his talents in the three different sequences where he dons disguises in order to spy on various villains; he is able to change his voice as well as his costume and appearance. Only George Turner, in his Mexican peasant get-up in SON OF ZORRO, was equally convincing when doing a "disguise" bit. A look at Kolk's filmography reveals the rest of his movie career was very limited in quantity. This is a shame, as Kolk has ten times more personality than some serial heroes I could name, and would have made an excellent lead in other cliffhangers.

David Oliver, as X-9's taxi-driver pal Pidge, is a perfect example of Universal's restrained but effective use of "comedy relief." Pidge takes more than one pratfall, but can always be counted on in a pinch. His affection for his car (named "Nellie") is amusing, and his prevailing confusion at the rapid-fire events of the plot is funny rather than frustrating, as the audience can identify with the feeling at times. Most fans, if honest, will admit that Pidge represents the way they would probably behave if thrust into the serial world--I know that I would probably react the same way Pidge does to cliffhanger situations --and this "Everyman" aspect is probably the most endearing thing about Oliver's fine performance.

The 20-year old Jean Rogers, as Shara Graustark, is surprisingly mature and self-possessed for her years. Unlike Edna Sedgwick in RED BARRY, she manages to come off as sympathetic even when apparently working against the heroes; she is capable of being friendly to the G-men to gain information, and of being genuinely friendly for no ulterior motive--and able to differentiate the two attitudes with ease. She obviously regrets having to deal so underhandedly with X-9, and frequently suggests to her fellow-conspirator Monte Blue that they take the agent into their confidence. Miss Rogers can also be almost as grimly purposeful as Kolk himself, as she shows in the scene where she reveals her private motive for tracking down Brenda. (SPOILERS AHEAD) It turns out that her father was the man Brenda murdered in the Hungarian car wreck in order to pass the body off as his own.

Monte Blue, in one of his biggest and best serial roles, seems highly unsympathetic at first, always putting down Rogers sharply when she suggests working with the law rather than against it. However, as the serial progresses, one gets to admire the Baron for his steadfast loyalty to Belgravia, and by the final chapters one actually begins to worry that the character will fall victim to Brenda. The Baron also earns more of our respect as he becomes more open with X-9; initially antagonistic to each other, the two of them develop a friendship of sorts as the plot unfolds--the Baron even saves X-9's life on one occasion. During the long stretch where the Baron is kidnapped and impersonated by Brenda, Blue does a fine job of playing both the dedicated statesman and the ruthless master villain.

Henry Hunter, as X-9's fellow agent Tommy Dawson (C-5) displays a pleasant, breezy personality, contrasting with both Kolk's intensity and Oliver's muddleheadedness. (SPOILERS AHEAD) Hunter's death at the hands of Brenda in Chapter Eleven is a sad and unexpected moment, and Kolk's heartfelt grief at the slaying of his comrade in arms is fully shared by the audience. Larry J. Blake, as X-9's boss, makes one of the more convincing "chief operative" characters in serials, suave, assured, and cool-headed. It's easy to see why he's the head of the Bureau; he seems to be more of a thinker but is not afraid to engage in active confrontations with the villains.

Last but not least, Henry Brandon is a real standout in the role of Blackstone. As the only gang member privy to Brenda's identity, Brandon takes a cruel relish in lording it over his fellow henchmen, and in proclaiming the superior intelligence of their mysterious leader. (SPOILERS AHEAD) Given this behavior, it's not too surprising when Blackstone turns out to be Brenda himself in Chapter Twelve; any other resolution would have been a disappointment, as no other villain could have been menacing enough to be Brandon's boss. Icily sarcastic and coolly ruthless, Brandon, clad in an ordinary suit, manages to be as intimidating as the most eerily-costumed serial heavy on record.

Lon Chaney Jr., as one of Brandon's henchman pack, is not given too many lines, but gets a chance to shine in the sequence where the henchmen fantasize as to what they'll do with their share of the jewels. Lon also comes off well towards the end, when he smiles proudly as the G-men are reading off his criminal record for all to hear. George Shelley, who played one of Johnny Mack Brown's sidekicks in WILD WEST DAYS, is another one of the principal henchmen, as is smooth Bentley Hewitt. Leonard Lord has a fine showcase as Ransom, a henchman who (foolishly) attempts to doublecross Brenda, and Lynn Gilbert, heroine of WILD WEST DAYS, is surprisingly cast as Brandon's sneaky girlfriend. Eddy Waller is also cast against type as a crooked lawyer who defends Brandon in the first and last chapters, and William Royle, Brandon's future antagonist in DRUMS OF FU MANCHU, gives his usual sincere performance in a small role as one of the G-men. Tom Steele, in addition to doubling Kolk, Brandon, and other cast members, plays about six or seven bit roles, beginning a tradition he would carry on at Republic. However, he tops himself here, playing two different roles at the same time: a G-man searching for Brenda on the road and a henchman guarded by Tommy Dawson in Brenda's mansion/hideout! Bob Kortman is the colorful--and crooked--wharf storekeeper, "Trader" Delaney, and Thomas Carr, later an ace B-western director, plays a G-man posing as a newsboy.

SECRET AGENT X-9's specific excellence is hard to pin down, but I can best describe it as a perfect combination of many good elements; everything smoothly fits into a highly entertaining and energetic serial. This is one serial that certainly deserved to be rescued from obscurity--and happily, it was.