Fulvue Drive-In.com
Current Reviews
In Stores Soon
 
In Stores Now
 
DVD Reviews, SACD Reviews Essays Interviews Contact Us Meet the Staff
An Explanation of Our Rating System Search  
Category:    Home > Reviews > Serial > Super Hero > Adventure > Green Archer (Serial/VCI)

The Green Archer (serial/VCI)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C     Extras: C-     Chapters: B-

 

 

When talking about Columbia Pictures’ 1940 serial The Green Archer, the reaction is split by age.  Older persons ask if it like Robin Hood, while younger ask if it is a rip-off of the DC Comics hero The Green Arrow.  As it turns out, it is neither, especially since it turns out many people are running around as the title character.  Where everyone gets the same costume is never explained, but it does continue the staple of Columbia serials of “who is it?” and is often accompanied by giant question marks on the screen.

 

Not many of those marks show up here, but Victor Jory, who played The Shadow of the studio in a serial at about the same time, is the lead.  It is fair to say that the promotion suggests he may be the title hero, but since there is not one, that makes this a more interesting chapter play as a result.  The fights are the usual kind where the film is sped up and the cliffhangers are not bad, but the mystery of who is the real Archer is undone by a lack of suspense and a bit of silliness.

 

With that said, there is nothing British about the character or the actors, so it is not a serial that decides to have fun with stuffiness, but there is a castle and plenty of snake-pit situations for those who want an interesting serial to check out.  It just seems it could have gone farther for its 302-minutes length.

 

The full frame monochrome image is average and has some good Video Black, but being a few generations down has given it some grain.  Otherwise, the prints are in good shape.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is also average, but as clear as a few generations down can be expected to be.  Extras include four serial trailers, some good biography information on the cast, and a new VCI promo showing how the company now dominates in the serial-on-DVD field.  The trailers are not the same from the Jack Armstrong set, though the promo reel is.  VCI once again makes a serial available to the public whose inavailability was unacceptable.  The Green Archer is one of Columbia’s most somber serials and is worth a look.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo


Marketplace


 
 Copyright © MMIII through MMX fulvuedrive-in.com