The Sky Ranger
Library of Congress synopsis of chapters 1 -15
The Photo Drama Magazine October, 1921 which features a serial-tie in of chapters 12,13 and 14 by Herbert Crooker ("Written from the Pathe serial after a scenario by Frank Leon Smith").
The Sky Ranger might be *the* definitive sci fi serial of the silent age. It features not one but two heavyweight inventors (good vs. evil) and another lesser scientist (somewhere in between). One invents a "searchlight" which is really a multi-purpose ray that can be adapted to signal Mars, set fires, and track objects easily with its powers of illumination. It works via a "crystal prism" and is actually very laser-like. The second inventor has a flying device that can travel great distances in a short time (very much like a jet or rocket). Both creations are quite advanced for 1921. Thrown into the fray are hypnotism, invisible ink, a electrically charged door triggered by motion, aerial bombardment, noxious chemical fumes and gyroscopic devices for good measure.
This one deserves the full-treatment for a write-up. So here goes; let's start with the characters:
Professor William Elliot - inventor of the searchlight ray
June Elliot - daughter of William Elliot
George Oliver Rockwell - in love with June Elliot
Murdock - a rival of Elliot who wants to share Elliot's discoveries
Dr. Santro - has developed a super plane that can travel from South America to North America in 3 hours
Tharen - Santro's niece but not ally
Bean - Elliot's assistant
Arty Carrigan - Murdock's lieutenant
Sgt. Doyle - PolicemanHere now are the highlights of the action chapter by chapter (culled from the synopsis):
Episode 1:
- George instantly falls in love with June
- George fights off Murdock for an "invisible ink" love note (really a formula) but is imprisoned as a suspected spy
- Santro arrives and joins forces with Murdock
- Santro hypnotizes George and June
- An explosion occurs in the Elliot labEpisode 2:
- George puts out the fire; Santro flees
- George confesses his feeling for June
- Elliot suggests that they both leave him in peace!!
- June is kidnapped by Murdock and Santro with the searchlight as ransom
- George battles them but is outnumbered.Episode 3:
- George and June escape capture
- They are again captured and then whisked to Asia
- The two become murder suspectsEpisode 4:
- Tharen helps prove George and June's innocence
- George and June are now held as sorcerers!
- They escapeEpisode 5:
- June is separated from George
- George finds June
- Tharen aids their return via Santro's plane
- The chapter ends with June hanging on for her life!!Episode 6:
- She survives and they return
- Prof. Elliot explains his light's secret is the "crystal prism"
- George thwarts Santro's and Murdock's attempt to steal the prism
- Santro and Murdock escape
- Bean, unknowing its power, uses the searchlight to find them
- It sets fire everywhere
- George, now dazed, is in danger of dying in a chemical explosionEpisode 7:
- Bean turns off the searchlight and thus saves George
- Murdock and Carrigan scheme; Tharen overhears
- Elliot installs an electrically charged security door
- Tharen delivers her warning but George is mistakenly the door's victimEpisode 8:
Episode 9:
- George survives the shock
- Santro bombards the group from the air
- Elliot defends with the searchlight
- June is sent away to safety
- Santro and Murdock find her as the chapter ends
- June is forced to reveal the light's plans to Murdock
- Tharen and George arrive
- Murdock overcomes George, but Tharen comes to his aid
- Santro arrives to block them from leavingEpisode 10:
- Santro takes his niece to the plane
- Murdock guards George and June
- George tricks Murdock and regains the blueprints
- George and June get trapped in an elevator
- The elevator falls rapidly!!Episode 11:
- Police arrive and press the elevator stop button
- Santro steals valuable searchlight components
- George and Sgt. Doyle locate Santro's hideout
- Santro betrays Murdock
- The chapter ends with Santro sending George and June to a "steaming abyss".Episode 12:
- Sgt. Doyle saves the two
- Santro prepares for takeoff and June forces herself onboard
- Seizing a gun, she directs Santro to fly the plane home
- They land, Santro gets the revolver and places her in danger of a menacing machineEpisode 13:
- Bean and Elliot save June and Santro's escape is blocked
- Tharen is duped into helping Santro flee
- Murdock arrives and battles Santro in vain
- Santro flies off but with George and June aboard
- Seconds before explosion, an accidentally triggered bomb is jettisoned
- Spiraling down, George and June are thrown out of the planeEpisode 14:
- George and June land safely in a tree!!
- Murdock, repentant, rejoins Elliot
- Murdock's experiment accidentally releases noxious fumes
- June, overcome, spills dangerous chemicals
-The chapter ends.Episode 15:
- Murdock proves his loyalty and saves June
- George and June are to wed; Elliot announces his invention publicly
- Santro tries one last aerial attack but his plane is destroyed by the searchlight
- George and June honeymoonThis serial is to be found at the Cinematheque Royal in Belgium. Maybe someday it will be accessible. Meanwhile, I'm temporarily content that I was able to obtain a few lobby cards.
Special Thanks: Thanks to Ed Hulse for sending me a copy of the LOC synopsis. Ed puts out a great publication on serials, pulps and the like called Blood n' Thunder. We can only hope that some day a book that he's preparing on silent serials gets published.
written: 6/17/2004
