Gang Busters (serial)
Gang Busters is a 1942 Universal movie serial based on the radio series Gang Busters.

Plot
The city is terrorized by a crime wave masterminded by the elusive, soft-spoken Professor Mortis (Ralph Morgan) from his base in a forgotten cavern beneath the rails of the city's subway line. Following the murder of his brother, police detective Bill Bannister (Kent Taylor), his partner Tim Nolan (Robert Armstrong), and police chief Martin O'Brien (Joseph Crehan) focus investigation on the activities of Mortis and his gang, and discover that the crimes were all perpetrated by men who had died some time ago, with new identities and kept alive by a formula of Mortis's invention. Following the story is journalist Vicki Logan (Irene Hervey) and her photographer 'Happy' Haskins (Richard Davies).

Cast
Starring:
 Kent Taylor as Det. Lt. Bill Bannister
 Irene Hervey as Vicki Logan, girl reporter
 Ralph Morgan as Professor Mortis
 Robert Armstrong as Det. Tim Nolan

Featuring:
 Richard Davies as Happy Haskins, news photographer
 Joseph Crehan as Police Chief Martin O'Brien
 George Watts  as Mayor Hansen
 Ralf Harolde as Chief Henchman Halliger
 William Haade as Henchman Mike Taboni
 John Gallaudet as Henchman Wilkerson
 George J. Lewis as Henchman Mason
 Victor Zimmerman as Henchman Bernard
 Johnnie Berkes as Newsboy-Henchman Grubb
 Edward Emerson as "Frenchy" Ludoc

With:
 Pat O'Malley as the Police Scientist
 Beatrice Roberts as the Chief's Secretary
 Riley Hill as Jim Bannister (Ch. 1)
 Grace Cunard as landlady (Ch. 1)
 Eddie Dean as Blair, ballistics expert (Chs. 1, 6)
 Eddie Foster as Henchman Jerry Rogan (Chs. 3-4)
 Stanley Price as Henchman Corky Watts (Chs. 4-5)
 Mickey Simpson as Bruiser, Ludoc's bouncer (Ch. 7)
 Karl Hackett as Henry, crooked watchman (Chs. 7-8)
 Phil Warren as Henchman McKay (Chs. 8-9)
 Jack Mulhall as Chemist Richards (Chs. 9, 11)
 Jerry Jerome as Henchman Soupy Collins (Chs. 10-11)
 Paul McVey as Attorney J.B. "Harry" Malloy (Ch. 12)
 Hugh Beaumoth as Announcer and voice on office radio

Production
Gang Busters is one of Universal's most elaborate serials, with many chase and thrill scenes expertly staged in outdoor locations. The directors were Ray Taylor, veteran director responsible for many hit serials, and Noel M. Smith, former silent-screen director who specialized in fast action (Smith directed many of Larry Semon's action-filled comedies of the 1920s).

This is mostly a crime film but contains a small science fiction element.  The villains, The League of Murdered Men, are all dead criminals killed and revived by Professor Mortis using his own mysterious poison.

Critical reception
The film was very successful in its original release, and was re-released in 1949 by Sherman S. Krellberg's Filmcraft Productions.

Within serial fandom,  Jim Harmon and Donald F. Glut in the 1970s described Gang Busters as a "well made and interesting serial.", and Cline in 1984 wrote that he considered the serial is one of Universal's best and that Professor Mortis is one of the best characters ever created for a serial.

Chapter titles
 The League of Murdered Men
 The Death Plunge
 Murder Blockade
 Hangman's Noose
 Man Undercover
 Under Crumbling Walls
 The Water Trap
 Murder by Proxy
 Gang Bait
 Mob Vengeance
 Wanted at Headquarters
 The Long Chance
 Law and Order
Source:

See also
 List of film serials by year
 List of film serials by studio

References

External links

1942 films
1942 crime drama films
American black-and-white films
American films
1940s English-language films
Universal Pictures film serials
Films based on radio series
Films directed by Ray Taylor
Films directed by Noel M. Smith
American crime drama films