Going through my old VHS tapes, I found a copy of Sons of Adventure, a 1948 Republic film with Russ Hayde, Gorden Jones and Lynn Roberts. Its a mystery that takes place at a movie studio like Republic, The heroes are stuntmen trying to uncover the mysterious deaths that have been happening as accidents. Stunt footage from Republic serials are used in scenes and Yakima Canutt was the director. In one scene, Canutts famous stunt of the stagecoach passing over the hero and he climbing back up to recover the scenes is used. Roy Barcroft played an irritable director named Bennett (as in Spence) and certain phrases known to Republic actors are used by the director...i.e. Home and Mother when shooting is done for the day and Knock on IT: Bill Witneys phrase for :Action. Republic fans will get a chance to see what the studio looked in the late Forties when it was busy cranking out westerns and serials. Although rare, you might be able to find a DVD copy of it from a private dealer.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 01:08:45 +0000