Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe

Republic Pictures launched this 1953 project in the twilight of the era of movie-cliffhanger serials, and in fact it premiered as a syndicated Saturday-morning TV show (suggesting an intended young viewership). But it also played theatrically, giving vintage-fantasy buffs cause to argue whether it should be listed alongside the other (and better) Republic serials featuring the iconic “Rocket Man” costume, such as King of the Rocket Men (1949) and Radar Men from the Moon (1952). Judd Holdren stars as Commando Cody (introduced in Radar Men from the Moon), an atomic-scientist hero who is so vital to national security that he always wears a domino mask. Piloting a torpedo-shaped spaceship—when not flying around with a jet backpack (overused stock footage from other serials)—Cody and his allies battle many meteorological disasters created by alien bad guy The Ruler (actor Gregory Gay, sporting a vaguely German accent and wearing a pharaoh-like robe), who is unable to attack Earth directly thanks to a protective layer of “cosmic dust” that Cody maintains. The science is delightfully bad, the dialogue simplistic, and the sparkler f/x charmingly unimpressive in this 12-episode series directed by Fred C. Brannon, Harry Keller, and Franklin Adreon. Nostalgic viewing for older sci-fi fans, this is a strong optional purchase. (C. Cassady)