William C Cline was a columnist for the "Big Reel" from 1984 on the myth and magic of movie serials.
In "Serials-ly Speaking", he presents his intellectual love affair with the movie serial. Reprinting his dissertations on directors, genres, co-stars, heroines, writers and musical directors, we leave this 'celebration of the movie serial' recognizing the art form it was.
Frank Coghlan Jr contributes the foreword, and himself relates his experiences as one of the players in the serials. As Billy Batson, in "Captain Marvel", he is one of the 'beloved' of our youthful memories.
Included in this collection are encounters with Oliver Drake, William Witney, David Sharpe, Yakima Cannut, Jock Mahoney, Tom Steele, Peggy Stewart, Lash Larue, Pierce Lyden, Spencer Bennett, Kirk Alyn, Linda Stirling and many others.
For those of us not fortunate enough to have been there 'in the beginning' of the convention movement, William Cline was. In this book, he relates stories from the pioneers of the movement, actors, writers, directors, stuntmen and many professionals that contributed to the genre that was.
You quickly realize that, without the movie serial, television would not be what it is today. Many of the early behind the scenes people received training in the schools known as RKO, Columbia, Universal, Mascot, and Republic. Directors learned timing. Stuntmen learned their crafts. Actors honed their skills. Professionals of all sorts learned the answers to "How can I do this ....?"
"The Adventures of Superman", "The Lone Ranger", "Roy Rogers", "The Gene Autry Show", "Annie Oakley", and other adventure shows relied on actors, and the experience of their specialists for skills learned during the serial years.
I especially appreciated the history lessons.
As one of the pioneers of the serial historian movement, William Cline, paid homage to his peers and those that taught and shared with him their knowledge and experiences.
With first hand sources, he reveals to us histories, and time lines as only those 'in the know' can and do. With the serial generation fading away quickly now, their contributions are more valuable.
In his previous book, "In the Nick of Time" (1984), William C Cline opens the topic of movie serial research and "Serials-ly Speaking" continues the thesis. As a member of the mid to young generation, I am touched by these books and left with the impression that no matter how much he learned from his 'heroes' and mentors, he loved the serials and everything about them.
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