Frank Chandler’s Secret Identity

Now that Hollywood has settled into a regular routine of converting comic books and graphic novels into big screen blockbusters, it seems the time is right to revisit some of the earlier superheroes of American pop culture. Take, for example, Chandu the Magician. Based on the popular radio serial by Harry A. Earnshaw and Raymond R. Morgan and broadcast in fifteen minute episodes, the program ran from 1932 to 1936 and then was revived with new talent in 1948 and broadcast until 1950. What makes Chandu unique is the protagonist. Once known as Frank Chandler, he has spent three years among the yogis as a disciple, mastering the art of hypnosis and the occult arts, before being sent out into the world by his mentor to battle the forces of evil under his new identity, Chandu. His nemesis is Roxor, an evil madman intent on dominating the world after hijacking a death ray weapon created by Chandu’s brother-in-law Robert Regent, who is imprisoned by Roxor. When Regent refuses to divulge the secret of activating the death ray, his wife, daughter and son are also captured and threatened with death. Chandu is the only one who can save them.

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Steve Reeves as The Thief of Baghdad

One Thousand and One Nights also known as the Arabian Nights is a collection of stories from the Middle East and India that can be traced back to the 9th century although the author or authors of the tales are anonymous. What is known is that the stories introduced such famous fictional characters as Sinbad, Aladdin, Ali Baba and others, all of whom have inspired numerous film versions of their exploits. One of my favorite Arabian Nights fables is The Thief of Bagdad but the first movie version I encountered was the 1961 Italian fantasy-adventure Il Ladro di Bagdad (released in an English dubbed version as The Thief of Baghdad in the U.S.) starring Steve Reeves. First seen at a kiddie matinee during its original release, it made a strong impression on me as a ten-year-old, even if it is not the best known, most lavish or critically respected of the many film versions. 

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