Holt of the Secret Service

Holt of the Secret Service
Directed by James W. Horne
Produced by Larry Darmour
Written by Basil Dickey
George Plympton
Wyndham Gittens
Original screenplay
Starring Jack Holt
Evelyn Brent
John Ward
Joe McGuinn
Ted Adams
Montague Shaw
Tristram Coffin
Narrated by Knox Manning
Music by Lee Zahler
Cinematography James S. Brown Jr.
Black and white
Edited by Dwight Caldwell
Earl Turner
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release dates
  • November 21, 1941 (1941-11-21)
Running time
15 episodes
278 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Holt of the Secret Service, Part 1: Chaotic Creek

Holt of the Secret Service (1941) was the 16th serial released by Columbia Pictures.

Plot

A murderous gang of counterfeiters has kidnapped John Severn, the U.S. government's best engraver, who is being held against his will and is forced to print virtually undetectable phony cash. The United States Secret Service sends its toughest agent, Jack Holt, and his female partner, Kay Drew, after the gang. Holt and his boss Malloy decide to try to pass Holt off as escaped tough guy, Nick Farrel. Masquerading as the bickering Mr. and Mrs. Farrel, Holt and Drew manage to infiltrate the ruthless gang of thugs and the tough talk and action never stops from there on. Holt's hunches lead him to the culprits and into trouble on a canoe ride and in an outlaw camp, as the action moves from the gang's hideout in a lost canyon to a gambling ship on the high seas to a small island country where the gang hopes to escape U.S. extradition.

The brains heavy is a man named Lucky Arnold but he hides behind the facade of one of his loyal henchmen, Quist, to shield himself from the Secret Service, and lets another one of his men, Valden, do most of his dirty work. The island nation has its own pocket dictator who is also trying to rub out our hero. During the 15 episodes, Holt endures numerous brushes with death, emerging from all of them with nary a hair out of place nor a crease in his well-tailored business suit.

Cast

Jack Holt SS Agent Jack Holt/Nick Farrel
Evelyn Brent Kay Drew, R49
Montague Shaw SS Chief John W. Malloy
Tristram Coffin Ed Valdin
John Ward Lucky Arnold
Ted Adams Quist
Joe McGuinn Crimp Evans
Edward Hearn Agent Jim Layton
Ray Parsons John Severn, engraver
Jack Cheatham Agent Frank
Stanley Blystone J. Garrity
Lynton Brent Radio Operator 6X241
George Chesebro Rankin, Garrity thug
Franklyn Farnum Denny, Prison Guard
Pierce Lyden Henchman
George Magrill Henchman
Jack Perrin Mutiny henchman
Stanley Price Dent, Garrity thug
Buddy Roosevelt Carew, henchman
Harry Tenbrook Detour henchman
Al Thompson Gambler
Dale Van Sickel Slugger, henchman

Chapter titles

Jack Holt in scene from the serial
  1. Chaotic Creek
  2. Ramparts of Revenge
  3. Illicit Wealth
  4. Menaced by Fate
  5. Exits to Terror
  6. Deadly Doom
  7. Out of the Past
  8. Escape to Peril
  9. Sealed in Silence
  10. Named to Die
  11. Ominous Warnings
  12. The Stolen Signal
  13. Prison of Jeopardy
  14. Afire Afloat
  15. Yielded Hostage

Production

In this serial, Jack Holt strictly played himself with all the gimmicks he had used at silent and talkie movies still very much in evidence. Producer Larry Darmour felt the serial was made for adults and not children by making it thrilling and logical but never impossible. He also felt that this was the first film with the lead actor's name in the title.[1]

Notes

  1. p.108 Kerr, Lynn & King, James Evelyn Brent: The Life and Films of Hollywood's Lady Crook McFarland

Sources

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