Pulp Imperialism: The Lost City, Chapter One

Excerpts from The Lost City (1935), a sci-fi cliffhanger serial set in the heart of Africa. A mad scientist in a hidden mountain city uses some of the same electric gizmo props from Frankenstien to destroy men's brains and make them giant slaves. Not just any giants either. Since they only use it on Africans, the characters can talk about it by shouting "BLACK GIANTS!" Later he threatens to turn the good guys into "White Giants!" (???)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026652/

Also notice at the end of this clip, our heroes hear a scream. "That sounds like a White girl's voice!" says Jerry. This is before she utters a single word in English. He can tell just by her screams. Makes you wonder what they would have done in some other situation: "That sounds like a Native girl's voice! We better walk way around so whatever happened to her doesn't happen to us."

This is the first in a series highlighting the lowlights of imperialism and racism in some old cliffhangers and pulpy movies, all public domain. Stay tuned for more scenes from The Lost City, plus "Revolt of the Zombies", "Algiers," and maybe John Wayne in "The Three Musketeers."

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• lost
• city
• race
• racism
• imperialism
• 1935
• pulp
• scifi
• sci-fi
• cliffhanger
• serial

[RRaquello]

I like the part in a later chapter when the girl, Natcha, is making her way through the African jungle and is attacked by a tiger! Yes, a tiger. It must have escaped from the local zoo.

[deidzoeb]

@RRaquello Good catch, I had noticed. There are at least 2 or 3 other serials or old features where they make a big deal about tigers being brought to Africa because they're not native to Africa. "It must have escaped from the Indian steamship that wrecked off the coast."

[DrHoldowicz]

At one point the "black giants" are standing about, shuffling, hands frozen in a sort of cramp, grunting..

I'd love to have been there to see those actors when the director shouted "CUT" !

I imagine they would have been cracking up at the ludicrous costuming, wack afro wigs, and dialogue that consisted of "ugh ugh ugh"..

I'd love to see Dave Chappelle do a skit on this.

[deidzoeb]

LOL, I'd love to see Dave Chappelle remake "The Lost City" from the perspective of the Black Giants. Bet the mad scientist wouldn't last too long after Dave organized the Giants.

I wondered about that too, whether the black actors were just bad actors, or if they were following directions to scream for five minutes straight while they were dragged through the corridors of the Lost City. (Not that the white actors were any better.)

[schoolmaster1945]

One hell of a taser...no wonder those guys obey the "Master"....must have fried their brains a little also...when I was a kid we would see that stuff at the movies....Flash Gordon was one of the more popular cliffhanger movie serials...they kept you coming back to spend another 25 cents each week...lol...

[deidzoeb]

I didn't include the bit where they talk about putting their "subjects" in the "brain destroyer" first, enlarger second.

[JesusHitlerForPrez]

@3:37 look at his Knee-grow!

[rnigma]

Also, our heroes remark "That sounds like a WHITE girl's voice!" when all they heard was her screaming! Unbelievable!

[rnigma]

Oh, man, the acting is horrible! Either they overact (like William "Stage" Boyd, who should have been called "Stagy"), or barely try to act!

[ironfisteagleclaw]

Wow thanks for posting these Rob. I cant wait to see more if you can find them! Peace bro.

[crazycatfguy]

Pretty disturbing.