Secret Agent X-9 (1937) [2 Discs]

Director: Cliff Smith, Ford I. Beebe Cliff Smith

Overview

Supporting actor Scott Kolk was elevated to playing the title role in this Graustarkian spy thriller, serialized in 12 chapters by Universal. Reportedly based on characters created by Dashiell Hammett, the serial featured an American secret agent assigned to recover the crown jewels of Belgravia. Agent X-9 is assisted in his quest by Shara Graustark (Jean Rogers) and opposed by a master criminal known as Blackstone (Henry Brandon). A Universal contract player, Scott Kolk had played Leer, one of the young German soldiers-turned-cannon fodder in All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), but stardom had eluded him. A name change to Scott Colton didn't do the trick either, and he left films in 1938. Leading lady Jean Rogers, on the other hand, had played Dale Arden in Flash Gordon (1936) and has become a serial icon. Universal used the title Secret Agent X-9 again in 1945, but with a different setting and plot.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/08/2022
UPC:	0089859801020
Original Release:	1937
Source:	Vci Entertainment
Language:	English
Time:	4:00:00
Sales rank:	39,744

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Scott Kolk	Secret Agent X-9
Jean Rogers	Shara Graustark
David Oliver	Pidge
Monte Blue	Baron Michael Karston
Henry Brandon	Blackstone (Brenda)
Larry Blake	Wheeler
Henry Hunter	Tommy Dawson
George Shelley	Packard
Creighton Chaney	Maroni
Si Jernks	"Jolly Roger" ticket taker
Lynn Gilbert	Rose
Robert Dalton	Agent Jimmy Tilton
Leonard Lord	Ransom
Bentley Hewlett	Scarlett
Bob Kortman	Trader Delaney
William Royle	Agent Dunn
Thomas Carr	Agent Tracy
Jack Cheatham	Sebastian
Eddy Waller	Carp
Max Hoffman Jr.	Marker
Edward Peil Sr.	The fence
George Magrill	shipmate
Tom Steele	marine
Al Ferguson	henchman
Eddie Parker	henchman

Technical Credits

Norman Hall

Wyndham Gittens

Ray Trampe

Leslie Swabacker

Cliff Smith	Director
Ford Beebe	Director
Norman Hall	Screenwriter
Henry MacRae	Executive Producer
Wyndham Gittens	Screenwriter
Ray Trampe	Screenwriter
Leslie Swabacker	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

In addition to its many other attributes -- such as fairly consistent acting, a smooth story that progresses nicely without too many detours or repetitions, and the accustomed Universal production niceties -- Secret Agent X-9 survives in a crisp and clear copy with fairly good sound. Each chapter opens with a series of comic-strip cells to keep the viewer up to date, a ploy later copied by rival Republic Pictures for their popular Red Ryder (1940) serial. Secret Agent X-9 was obviously inspired by another Republic chapterplay, Chester Gould's Dick Tracy of the previous year, but eschews that groundbreaking comic strip-turned-action serial's science fiction elements in favor of a more romantic story. It is probably no coincidence that the heroine, played by the always welcome Jean Rogers, is named Shara Graustark; there is indeed something very "Graustarkian" about those much-vaunted Belgravian crown jewels and their protector, the ubiquitous Baron Karsten (Monte Blue).

All Movie Guide - Hans J. Wollstein