The Green Hornet

Every year the history of cinema gets a little longer.  And every year it gets harder to convince the next generation that what came before them was worthwhile.  So, kudos to VCI Entertainment for packaging up all 13 installments of the serial adventure flick The Green Hornet (1940), a socially-conscious minded superhero story adapted from the hit radio show of the same name.

 

Much of the success of the translation to the screen can be laid at the feet of its creators, who insisted on carrying over much of the programs signature elements, including the voice of Al Hodge who dubs in for the masked avenger whenever he kicks into action.  Structured as a weekly cliffhanger, the Hornet finds himself in a tight spot at the end of each episode, only to make a miraculous escape in the next reel.

 

The set-up involves a young newspaper editor, Britt Reid (played by Gordon Jones), who uses his secret identity to right the wrongs his newspaper exposes.  Along with his valet, Kato (Keye Luke), whose scientific inventions give them an edge, the Green Hornet dodges bullets from the bad guys and the cops, walking a tightrope between selfless public service and irresponsible vigilantism. 

 

Or course, that’s digging pretty deep into a character who’s mostly meant to inspire a sense of civic justice.  The formula holds up pretty well for all 13 episodes as Reid and his alter ego take on a crime syndicate specializing in low-key lawbreaking.  These aren’t Bond-level supervillains. The Green Hornet sets out to capture crooks whose actions have an effect on everyday citizens: shoddy construction, insurance scams and stolen cars.  It’s a colorful bit of well-meaning propaganda with car chases, time bombs and fistfights as the sugar on top.

 

Star Gordon Jones makes for a likable lead and believable action hero.  Keye Luke’s Kato (played by Bruce Lee in the 1966 TV series) is surprisingly well-represented as an Asian sidekick whose technical skills and bravery share the spotlight.  But you have to overlook the atrocious affected accent that produces lines like “Hurry, Mr. Britt, the po-rice are coming!”  Otherwise, The Green Hornet has aged better than most of its serialized partners-in-crime.

 

And to watch VCI’s new Blu-ray package, you’d hardly think it aged at all!  Other than some jump cuts and audio errors that were part of the original rushed productions, every episode looks phenomenal.  Packaged in handsome wraparound cover art with collector’s booklet included, it’s a sweet bit of film history that explains what all the buzz was about.

 

 

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