The Vanishing Shadow

The Vanishing Shadow
File:The Vanishing Shadow FilmPoster.jpeg
Directed by	Lew Landers
Produced by	Henry MacRae
Written by	Basil Dickey George Morgan Ella O'Neill Het Mannheim
Music by	Edward Ward
Cinematography	Richard Fryer
Edited by	Saul A. Goodkind (supervisor) Alvin Todd Edward Todd
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release dates	April 23, 1934 (1934-04-23)
Running time	12 chapters (242 min)
Country	United States
Language	English

File:The Vanishing Shadow, Chapter 1.ogv

The Vanishing Shadow, Chapter 1

The Vanishing Shadow (1934) is a Universal film serial.

Plot

Stanley Stanfield is the inventor of the Vanishing Ray, a wearable device which, when active, leaves only the user's shadow still visible. After meeting with a fellow scientist, Carl Van Dorn, a prototype is built. Stanley intends to sell bonds to finance his invention. He inherited them from his late father, an editor for the Tribune newspaper, but the stockbroker he meets is corruptly involved with Wade Barnett, the businessman who hounded Stanley's father to his death. Barnett wants the bonds and will go to any length to acquire them. A conflict ensues between Stanley and Barnett. However, Stanley's new girlfriend, Gloria Grant, is really Gloria Barnett, his enemy's estranged daughter. Neither hero nor villain wants to hurt Gloria and must work around this in their struggle. Many science fiction gadgets, including a robot and The Destroying Ray, also feature.

Dorgan, Barnett's "spear-point heavy", is unhappy with having to hold back to protect Gloria. Eventually he captures both Stanley and Gloria but blackmails his boss to ensure her safety. Barnett turns up with both the ransom money and the police but he is shot in the fight. Before dying, he makes his peace with his daughter. Gloria and Stanley finally marry and take over operation of the Tribune.

Cast

• Onslow Stevens as Stanley Stanfield, inventor of the Vanishing Ray and son of the late editor of the Tribune newspaper.
• Ada Ince as Gloria Grant, Stanfield's girlfriend, who is also the estranged daughter of Ward Barnett, having changed her name from the original Gloria Barnett.
• James Durkin as Carl Van Dorn, mad scientist ally of Stanfield
• Walter Miller as Ward Barnett, villainous businessman
• Richard Cramer as Dorgan, Barnett's spear-point heavy
• Edmund Cobb as Kent, one of Barnett's henchman
• Monte Montague as Badger, one of Barnett's henchman
• Al Ferguson as Stroud, one of Barnett's henchman
• Sidney Bracey as Denny, Barnett's office clerk
• J. Frank Glendon as John Cadwell, stockbroker
• William Desmond as Editor MacDonald
• Beulah Hutton as Sal, a gun moll

Chapter titles

1. Accused of Murder
2. The Destroying Ray
3. The Avalanche
4. Trapped
5. Hurled from the Sky
6. Chain Lightning
7. The Tragic Crash
8. The Shadow of Death
9. Blazing Bulkheads
10. The Iron Death
11. The Juggernaut
12. Retribution

_Source:

See also

• List of film serials
• List of film serials by studio

External links

• The Vanishing Shadow at IMDb
• Review of The Vanishing Shadow

Preceded by Pirate Treasure (1934)

Universal Serial The Vanishing Shadow (1934)

Succeeded by The Red Rider (1934)