The 1943 Phantom Serial VHS and DVD were produced by Big Sky Video in Australia. The VSH set was released in 1999 and the DVD was released in 2004.
About the Phantom Serial, originally released in USA in 1943:
Professor Davidson played by Frank Shannon and his niece Diana Palmer played by Jeanne Bates begin their search in Africa for the Lost City of Zoloz; rumored to have a large hidden treasure. The location of the city is contained on seven pieces of ivory, three of which Davidson already possesses. Three remaining ivory pieces are owned by local gangster Singapore Smith, played by Joe Devlin who initially steals Davidson’s pieces. Meanwhile Dr. Max Bremmer, played by Kenneth MacDonald a foreign power secret agent wants to establish an airbase at the treasure location. Bremmer creates unrest with the local natives and kills the Phantom played by Sam Flint. The Phantom’s son Geoffrey Prescott played by Tom Tyler then takes over the role as The Phantom.
The first official Australian release of the 1943 Phantom Serial on VHS was in 1999. Spread across 3 VHS tapes, with 5 chapters appearing on each tape running for 90 minutes, the serial is presented in it’s original black and white format.
The first official Australian release of the 1943 Phantom Serial on DVD was in 2004. The dual layer disc contains all 15 chapters running for 240 minutes, the serial is presented in it’s original black and white format.
Bonus material is also included:
- Biographies of actors Tom Tyler (The Phantom), Jeanne Bates (Diana Palmer) and Kenneth MacDonald (Bremmer) plus director B. Reeves Eason.
- Comic Art Gallery featuring 10 Frew Publications comic covers plus one image of a Phantom serial poster.
- Commentary running for 48 minutes featuring Frew Publication’s past publisher Jim Shepherd and Australian film historian Jim Sherlock.
The Phantom 