Gang Busters is a 1942 serial that took its name from a popular radio series, though only the device of a prison escape and siren are actually taken from the radio series.
Synopsis
The detective squad in this 12 part serial are up against the League of Murdered Men, all of whom have been murdered and restored to life, up to and including Professor Mortis, their leader who restores them to life and gives them a drug he claims keeps them alive. It is only after the Professor has been captured that he admits to the lead detective that this drug is in fact a placebo and that he doesn't need it to survive - for he too has undergone the resurrection process after being shot to death.
Notes
- Professor Mortis was portrayed by Ralph Morgan, who had portrayed the villain in the serial Dick Tracy vs Crime lnc.
- Gang Busters was co-written by Morgan Cox, who had also co-written the first Dick Tracy serial in 1937.
- Footage of a car plunging down into the elevator shaft is originally from Republic's Dick Tracy Returns (1938). Universal purchased this footage and used it in several of their movie serials, including The Mysterious Mr. M (1946).