Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island

Plot

Agent Mala, an intelligence operative, investigates sabotage on the remote Clipper Island. A gang of spies causes the eruption of a volcano, for which Mala is blamed. He convinces the native Princess Melani of his innocence and helps her ward off a takeover by rival High Priest and spy collaborator Porotu and discover the identity of spy ringleader H.K.

Cast

Production

Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island was budgeted at $106,779 although the final negative cost was $111,848 (a $5,069, or 4.7%, overspend). It was filmed between August 31 and September 25, 1936 under the working title Robinson Crusoe. The serial's production number was 419. This serial has very little to do with Robinson Crusoe.

Special effects

The special effects were created by John T. Coyle and the Lydecker brothers.

Chapter titles

Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island is the only 14-chapter sound serial.

1. The Mysterious Island (31 min 21s)
2. Flaming Danger (20 min 46s)
3. Fathoms Below (18 min 03s)
4. Into the Enemy's Camp (17 min 27s)
5. Danger in the Air (17 min 41s)
6. The God of the Volcano (17 min 19s)
7. Trail's End (15 min 41s)
8. The Jaws of the Beast (16 min 17s)
9. The Cave of the Winds (17 min 22s)
10. Wings of Fury (16 min 29s)
11. Agents of Disaster (16 min 22s) -- Re-Cap Chapter
12. The Sea Trap (16 min 41s)
13. Mutiny (18 min 35s)
14. Thunder Mountain (16 min 21s)

_Source:

Cliffhangers

1. The burning mainmast of the Tuloa falls on Mala.
2. Mala is captured by natives and forced to fall into a volcano.
3. While diving, and with the ship above being shelled by a submarine, Mala begins to suffocate.
4. Mala and Lamar are caught in the explosion of an overheated boiler.
5. The plane carrying Mala crashes into the Pacific Ocean.
6. Mala and Melani are caught in a landslide caused by an earthquake.
7. While escaping from aggressive natives, Mala and Melani slip off a cliff.
8. With his vine cut, Mala falls into alligator-infested water.
9. While scaling a cliff, Mala is shot at and falls.
10. Struggling with the pilot of a biplane causes it to crash into the Pacific Ocean.
11. Mala's car is forced off the road and over an embankment.
12. Mala and Melani, escaping in a motorboat, are shot at by a cannon.
13. Mala is caught by gas aboard an airship, which begins to crash.

Note: Many of the resolutions of these cliffhangers are "cheats"—when the event is repeated at the start of a new chapter, there is a crucial and sometimes obvious difference from what was shown at the end of the preceding chapter.