Introduction

Blackhawk is a 1952 American 15-chapter science fiction adventure movie serial from Columbia Pictures, based on the comic book Blackhawk, first published by Quality Comics, but later owned by competitor DC Comics. It was Columbia’s forty-ninth serial. The one-sheet poster referred to the serial as The Miraculous Blackhawk: Freedom’s Champion. The home video release added the tagline: “Fearless Champion of Freedom”.

Blackhawk stars Kirk Alyn as Blackhawk and Carol Forman as the foreign spy that must be stopped from stealing the experimental super-fuel “Element-X”; Alyn and Forman were also the hero and villain of Columbia’s earlier Superman.

Known as Blackhawk, The Miraculous Blackhawk: Freedom’s Champion, Blackhawk: Fearless Champion of Freedom, and The Miraculous Blackhawk: Fearless Champion of Freedom.

Outline

At Blackhawk Headquarters, Chuck receives a distress signal over the two-way radio. He tells Blackhawk that a nearby plane is suffering from faulty landing gear and low on fuel. Blackhawk and Chuck get into their plane, leaving Stanislaus at BHQ to man the radio.

The pilots come upon the limping airplane. Blackhawk releases a rope ladder and climbs down to rescue the pilot. The two climb back up into the plane as the other craft crashes into the hills. They bring the man, Mister Case, back to Blackhawk HQ. As it turn out, Mister Case was on his way to visit the Blackhawks with an urgent message for Stanislaus. He delivers to him a letter, and Stan becomes clearly agitated. Stan tells Blackhawk that he must return to the “Old Country” to settle a personal matter. Blackhawk gives his consent and wishes him well.

Chuck isn’t comfortable with Stanislaus’ sudden exodus. Blackhawk doesn’t want to meddle in his teammate’s private affairs, but Chuck suggests that they tail him – just to make sure that he reaches his destination safely. Blackhawk agrees.

Stanislaus and Mister Case take a Blackhawk plane to a rendezvous point where Stan reunites with a woman from his native homeland – Laska. Laska implores Stanislaus to leave the Blackhawks and return with her back to their country. Stan refuses, citing that the Old Country is ruled by a tyrant now. As the two talk, Mister Case meets with a group of other men on a nearby bluff. One of the men is Stanislaus’ twin brother, Boris. The letter was a ruse to get Stanislaus alone, away from the Blackhawks. Their plan is to kidnap Stan and replace him with Boris.

Blackhawk, Chuck and Andre arrive at the meeting place just as Case’s men jump Stan. They eagerly enter the fray, but during the fight, Stan is knocked out. The men pull him into the bushes and minutes later, Boris emerges wearing Stanislaus’ flight uniform. The other men are defeated and retreat back into the hills. Boris feigns injury, so he does not have to explain where he left his plane. Chuck loads him into his own vehicle, and Blackhawk flies Stan’s fighter back to the base.

That evening, Boris removes a hand-held fire bomb and launches it at the hanger bay. A fire erupts, and the Blackhawks scramble to put it out. After the flames subside, the team gathers in their meeting room to discuss the incident. Blackhawk begins to suspect that someone on the team might be a traitor.

Blackhawk Series

You can find a full index and overview of Blackhawk here.

Production & Filming Details

• Release Date: 24 July 1952.
• Running time: 242 minutes (total running time).
• Rating: U.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

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