| "Distress Call from Space!" | |
|---|---|
| Series Blackhawk: Freedom's Champion Season 1, Episode 1 | |
| |
| Air date | July 24th, 1952 |
| Writers | George H. Plympton; Royal K. Cole; Sherman L. Lowe |
| Director | Spencer Bennet; Fred F. Sears |
| Producers | Sam Katzman |
| Starring | Kirk Alyn; Don Harvey; Rick Vallin; John Crawford; Frank Ellis; Larry Stewart; Weaver Levy |
| Episode guide | |
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Next "Blackhawk Traps a Traitor" |
"Distress Call from Space!" is the first installment of the 15-chapter Blackhawk film serial. It was directed by Spencer Bennet and Fred F. Sears. It was written for the screen by George H. Plympton, Royal K. Cole and Sherman L. Lowe, based on the Blackhawk comic magazine drawn by Reed Crandall. The episode was released theatrically on Thursday, July 24th, 1952.
Synopsis[]
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 doesn't 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.
Cast[]
Note: The following is the cast list for the entire serial. Not every cast member appears in every installment.
Blackhawk...................Kirk Alyn
Laska...................Carol Forman
Chuck...................John Crawford
Mr. Case...................Michael Fox
Olaf...................Don Harvey
Stan/Boris...................Rick Vallin
Andre...................Larry Stewart
Chop Chop...................Weaver Levy
Bork...................Zon Murray
Cress...................Nick Stuart
Aller...................Marshall Reed
Dyke...................Pierce Lyden
Dr. Rolph...................William Fawcett
Hodge...................Rory Mallinson
Hendrickson...................Frank Ellis
Notes & Trivia[]
- All segments from this serial have been combined under the umbrella title of Blackhawk: Freedom's Champion.
- "Blackhawk: Distress Call from Space", "Distress Call from Space", and "Distress Call from Space!" all redirect to this page.
- This episode is approved by the Motion Picture Association of America; Certificate number 15721.
- Although credited, actors William Fawcett and Rory Mallinson do not appear in this chapter.
- Co-director Spencer Gordon Bennet is credited as Spencer Bennet in this serial.
- Actor Don C. Harvey is credited as Don Harvey in this episode.
- Despite the title of this episode, there actually is no distress call from space.
- In this storyline, Stanislaus and Boris are twin brothers. In comic book continuity, they are two separate people, both of whom are members of the Blackhawks. In the comics, neither Stanislaus nor Boris has a twin brother.
- Frequent references are made to the "Old Country" in this episode. In later years, it is established that Stanislaus is from Poland.
- Chuck Wilson is the first character to appear in this episoide.
Allusions[]
- Blackhawk is the code name of the eponymous featured in the Blackhawk family of comic book titles. The original series was published by Quality Comics and spun out of the team's appearances in early issues of Military Comics beginning with Military Comics #1 in August, 1941. All characters and concepts were developed by writer Will Eisner and artist Chuck Cuidera.
Quotes[]
- Chop Chop: Soup's on, Chuck. Let's eat!
- Chuck Wilson: Beat it, Chop! Someone's in trouble!
- Chop Chop: Why's trouble only come at meal time!