Zombies of the Stratosphere (Republic Studios, 1952) was intended as the second serial featuring new hero Commando Cody and the third 12-chapter serial featuring the rocket-powered flying suit introduced in King of the Rocketmen (1949). The director was Fred C. Brannon, with screenplay by Ronald Davidson and special effects by the Lydecker brothers. The serial is remembered today mainly because Leonard Nimoy plays one of two invaders from Mars, Narab. Just as filming began, the name of the hero was changed to Larry Martin, as played by Judd Holdren, who had previously played Captain Video in a 1951 Columbia Pictures chapterplay, but he retains all the same sidekicks, high-tech props and laboratory facilities that Commando Cody had in the previous serial, Radar Men from the Moon. As in Radar Men from the Moon (also 1952), most screen time is expended on fist fights between the heroes and a gang of crooks hired by Narab and his extraterrestrial colleague Marex to steal and stockpile supplies needed for construction of an H-bomb to throw the earth out of orbit so Mars can take its place. The "Republic Robot," somewhat resembling a walking hot-water heater, and first seen in Undersea Kingdom of 1936 and later and prominently in The Mysterious Dr. Satan of 1940, makes a very welcome appearance. An addition to the Rocketman outfit, seen first in this serial, is a huge two-way radio about the size of a briefcase that Larry Martin wears hanging heavily from his belt when dressed in the flying suit. [This radio is also seen in some stills of Cody in the flying suit in Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe.] Martin also uses an ordinary police revolver instead of the ray gun favored by Cody in earlier and later appearances. Because most flying sequences are reused footage from earlier Rocketman films, the radio usually disappears when Cody is in flight. Critics and viewers found the serial to be quite dull and unimaginative, but it is generally judged to be not unwatchable to the degree that Radar Men from the Moon is. The use of stock footage from earlier serials is also not quite as overwhelming as it was in earlier or later Cody outings. Holdren's performance is quite stiff and amateurish, especially when compared to the smooth professionalism of the old Republic pros who surround him on screen. Image File history File linksMetadata Zombiestrat5. ... Republic Pictures Corporation (aka Republic Entertainment) is an independent film, television, and video distribution company that was originally a movie production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, best known for its specialization in quality B pictures, westerns and movie serials. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Serial is a term, originating in literature, for a format by which a story is told in contiguous installments in sequential issues of a single periodical publication. ... Commando Cody blasts off! Commando Cody was the hero in a 12-episode science-fiction serial made in 1952 by Republic Pictures, entitled Radar Men from the Moon and a followup 1953 set of 12 short-subjects (or 12 cliffhangerless serial chapters) collectively called the adventures of Commando Cody: Sky... 1949 (MCMXLIX) is a common year starting on Saturday. ... Nimoy in Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978). ... Judd Holdren was an American film actor best known for his starring roles in the serials Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere, Zombies of the Stratosphere, The Lost Planet and the semi-serial Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe during 1951 - 1953. ... Captain Video and His Video Rangers was the first of the American outer space television shows, beginning on the DuMont network on June 27, 1949. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... The Columbia Pictures logo, since 1996. ... Commando Cody blasts off! Commando Cody was the hero in a 12-episode science-fiction serial made in 1952 by Republic Pictures, entitled Radar Men from the Moon and a followup 1953 set of 12 short-subjects (or 12 cliffhangerless serial chapters) collectively called the adventures of Commando Cody: Sky... Radar Men from the Moon (Republic Studios, 1952) was the first Commando Cody serial, in 12 chapters, starring newcomer George Wallace (1917-2005) as Cody and Aline Towne as his sidekick Joan Gilbert, with serial veteran Roy Barcroft as the evil Retik, the Ruler of the Moon. ... Radar Men from the Moon (Republic Studios, 1952) was the first Commando Cody serial, in 12 chapters, starring newcomer George Wallace (1917-2005) as Cody and Aline Towne as his sidekick Joan Gilbert, with serial veteran Roy Barcroft as the evil Retik, the Ruler of the Moon. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Radar Men from the Moon (Republic Studios, 1952) was the first Commando Cody serial, in 12 chapters, starring newcomer George Wallace (1917-2005) as Cody and Aline Towne as his sidekick Joan Gilbert, with serial veteran Roy Barcroft as the evil Retik, the Ruler of the Moon. ... In a broad definition, a republic is a state whose political organization rests on the principle that the citizens or electorate constitute the ultimate root of legitimacy and sovereignty. ...

References and External Links:

• Science Fiction Serials by Roy Kinnard (McFarland, NC, 1998). ISBN 0-7864-0545-7.
• Roaring Rockets Serial Pages
• Commando Cody serials
• Summary of Casts and Credits for the Republic "Rocketman" Films
• Another very detailed list of cast and credits for the "Rocketman" films
• imdb entry on King of the Rocket Men
• imdb entry on Radar Men from the Moon
• imdb entry on Zombies of the Stratosphere
• imdb entry on Commando Cody, Sky Marshal of the Universe
• Nostalgia League article on the "Rocketman" serials
• Gary Johnson, "The Serials"