Manhunt of Mystery Island1945

This one’s for Linda Stirling. “Manhunt on Mystery Island,” typifies what was great about the Republic serials. It's a bit like an old pickup truck. It’s clunky, but it doesn’t break down, and keeps rolling along, chapter after chapter, even after 70 years. It’s a tribute to the hard-working Hollywood professionals who churned these things out.

Which brings us back to Miss Sterling. She was not your average 1940’s, Damsel in Distress. True, there are moments here where she’s stuck playing the peril card: palm to cheek, letting off an ear-piercing scream (rescued in the proverbial "Nick" by a rather wooden chap decked out in a fedora and checkered sport jacket--what a guy!). Stirling, however, bucks this stereotype in “Mystery Island.” She doesn’t waste her time standing in the corner while the boys wrassle. Linda Stirling takes ACTION: jumping off cliffs, driving a speedboat, piloting an airplane. She kicks bad guys and deals out justice with hot lead from her Colt Police Special, which puts her way ahead of the curve over most serial and B-movie heroines of her time.

Stirling eventually retired from acting, earned a Phd in literature and had a long career as college english professor. In real life--as in the serials--Linda Stirling did not waste time.

A very classy joint.