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Sign of the Wolf

Todd Moore | Philadelphia, PA USA | 03/05/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This early Independent 10 chapter serial leaves a lot to be desired. It is, in fact, not very good as far as acting and story go. But it is unintentionally hilarious, especially when Edmund Cobb shoots a warning message through the hero's window, breaking the glass--every chapter! Kinda makes you wonder why they didn't just leave the window open after a chapter or two?

The story concerns mystic chains that can turn sand into jewels. A crazy old guy has the chains and a crook wants them. The chains actually belong to Cobb, who keeps sending those messages wanting the chains back. Again, you might wonder why he doesn't just go knock on the old man's door and say "give me back those chains". There again, it's a serial so you have to be willing to suspend some disbelief.

The best thing about all this is the Serial Squadron/Hermitage Hill DVD of this film looks fantastic. There's an option to watch it with a music track--as all early serials the only music is in the opening credits--which helps make it seem more entertaining that it really is. The print is also as good a print of this as you'll ever see. The Serial Squadron has done a wonderful job restoring SIGN OF THE WOLF and made it much better than it previously has been. So if you're a diehard serial buff and want to see every one ever made, this release of this one is the one you'll definitely want to see."

"The King of Serials...VCI Entertainment ~ Sign of the Wolf

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 11/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"VCI Entertainment and Metropolitan Pictures present..."Sign of the Wolf" (1931) (Dolby digitally remastered), with 10 Chapters of vintage serial episodes jam packed with thrilling action sequences and stunts that will keep you on the edge of your seat...story line has the local outlaws after two small chains that turn sand into jewels thus the "Secret of the Jewels" , as darts with messages fly through the air in every episode...will John Farnum (Harry Todd) twart the villains with the aid of Tom Lanning (Rex Lease), Bud (Joe Bonomo) and the wonder dog King (Muro-the dog)...what part does Ruth Farnum (Virginia Brown Faire), Pearl (Josephine Hull), Clyde Winslow (Al Ferguson) and Prince Kuva (Edmund Cobb) play in this 10 chapter thriller with each episode better than the first.....can this Metropolitan Serial keep the action, daring stunt-work and an exciting cliffhanger going the entire serial.....but don't leave the theater until the final chapter is over and done with "The Lost Secret"....just remember double thrills, chills, mystery and suspense...hitting the bull's eye with excitement...don't miss a single spine thrilling episode..return next week to this local theater for another episode of action and adventure that will keep you thrilled until the next chapter.

Under director's Harry Webb and Forrest Sheldon, producer F.E. Douglas, original story by Carl Krusada...the cast includes Rex Lease (Tom Lanning), Virginia Brown Faire (Ruth Farnum), Muro, the dog (King-wonder dog), Harry Todd (John Farnum), Jack Mower (Butch Kohler), Joe Bonomo (Bud), Josephine Hull (Pearl-gang moll), Robert Walker (Joe-henchman), Al Ferguson (Clyde Winslow), Edmund Cobb (Prince Kuva), Bob Burns (Sheriff), Dick Dickinson (henchman), William McCall (Farnum Friend), Art Mix (Barfly), Artie Ortego (another Barfly), Edward Peil Sr (Winslow Confederate) and Jack Perrin (Jack-henchman)....special footnote, veteran actors who at one time had star power on the stage, radio and silent films were Virginia Brown Faire, Bob Burns, Al Ferguson, Rex Lease, Art Mix, Jack Perrin and Harry Todd, each still giving worthwhile performances in this classic cliffhanger collection.......meanwhile back to our Metropolitan Pictures Serial which is always good till the last drop and this serial is no exception...there is a great deal of entertainment here for the cliffhanger fans out there...all courtesy of VCI Entertainment, who in my humble opinion is the best there is in restoring early serials and features.

CHAPTER TITLES:
1. Drums of Doom
2. The dog of Destiny
3. The Wolf's Fangs
4. The Fatal Shot
5. The Well of Terror
6. The Wolf Dogs
7. Trapped
8. The Secret Mark
9. Tongues of Flame
10.The Lost Secret

If you're into vintage serials as I am, why not pick up a copy of the following titles from VCI Home Video:
VCI CLIFFHANGER TRAILERS:
1. Adventures of Red Ryder (Don "Red" Barry)
2. Adventures of the Flying Cadets (Bobby Jordan)
3. Buck Rogers (Buster Crabbe)
4. Captain Midnight (Dave O'Brien)
5. Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere (Judd Holdren & I. Stanford Jolley)
6. Dick Tracy's G-Men (Ralph Byrd)
7. Don Winslow of the Navy (Don Terry)
8. Don Winslow of the Coast Guard (Don Terry)
9. Drums of Fu Manchu (Henry Brandon)
10.Fighting Kit Carson (Johnny Mack Brown)
11.Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (Buster Crabbe)
12.The Green Archer (Victory Jory)
13.Jungle Girl (Frances Gifford)
14.Jungle Jim (Grant Withers & Raymond Hatton)
15.Lost City of the Jungle (Russell Hayden & Keye Luke)
16.Mandrake the Magician (Warren Hull & Dick Curtis)
17.Miracle Rider (Tom Mix & Tony Jr)
18.The Painted Stallion (Ray "Crash" Corrigan)
19.The Phantom (Tom Tyler)
20.The Return of Chandu (Bela Lugosi)
21.Riders of Death Valley (Dick Foran, Leo Carrillo & Buck Jones)
22.Secret Agent X-9 (1937) (Scott Kolk & Henry Brandon)
23.Secret Agent X-9 (1945) (Lloyd Bridges & Keye Luke)
24.Sky Raiders (Donald Woods & Billy Halop)
25.Undersea Kingdom (Ray "Crash" Corrigan)
26.Winners of the West (Dick Foran, Harry Woods, Roy Barcroft & Charles Stevens)
27.Zane Greys "King of the Royal Mounted" (Allan "Rocky" Lane)
28.Zorro's Cliffhanger Collection (Reed Hadley, John Carroll & Linda Stirling)

Great job by VCI Entertainment for releasing "Sign of the Wolf" (1931), the digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '30s, '40s & '50s...order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment where there are still plenty of copies available on VHS, stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with deadly adventure from the "King of Serials" VCI...just the way we like 'em

Total Time: 190 mins on 2 VHS ~ VCI Entertainment 1763 ~ (11/01/2000)"

Two-pint heads in ten-gallon hats

Daryl Stenhouse | LAUNCESTON, TAS Australia | 11/30/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I haven't seen this particular video release, but I have seen the serial itself. Every time I think of it I start to shake my head and chuckle - it must be the stupidest thing I've ever seen!
The hats are enormous, and most guys have guns but only use them to shoot people off horses at long range (without hurting them!). I suppose they think their punches are more lethal, but not on this evidence - when they're not frantically riding back and forth between locations they are brawling, only to get on their horses and ride some more.The plot itself is astonishingly stupid - the heroine's father steals a couple of little chains which, when thrown into a pot with some sand will change the sand into gems. That's not the stupid part. It becomes stupid when he decides to SELL the chains, and his daughter and her boyfriend approve his decision! As if that isn't stupid enough the would-be buyer tells his flunkies to steal the chains whilst they are being delivered to him! Why would you break the law to get them when they're about to become yours legally?Then there is the mysterious stranger, sent by the robbed temple owners to recover the chains. He sends messages to the hero by wrapping a note around a blowdart and puffing it through the loungeroom window (breaking the glass every time), whilst the hero, heroine and sidekick are in the room. They don't think to go to the window until (I think) episode ten! They could at least learn to leave the window open! And why isn't the glass still broken from last time?If this serial wasn't so stupid it would be deadly boring, but instead it is fun, at least in small doses."