Blu-ray Review: The Green Hornet (1940)

In 1930s film serials were big business. Audiences couldn't get enough of the superhero adventures of The Shadow, Flash Gordon or The Spider. On January 9, 1940 just a few short years after the character's creation The Green Hornet made it's film debut in serial format.

Now for many years now the 1940's Green Hornet serial has been available online for the serial fell in the public domain. But those copies have not been the most spectacular of quality. Now 83 years after it's original release this serial is getting a deluxe Blu-ray release.

The serial follows Britt Reid, the new publisher of The Sentinel newspaper, who seeing the injustice in the world secretly becomes the vigilante crime fighter The Green Hornet. Backing him up is his Korean valet and inventor Kato. Together, they investigate and expose several separate underworld rackets and an ultimate conflict with the henchmen of "The Chief".

Now while this Green Hornet film serial may not be the 1960s TV series starring Bruce Lee. It still is a extremely entertaining film serial. The story and acting is good the action is really impressive for 1940 cinema.

Gordon Jones is probably best known for his time on the TV sitcom The Abbott and Costello Show in which he played Mike the Cop, who was always giving Lou a hard time. But here he plays a very believable Britt Reid. Keye Luke plays Kato! It is interesting to note that Kato was originally Japanese, but here Kato is Korean. The reason for this is there was an anti-Japanese sentiment around the world. Tensions in the world were crazy and we were just a year till Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor.

VCI Entertainment has digitally restored The Green Hornet and transferred to Blu-ray in 1080p in the original 1.37:1 aspect ratio. The soundtrack is a PCM 2.0 Mono audio. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Now when you look at this newly restored version of this serial in comparison to some copies online.... There is no comparison! The picture quality of these episodes on these two Blu-rays are very impressive. The picture is crisp and clean. The audio has been cleaned up so there is no hiss or pops. This new restoration is a pleasure to see. But a great looking restoration is not all that is included in this 2 disc Blu-ray. Take a look at that bonuses included.

* A Booklet with the fantastic write-up of the history of this serial by author Martin Grams Jr.

* Two Radio Episodes of The Green Hornet "The Parking Lot Racket" & "The Highway that Graft Wrote". Very fun addition for classic radio fans.

* 'I Am The Green Hornet' Audio Piece by Clifford Weimer Chronicling The Green Hornet in Hollywood. A truly wonderful audio file.

* Photo Gallery & Trivia

* Reversible Blu-ray cover art

To see this film serial looking as good as it does is great, to say the least. But the bonus features make an awesome release even better. I think to be able to hear episodes of the classic radio show simply amazing!

If you love classic film serials or classic superheroes, this upcoming Blu-ray release of The Green Hornet is one your superhero collection needs in it! Head over to Amazon and order your copy today!