Jack Armstrong: All American Boy (Cliffhanger Collection #15) Blu-ray Review

Serials were also known as Chapter Plays, Film Serials or Cliffhangers. These were short episodes of a huge story that would play each week at movie theaters. These were produced to bring people back to the theaters each week. They were extremely exciting and popular.

Many great characters got their chance to shine in the serials. Including Superman, Green Hornet, The Shadow, Batman, Captain America, Captain Marvel aka Shazam, Robinson Crusoe, The Three Musketeers, Zorro and so many more.

In 1947 Colombia Pictures brought the popular radio series, "Jack Armstrong All-American Boy" to the silver screen. VCI Entertainment have been restoring these classic serials and releasing them on Blu-ray and now Jack Armstrong is getting his chance to shine in HD.

A brilliant scientist working on atom-powered motors is kidnapped and taken to a mysterious island where the master villain, in usual cliffhanger form, hopes to conquer the world and gives our hero a hell of a time! Jack Armstrong, of course, thwarts these evil plans in the nick of time. Good, clean fun filled with exciting chases, fights and thrills thru 15 chapters. For those old enough to remember, you can almost hear the announcer on the old radio show saying in a hushed voice...Well, boys and girls. You'll remember that yesterday when we left Jack, Uncle Jim, Billy and Betty they were just ready to...!

Jack Armstrong is an exciting pulse-pounding adventure. The serial was directed by Wallace Fox. He is best known for directing the Bowery Boys films, 1941's Bowery Blitzkrieg and 1942's Let's Get Tough. Also, the legendary Bela Lugosi in his films from 1942 The Corpse Vanishes and Bowery at Midnight.

Jack Armstrong makes his Blu-ray debut thanks to VCI Entertainment. This 15-chapter serial is stretched across two Blu-ray discs. Each chapter is presented in 1080p in its original full screen format. The audio is a LPCM mono audio. There are also English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.

The Jack Armstrong serial has been newly restored in 4K and looks and sounds stunning! I was thoroughly amazed at how good this restoration looks! The black and white palette is simply gorgeous. I could not see one sign of damage in this restoration. 

Disc One: Mystery of the Cosmic Ray | The Far World | Island of Deception | Into the Chasm | The Space Ship | Tunnels of Treachery

Disc Two: Cavern of Chance | The Secret Room| Human Targets | Battle of the Warriors | Cosmic Annihilator | The Grotto of Greed | Wheels of Fate | Journey into Space | Retribution

There are no bonus features included on this two-disc Blu-ray set. But 15 chapters running at 270 minutes it an amazing amount of entertainment. I am so glad to see VCI Entertainment giving these classic serials like The Green Hornet and now Jack Armstrong the love these adventures truly deserve.

So, if you love movie serials as much as I do, you are going to love this new Blu-ray of Jack Armstrong. Head over to Amazon and order your copy today. You won't be disappointed. It looks spectacular.

Out of 4 Film Reels (4 Being the Best) The Blu-ray of Jack Armstrong receives....