Red Barry (1938)
A hard-boiled detective serial from Universal Pictures, bringing a beloved newspaper comic strip hero to life on the silver screen.
Red Barry - Movie Information
- Release Year: 1938
- Directed by: Alan James, Ford Beebe
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Action, Crime, Adventure
- Age Rating (US): NR
- Runtime: 4h 16m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 18, 1938 (United States - NR)
- Production Companies: Universal Pictures
- Production Countries: United States of America
Red Barry - Plot
A police detective is caught up in a plot to steal two million dollars in bonds.
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Red Barry - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Alan James
- Ford Beebe
Main Cast
- Buster Crabbe
- Frances Robinson
- Edna Sedgewick
- Cyril Delevanti
- Frank Lackteen
- Wade Boteler
- Hugh Huntley
- Philip Ahn
- William Ruhl
- William Gould
Writers
- Ray Trampe
- Norman S. Hall
Producers
- Barney A. Sarecky
Red Barry - FAQs
Who plays Red Barry in the 1938 serial?
Buster Crabbe plays the title role of Red Barry, the tenacious police detective at the center of the story. Crabbe was a natural fit for the part, having already built a strong following as a serial hero through his portrayals of Flash Gordon and Tarzan earlier in the decade.
What is Red Barry about?
Red Barry follows a resourceful police detective drawn into a dangerous criminal conspiracy centered on the theft of two million dollars in bonds. The story unfolds across multiple chapters packed with action, intrigue, and colorful underworld characters, blending hard-boiled detective fiction with the fast-paced thrills of the classic movie serial format.
Is Red Barry based on a comic strip?
Yes. Red Barry originated as a newspaper comic strip created by Will Gould, which ran from 1934 to 1938. Universal Pictures adapted the strip into this 13-chapter serial, capitalizing on the character's existing readership and the era's appetite for action-packed episodic storytelling drawn from popular print sources.
Who directed Red Barry?
Red Barry was co-directed by Alan James and Ford Beebe. Both were seasoned hands in the serial format. Ford Beebe in particular was one of Universal's most prolific serial directors of the era, also helming chapters of Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars and Buck Rogers around the same period.
How long is Red Barry?
Red Barry has a total runtime of approximately 256 minutes, or just over four hours. This reflects its nature as a 13-chapter movie serial, with each chapter designed to be screened weekly in theaters, keeping audiences returning week after week to follow the unfolding adventure.
When was Red Barry released?
Red Barry was released in the United States on October 18, 1938. Produced by Universal Pictures, it was distributed as a theatrical serial, meaning individual chapters were released over successive weeks rather than as a single feature-length film, a common exhibition model for serials of the era.
What are movies similar to Red Barry?
Fans of Red Barry may enjoy other classic serials and adventure films of the era, including Flash Gordon (1936), Drums of Fu Manchu (1940), The Adventures of Smilin' Jack (1943), The New Adventures of Tarzan (1935), and Rustlers of Red Dog (1935), all of which share the same episodic, action-driven spirit.
Who are the main cast members in Red Barry?
The principal cast includes Buster Crabbe as Red Barry, Frances Robinson as Mississippi, Edna Sedgewick as Natacha, Cyril Delevanti as Wing Fu, Frank Lackteen as Quong Lee, Wade Boteler as Inspector Scott, Hugh Huntley as Valentine Vane, Philip Ahn as Hong Kong Cholly, William Ruhl, and William Gould.
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