Don Daredevil Rides Again


Don Daredevil Rides Again is a Republic Movie serial. It makes heavy use of stock footage from Republic's previous Zorro serials. The character of Don Daredevil was created for this serial as the rights to Zorro belonged to Disney by 1951.

Plot

A vile political boss named Stratton hires a gang of night riders to scare off the local landowners so he can claim their lands for himself. Patricia Doyle fights back to keep her property from being stolen from her, with the aid of her cousin Lee Hadley and her neighbor Gary Taylor. Lee realizes that help is not forthcoming from the government, so he disguises himself as a masked Zorro-like figure called Don Daredevil, and battles the land grabbers in much the same way his grandfather used to do many years ago, as the original Don Daredevil. Lee decimates the gang over the course of the 12 episodes, and finally fights Stratton one-on-one inside a burning farmhouse in the finale of the film.

Cast

Don Daredevil Rides Again was budgeted at $153,080 although the final negative cost was $155,200. It was the most expensive Republic serial of 1951.
It was filmed between 5 February and 27 February 1951. The serial's production number was 1930.
Don Daredevil Rides Again used stock footage taken from the earlier serial Zorro's Black Whip.

Stunts

Special effects by the Lydecker brothers

Release

Theatrical

Don Daredevil Rides Again's official release date is 11 April 1951, although this is actually the date the sixth chapter was made available to film exchanges.

Critical reception

Cline describes this serial as just a "quickie."

Chapter titles

  1. Return of the Don
  2. Double Death
  3. Hidden Danger
  4. Retreat to Destruction
  5. Cold Steel
  6. The Flaming Juggernaut
  7. Claim Jumper
  8. Perilous Combat
  9. Hostage of Destiny
  10. Marked for Murder - a re-cap chapter
  11. The Captive Witness
  12. Flames of Vengeance
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