Adventures of Captain Marvel

A scientific expedition to Siam finds an idol called the Golden Scorpion. There the young Billy Batson is given a power by a wizard named Shazam: saying one word will turn him into Captain Marvel. The idol has five lenses, and brought together they make the most powerful weapon in the world. The scientists divide the lenses among themselves. Then a hooded figure starts coming after them. This twelve chapter Republic serial, directed by John English and William Witney together, counts as the first live-action adaptation of a comic-book superhero. The dummy-on-wires system used for the flying scenes was held up as a model for years. Tom Tyler plays Captain Marvel and Frank Coghlan Jr. plays Billy. The whole thing runs over three and a half hours, and each chapter breaks off in danger to hold you for the next one.