Dr. Satan’s Robot (TV)

Eduardo Cianelli (his first name changed to “Edward” on this occasion) is the not-so-mysterious title character in the 15-chapter Republic serial The Mysterious Dr. Satan. A criminal genius, Dr. Satan has developed a “killer robot” to do his bidding. In order to perfect his invention, he must get his hands on a secret remote-control device invented by kindly Professor Thomas Scott (C. Montague Shaw). His efforts along this line-including the period abduction of Scott’s pretty daughter Lois (Ella Neal)-are constantly stymied by the Copperhead, a masked do-gooder who in reality is handsome hero Bob Wayne (Robert Wilcox). Jam-packed with fast action and dizzying plot twists, The Mysterious Dr. Satan was one of the best and most often-revived Republic serials of the early 1940s. A feature-length abridgement, Dr. Satan’s Robot, was prepared for televison in 1966.