Todd’s Serial Blog

CONAN

A Republic Serial in 12 Chapters

Producer: Robert Beche

Director: William Witney & John English

Writers: Barry Shipman, Franklin Adreon, Ronald Davidson & Sol Shor

Music: William Lava

Special Effects: Howard Lydecker & Theodore Lydecker

Based on the character created by Robert E. Howard

Cast:

Conan–Ray “Crash” Corrigan

Princess Valeria–Julie Thayer

Thulsa Doom–Charles Middleton

Zula–Guinn “Big Boy” Williams

Borak–Raymond Hatton

king Kull–William Gould

Queen Zenobia–Evelyn Brent

Thoth Amon–C. Montague Shaw

Red Sonya–Lynn Roberts

Yora–John Merton

Balthus–Jack Ingram

Salazar–Edmond Cobb

Amulric–George Chesebro

Kathulos–Al Taylor

RECAP:

Balthus–Is captured by Conan

Thulsa Doom–Agrees to exchange Princess Valeria for Balthus.

Conan–Goes to the prisoner exchange unaware it is a trap to kill him.

CHAPTER SEVEN: CRASHING DESTRUCTION

Conan shows up at the meeting place, a clearing in the woods, with Balthus in tow, unaware that Zula and Borak have followed them.  Doom shows up with Valeria.  They agree to let their two prisoners go at the same time to walk toward them, everybody leaving when they finish crossing the clearing.  When both get halfway across, Doom signals Balthus, who grabs Valeria,  while archers appear behind Conan and aim arrows at his back.

Zula and Borak jump out of the bushes and rush the archers, causing them to fire before they have properly aimed and the arrows all miss Conan.  Doom and Balthus leave on horseback with Valeria.  Conan, Zula and Borak fight the archers and run them off.

Conan grabs one before he can get away and knocks him out.  Sending Zula and Borak back to the castle with the prisoner, Conan puts on the other man’s clothes and heads for Doom’s castle.  Sneaking in through the stables, Conan plans to rescue Valeria.

He is quickly spotted by Salazar and Amulric, who chase him into the tower.  Yora and Balthus join the chase, trapping Conan in a dead end corridor.  Conan fights the four men but is quickly overpowered.   He is brought before Doom, who says Conan is going to help them get into Kull’s castle.  Conan scoffs at Doom’s request.  Doom replies he wasn’t asking, he was explaining what he is going to do with Conan.

Back at Kull’s castle the sentries hear the approach of Doom’s War Wagon.  Everyone prepares for an attack and are shocked to see the Wagon pull up to the castle gate with Conan strapped to the front.  Yora speaks to Conan from inside the Wagon, demanding he order the gates opened or he’ll ram the door with Conan on the front and crush him. Conan spits out “Go ahead and ram”, through gritted teeth.  Yora backs up and then hurtles the Wagon forward, slamming into the gate at full speed…….

NEXT WEEK

CHAPTER EIGHT

DISGUISED TREACHERY