Feature versions of serials are the odd offspring of a union of the serial and the B-feature motion picture formats. They are B-films in length and intended audience, serials in source of filmed content and plot development.
     Unfortunately, as such, they have historically been all but disowned by (or, at least, ostensibly in the interest of) fans of both formats. Serial authorities will, at best, simply note in passing that "oh, by the way, a feature version was also released," and if you're lucky, you may get the title, year of release, distributor and/or running time. Meanwhile, writers on the feature film will, if not ignore them completely, similarly acknowledge their existence with a terse "but this was just a cut-down serial." In fact, I think this is unreasonable and unfair -- to film history, to the makers of these features, and to the film fans who come across them in the course of their hobbying.
     Serial feature versions are, really, a unique form of filmmaking, involving the taking of an already completed film product and substantially altering it -- largely thru editing -- in order to produce a new, if not dissimilar, product with a still-coherent plotline. In some cases, new material has even been written and filmed, to bridge otherwise-unavoidable continuity losses and, in some rare cases, to create a substantially new story. But unlike the old 8mm "home movies," none of them were intended as nostalgic highlights of the serial, but as a finished film which could be shown in theaters (or on TV stations), communities, and countries in which the serial itself would not play, and to audiences not interested in seeing a film in serialized format! This would, of course, also bring in revenues additional to the serial itself, to the extent that the serial producer also made the feature (which explains why the independents seem to almost always have had a feature version available, while the bigger Studios were more occasional in their feature output). In more recent decades, with many serials falling into public domain, the editing may have come to constitute the 'artistic contribution' necessary to allow the featurizer to inveigle a new copyright and obtain the ensuing profits from the merchandising of 'his' new creation.
     In any case, both the film historian and the film fan is ill-served by 'experts' who simply blow off the serial feature version. The stories behind the creation of some may be as interesting as of the serial itself; in all cases, the critical appraisal of the feature is essential, since the editing process alone is bound to affect the quality of the film involved, and not always for the worse, thus allowing for 'informed consent' for those who may wish to purchase the feature versions.
     Finally, theatrical feature versions will invariably have their own advertising campaigns and materials for the collector, while non-theatrical versions will have none whatsoever. But no enhanced awareness will come to be if we don't first try to establish an accurate listing of the feature versions which have been made. This is what follows. Additions and corrections from others are gratefully welcomed.
     So here's a list of all the featurized serials known to me, listed by source serial. I'm including all which bear the same title as the source serial , year the feature was released, whether it was:
(T)- a theatrical film;
(TV)- a made-for-TV feature (tho some of these may have been shown in theatres outside the US, or in US theatres equipped with 16mm equipment);
(NT)- a non-theatrical feature, but I'm not sure if it was cut for TV, 16mm sales or video. Most of these have a distinctly amateurish look, e.g. main titles are just from the serial ("A ___ Serial in ___ episodes" under the title).
Then follows the release source of the feature (if known) and running time (if known); and occasional notes, as applicable. Check the IMDb (Internet Movie Database, at www.imdb.com) for additional data on the features marked (T) or (NT), most of which I've ensured are installed there as the separate feature films they in fact are.
All set? Here goes:

ACE DRUMMOND
Squadron Of Doom (1950s) (TV) Motion Pictures for Television, 80 min.

ADVENTURES OF THE FLYING CADETS
Adventures Of The Flying Cadets (19??) (NT) Unknown Source, 115 min.

ADVENTURES OF SMILIN' JACK, THE
Adventures Of Smilin' Jack, The (19??) (NT) Unknown Source, 90 min.

AMAZING EXPLOITS OF THE CLUTCHING HAND
Amazing Exploits Of The Clutching Hand (1936) (T), Stage & Screen, 65 min.

BLACK WIDOW, THE
Sombra The Spider Woman (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

BLACK COIN, THE
Black Coin, The (19??) (NT) Unknown Source, 120 min.

BLAKE OF SCOTLAND YARD
Blake Of Scotland Yard (1936) (T) Victory, 69 min.

BUCK ROGERS
Planet Outlaws (1953) (T) Goodwill Pictures, 71 min. [added framing narrative scenes].
Destination Saturn (1965) (TV) Heart Ent., 91 min.
Buck Rogers (1977) (T) Crystal Pictures, c.100 min.

BURN 'EM UP BARNES
Burn 'Em Up Barnes (1934) (T) Mascot, 68 min.

CALL OF THE SAVAGE, THE
Savage Fury (1956) (T) Premier Pictures, 70 min.

CANADIAN MOUNTIES VS. ATOMIC INVADERS
Missile Base At Taniak (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

CAPTAIN VIDEO
Captain Video (19??) (NT) Unknown source. 91 min. [May be one of several features reportedly created by Leo Gutman in the late 70s or early 80s from Columbia serials for TV syndication].

CRIMSON GHOST, THE
Cyclotrode X (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

CUSTER'S LAST STAND
Custer's Last Stand (1936) (T) Stage & Screen, 90 min.

DANGERS OF THE CANADIAN MOUNTED
R.C.M.P. And The Treasure Of Genghis Khan (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

DARKEST AFRICA
Darkest Africa (1936) (T) Republic, 73 min.

DEVIL HORSE
Devil Horse (19??) (NT) Source Unknown, ??min.

DICK TRACY
Dick Tracy (1937) (T) Republic. 73 Min. [per the works of Jack Mathis].

DICK TRACY
Dick Tracy (1985) (TV) NTA-Republic, 102 min.

DICK TRACY RETURNS
Dick Tracy Returns (1985) (TV) NTA-Republic, 107 min.

DICK TRACY VS. CRIME INC.
Dick Tracy Vs. Crime Inc. (1985) (TV) NTA- Republic, 103 min.

DICK TRACY'S G-MEN
Dick Tracy's G-Men (1985) (TV) NTA-Republic, c.100 min.

DRUMS OF FU MANCHU
Drums Of Fu Manchu (1943) (T) Republic, 69 min.

FEDERAL AGENTS VS. UNDERWORLD INC.
Golden Hands Of Kurigal (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

FEDERAL OPERATOR 99
FBI-99 (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

FIGHTING DEVIL DOGS, THE
Fighting Devil Dogs, The (1943) (T) Republic, 69 min.

FIGHTING DEVIL DOGS
Torpedo Of Doom (1966) (TV) NTA, 99 min.

FLAMING FRONTIERS
Flaming Frontiers (19??) (NT) Unknown Source, Unknown runtime [seen on "Matinee At The Bijou", edited to under one hour].

FLASH GORDON
Flash Gordon (1936) (T) Universal, 72 min. [reissued as ATOMIC ROCKETSHIP and/or ROCKET SHIP].
Spaceship To The Unknown (1965) (TV) Hearst Ent., 90 min.

FLASH GORDON CONQUERS THE UNIVERSE
The Purple Death From Outer Space (1965) (TV), Hearst Ent., 90 min. [from Chs. 1-6 only].
Peril From Planet Mongo (1965) (TV), Hearst Ent., 91 min. [from Chs. 7-12 only].
Space Soldiers Conquer The Universe (19??) (NT) 96 min. [from whole serial - advertised usually as FLASH GORDON CONQUERS THE UNIVERSE despite on-screen title]

FLASH GORDON'S TRIP TO MARS
Mars Attacks The World (1938) (T) Universal, 69 min. [premiered on Times Square 7 days after the Orson Welles "War Of The Worlds" broadcast].
The Deadly Ray From Mars (1965) (TV) Hearst Ent., 99 min.

FLYING DISC MAN FROM MARS
Missile Monsters (1958) (T) Republic, 75 min.

G-MEN NEVER FORGET
Code 645 (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

G-MEN VS. THE BLACK DRAGON
Black Dragon Of Manzanar (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

GALLOPING GHOST, THE
Galloping Ghost, The (19??) (NT) Unknown Source, 113 min.

GANGBUSTERS
Gangbusters (19??) (NT) Unknown Source, 119 min.

GHOST OF ZORRO
Ghost Of Zorro (1959) (T) Republic, 69 min.

GREEN ARCHER, THE
Green Archer, The (19??) (NT) Source Unknown, 121 min.

GREEN HORNET, THE
Green Hornet, The (1990) (NT) Film Shows Inc. 99 min. [starts after the cliffhanger resolution in Ch.8 to the end of the serial in Ch.13.]

HAUNTED HARBOR
Pirates Harbor (prob. 1999) (NT) Unknown Source. 114 min. [Briefly sold by Earl Hagen, was clearly edited nonprofessionally on VCR, without even control for color-bursts, from TV/tape source bearing the serial's reissue title. Was advertised, however, with title "Haunted Harbor".]

HAWK OF THE WILDERNESS
Lost Island Of Kioga (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

HURRICANE EXPRESS
Hurricane Express, (19??) (NT) Source Unknown, c.90 min.

INVISIBLE MONSTER, THE
Slaves Of The Invisible Monster (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

JUNGLE DRUMS OF AFRICA
U-238 And The Witch Doctor (1966) (TV) NTA, 100 min.

JUNGLE QUEEN
Jungle Safari (1956) (T) Premier Pictures, c.70 min.

JUNIOR G-MEN
Junior G-Men (19??) (NT) Source Unknown, 121 min.

KING OF THE ROYAL MOUNTED
Yukon Patrol (1942) (T) Republic, 70 min.

KING OF THE ROCKET MEN
Lost Planet Airmen (1951) (T) Republic, 65 min.

LAST FRONTIER, THE
Black Ghost, The (1932) (T) RKO-Pathe, 65 min.

LIGHTNING WARRIOR, THE
Lightning Warrior, The (19??) (NT) Unknown Source, 118 min.

LONE RANGER, THE
Hi-Yo Silver (1940) (T) Republic, 69 min. [with added sequences].

LOST CITY, THE
Lost City, The (1935) (T) Super-Serial Dist., c.70 min. [from Chs. 1-4 only, with added wrap-up scenes]
Lost City, The (1935) (T) Regal Distributing, 78 min. [from entire serial].
City Of Lost Men (c.1940) (T) Goodwill Pictures, c.100 mins. [1st feature with added material from Ch. 12].

LOST JUNGLE, THE
Lost Jungle, The (1934) (T) Mascot, 68 min. [40% new material altering character relationships and an entirely new ending].

MANHUNT OF MYSTERY ISLAND
Captain Mephisto And The Transformation Machine (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

MASKED MARVEL
Sakima And The Masked Marvel (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

MYSTERIOUS DR. SATAN
Dr. Satan's Robot (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND
Mysterious Island (19??) (NT) Unknown Source. 88 min. [Possibly another Gutman TV featurization].

MYSTERY SQUADRON
Mystery Squadron (19??) (NT) Unknown Source, 122 min.

NEW ADVENTURES OF TARZAN, THE
New Adventures Of Tarzan, The (1935) (T) Burroughs-Tarzan, c.70 min. [Ch.1 + cliffhanger wrapup in Ch.2 + new ending. Edited in UK after WWII by New Realm to 59 min., which is the version currently available].
Tarzan And The Green Goddess (1938) (T) Burroughs-Tarzan, 72 min. [from Chs.3-12].

PAINTED STALLION
Painted Stallion (1938) (T) Republic. 67 min. [per the latest works of Jack Mathis].

PANTHER GIRL OF THE KONGO
Claw Monsters, The (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

PERILS OF NYOKA
Nyoka And The Lost Secrets Of Hippocrates (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

PHANTOM CREEPS, THE
Phantom Creeps, The (1960s) (TV) Unknown Source, 69 min.

PHANTOM EMPIRE, THE
Radio Ranch (1940) (T) Nat Levine, 70 min. [released via 'states rights' distributors; in New York, retitled MEN WITH STEEL FACES].
Phantom Empire, The (1980s) (TV) Unknown Source, c.100 min.

PURPLE MONSTER STRIKES, THE
D-Day On Mars (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE
Queen Of The Jungle (1935) (T) Screen Attractions, 60 min.

RADAR MEN FROM THE MOON
Retik, The Moon Menace (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

RADIO PATROL
Radio Patrol (19??) (NT) Unknown Source, 121 min.

RETURN OF CHANDU, THE
Return Of Chandu, The (1934) (T) Principal, 65 min. [from Chs.1-4 only].
Chandu On The Magic Island (1935) (T) Principal, 69 min. [from Chs.5-12 only].

ROBINSON CRUSOE OF CLIPPER ISLAND
Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island (1937) (T) Republic. 71 min. [per the latest works of Jack Mathis].

ROBINSON CRUSOE OF CLIPPER ISLAND
Robinson Crusoe Of Mystery Island (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

S.O.S. COAST GUARD
S.O.S. Coast Guard (1942) (T) Republic, 69 min. [with added shots to cover continuity gaps].

SEA RAIDERS
Sea Raiders (19??) (NT) Unknown Source, 113 min.

SHADOW OF THE EAGLE, THE
Shadow Of The Eagle, The (19??) (NT) Unknown Source, c.100 min.

SHADOW OF CHINATOWN
Shadow Of Chinatown (1936) (T) Victory, 65 min. [one source says this was originally titled YELLOW PHANTOM].

SIGN OF THE WOLF
Lone Trail, The (1932) (T) Metropolitan, 55 min.

SPY SMASHER
Spy Smasher Returns (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

SUPERMAN
Superman (1950s-60s) (?TV) ?Columbia, 88 min.

TARZAN THE FEARLESS
Tarzan The Fearless (1933) (T) Principal, 61 min. [Chs.1-4 only with partial wrapup scene. Was intended to be shown only as a long first episode, followed by the other 8, but some theatres booked it alone].
Tarzan The Fearless (1950s) (TV) Unknown Source, 89 min. [from UK print - Wardour Pictures Ltd. - which may have been the source of the feature, i.e. a UK theatrical feature shown only on TV in the US].

THREE MUSKETEERS
Desert Command (1948) (T) Favorite Film Corp., 70 min.

TIGER WOMAN
Jungle Gold (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

TRADER TOM OF THE CHINA SEAS
Target: Sea Of China (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

UNDERSEA KINGDOM
Sharad Of Atlantis (1966) (TV) NTA, c.100 min.

VIGILANTES ARE COMING, THE
Vigilantes Are Coming, The (19??) (NT) Unknown Source, 83 min.

WHISPERING SHADOW, THE
Whispering Shadow, The (19??) (NT) Unknown Source, 115 min.

ZOMBIES OF THE STRATOSPHERE
Satan's Satellites (1958) (T) Republic, 70 min.

ZORRO'S FIGHTING LEGION
Zorro's Fighting Legion (19??) (NT) Unknown Source, 89 min.

ZORRO RIDES AGAIN
Zorro Rides Again (1938) (T) Republic. 68 min. [per the latest works of Jack Mathis].
Zorro Rides Again (1959) (T) Republic. 68 min. [Mathis states this is just a reissue of the 1938 feature. However, credits show a contemporary - 1959 - editor at the helm, so this release was clearly cut anew. However, it is possible that it followed the continuity of the earlier version, given the identical running times and certain internal evidence beyond the scope of this article].

© 2000 Rich Wannen