Rocky Jones, Space Ranger - Manhunt In Space (Plus Two Bonus Max Fleischer-Animated Superman Episodes)

Pirates from Planet Prah are on a rampage in outer space, kidnapping Rocky Jones' beautiful companion Vena! With the aid of Professor Newton's latest invention that makes a spaceship invisible, Rocky and his cohort Winky set out to rescue her and thwart the nefarious hoodlums. The gang takes its orders from the seductive but evil Cleolanta, who orders Rocky's capture. Our hero escapes, but the pirates have learned of his invisibility device and attempt to use it to avoid justice.

"Rocky Jones, Space Ranger" was a television series that aired from 1953 to 1955, following in the footsteps of movie serial predecessors Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers. Episodes were later edited together into feature-length films (Manhunt In Space was compiled from a few of the first season's episodes). Though short on budget, the show was long on excitement, quick-pacing and solid moral values exemplary of the '50s.

Richard Crane had been featured in minor parts in many western and adventure movies since the '40s, but he firmly established his career as Rocky Jones, playing the character throughout the series. Scotty Beckett, who appears as Winky, wrote the song "Sleepy Little Fellah" for this feature. Character actor Henry Brandon enjoyed a long career playing supporting roles, and is best remembered as the villainous Barnaby in March of the Wooden Soldiers (1934) and in the title role of the serial The Drums of Fu Manchu (1940).

• television