Béla Lugosi (“Dracula”, “White Zombie”) stars in the film serial “The Phantom Creeps”. This is your classic mad scientist material with one of the most fun robots ever featured on the big screen. Interestingly, the serial went on to inspire the famous opening text crawl effect in the “Star Wars” films.

Meet the maniacal Dr. Zorka (Lugosi), who has found a dangerous new element and uses it to create deadly new weapons that endanger the entire world. Both American agents and foreign spies are out to get their hands on Zorka’s inventions. The fate of the entire world is at stake if this technology is not controlled.

Lugosi is fantastic as always. I just absolutely love his performance as the crazy Dr. Zorka. He has an invisibility belt and the effects for when he turns invisible are actually pretty good. They’re not as good as “The Invisible Man” but still, I like them. The other characters are okay but it does get a little confusing to remember who is who as both the American agents and foreign spies are basically just guys in suits and hats. The killer robot looks absolutely hilarious. It’s up there with Ro-Man in “Robot Monster”. Apparently, Rob Zombie (“The Devil’s Rejects”) loved the robot from “Phantom Creeps” so much, he actually incorporates into his music performances.

“Phantom Creeps” is a wonderful film serial from Universal. This came out around the time they were doing all the great monster movies (many of which featured Lugosi). Surprisingly, we see real footage of the Hindenburg disaster incorporated in a somewhat distasteful manner. Some people may find watching an entire film serial a little daunting so there was a tv movie cut that is significantly shorter. If you like the “Frankenstein” movies of the 30s and 40s or some of the sci-fi movies of the 50s, you’ll probably enjoy this.