Britt Reid aka the Green Hornet (Warren Hull) returns home from a Hawaiian vacation for some crime-busting and racketeer thwarting. Along with faithful valet Kato (Keye Luke), the Green Hornet disrupts various criminal operations, staying one step ahead of the police, who want the Green Hornet either because they think he's a crook, too, or simply for his vigilantism. And once again the Hornet is convinced that there's one mastermind behind all of the crooked operations.
Released in late December of 1940, less than a year after the first serial, the only big change is in the lead role. I'm not sure why they recast it, as Gordon Jones fit the role perfectly. Hull isn't bad, but he's lacking just a little something. The producers also decided not to dub the Hornet's voice while masked with radio voice Al Hodge, instead having Hull deliver his lines muffled behind his full-face mask, which is a little comical. Kato didn't seem to be in this one as much, either, with added time given to Wade Boteler's bumbling ex-cop "bodyguard" to Reid. Boteler spends a lot of time with a new, unnecessary character played by Eddie Acuff, a reporter at Reid's newspaper. This may have been a time-saving move, though, as Boteler/Acuff scenes could be filming at one location while Hull/Luke were at another. This one was still enjoyable as serials go, with the repeated format from the previous outing of many small storylines instead of one drawn out one making for better binge viewing.
Released in late December of 1940, less than a year after the first serial, the only big change is in the lead role. I'm not sure why they recast it, as Gordon Jones fit the role perfectly. Hull isn't bad, but he's lacking just a little something. The producers also decided not to dub the Hornet's voice while masked with radio voice Al Hodge, instead having Hull deliver his lines muffled behind his full-face mask, which is a little comical. Kato didn't seem to be in this one as much, either, with added time given to Wade Boteler's bumbling ex-cop "bodyguard" to Reid. Boteler spends a lot of time with a new, unnecessary character played by Eddie Acuff, a reporter at Reid's newspaper. This may have been a time-saving move, though, as Boteler/Acuff scenes could be filming at one location while Hull/Luke were at another. This one was still enjoyable as serials go, with the repeated format from the previous outing of many small storylines instead of one drawn out one making for better binge viewing.