Rob Price
Captain America is one of Marvel Comics staple characters. Originally created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in 1940 for Timely Comics which would eventually become Marvel Comics, the character was an Anti-Nazi figure deliberately conceived to battle the U.S. Non-Interventionism Movement and to support the U.S. entering World War II. The character quickly became Timely’s most popular character and has remained a main character having appeared in more than ten thousand stories and in just about every type of media format. This article will look at the cinematic life of Captain America focusing on the movies that the character starred in with an emphasis on the pre Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films.
Captain America (Serial 1944)
District Attorney Grant Gardner (Dick Purcell) investigates a series of suicides among a group of scientists and businessmen who were all found holding a small scarab. Grant’s secretary, Gail Richards (Lorna Gray) gets captured while helping with the investigation and learns of a substance called the “Purple Death”, a hypnotic chemical that is responsible for the suicides, and Grant is able to save Gail just in time before the substance is used on both of them. All the suicides were members of an expedition to some Mayan ruins. One of the few survivors, Professor Lyman (Frank Reicher), seeks help from his friend Dr. Maldor (Lionel Atwill) who it turns out is the Scarab, the mastermind behind the killings. Lyman has also invented a device called the “Dynamic Vibrator” originally intended for mining but could be augmented as a super weapon and Maldor wants the plans on how to build the device and uses the Purple Death to find their location. Unbeknownst to the world, Grant is also the superhero known as Captain America and he intervenes as The Scarab’s thugs attempt to steal the device plans. As the serial continues, Captain America foils the Scarab’s schemes to steal a working version of the “Dynamic Vibrator” along with other super-weapons.
Captain America was the most expensive serial that Republic Pictures made and was the last Superhero serial they filmed as well. It is also the first theatrical release of any Marvel character with the next version of a Marvel character not appearing on film until the 1970s with Spider-Man on the children’s series The Electric Company. The serial differs greatly from the comic book character, with basically the costume and the name being the only noticeable similarities. In the source material, Steve Rogers, a frail boy from New York is given the “Super Soldier Serum” taking him from weakling to peek athletic performance using his newfound strength to fight Nazis during World War II using his nearly indestructible shield as both a weapon and a symbol. In the serial, none of that is true. His identity and origin have changed, and he uses a gun instead of a shield. Timely was not happy with the changes but by the time they had complained the filming was too far along to reshoot and Republic Pictures were not contractually obligated to make these changes. At first glance, these alterations might seem arbitrary, but it is believed that the script that was being used was originally intended for another character, The Copperhead, and Captain America was inserted instead. The actor, Dick Purcell, was also not in the peak physical condition that you would expect of Captain America, he was average and slightly overweight. The actor died a few weeks after filming had wrapped with many believing that the strain of filming the serial was too much for his heart. Overall, if you are expecting to see an accurate version of your favorite comic book character on screen, this is probably not the serial for you.
Captain America (Television Movie 1979)
Steve Rogers (Reb Brown) a former U.S. Marine now touring the country in a van and attempting to be an artist, learns that his father, before his death, had developed a serum that would unleash the bodies untapped potential. The serum was formulated specifically from his own glands and so will not work on anyone other than Steve who is uninterested in being experimented on. But when Steve is critically injured the only thing that can save him is the serum. Steve’s van and motorcycle are outfitted with some special items and Steve’s own concept drawing is what inspires the creation of the Captain America outfit. The “Captain America” nomenclature was what his patriotic father went by in the 1940s being the same kind of hero. The villain of the film is intending on using a neutron bomb to steal a large sum of money, the bomb is being transported in a semi-truck and Captain America must find a way to stop it using his super strength, heightened senses, and bullet proof shield. In the end, Steve decides to continue crime fighting as Captain America and his costume is updated to match the one his father wore years before, giving him the classic Captain America look.
Captain America was a 1979 made-for-television superhero film which was released on January 19, 1979 on CBS. It is loosely based on the Marvel Comics character with changes to the characters origins and updating the setting. Even thought the film was not widely seen, some of its elements did make its way back into the comic books like his talent as an artist. The costume was also modernized and instead of the normal skull cap with the “A” and wings, a motorcycle helmet was utilized instead. The shield, although bulletproof, was altered to be clear where it would usually be white. I believe all the updates were done to be more aesthetically pleasing to a 1970s audience, including the costume, van, motorcycle and Steve’s vagabond laid back surfer dude attitude.
As a 10-year-old kid, I remember watching this and really liking it, but that was mainly because we didn’t have a lot of superheroes on television at the time. Even then, I remember I didn’t like the use of the motorcycle helmet. I know Reb Brown goes on to do some good work and was even nominated for Best Actor by the Australian Film Institute for his part in Death of a Soldier. But I found him stiff and showing little emotion as Steve Rogers. He definitely looked the part with the blond hair and amazing musculature, but his acting in this film was plain awful. The lack of any supervillains and the overall storyline also made the film lack any luster it could have had. Overall, not the best representation of a Marvel Comics character.
Captain America II: Death Too Soon (Television Movie Sequel 1979)
Steve Rogers (Reb Brown reprising his role) goes up against General Miguel (Christopher Lee) a free-lance revolutionary terrorist who is using a substance that accelerates the aging process. He intends to use the chemical to hold Portland hostage in exchange for a multimillion dollar ransom. Steve as Captain America must stop Miguel without being turned into an old man!
Captain America II is a direct sequel to the earlier Captain America seen in two parts, with the first part premiering on November 23, 1979 and the second half on November 24. Although Reb Brown reprises his role alongside Len Birman as Dr. Simon Mills, Connie Sellecca replaces Heather Menzies as Dr. Wendy Day. As seen at the end of the first movie, the costume was updated to look similar to the source material’s outfit, and the helmet was updated to have a more three-dimensional element with the wings sticking out instead of being painted on. But it is still a helmet instead of a cowl. Reb’s acting in this film was a bit better and with the addition of Christopher Lee as the villain it definitely elevates the cast and adds a more ominous and entertaining villain. The stunts were also better and more exciting to watch. Of the two television films this is the better of the two, but still corny as hell.
Captain America (Film 1990)
In 1936, a boy genius is kidnapped and experimented on heightening his strength and intellect, but deforming him, giving him red skin and a face resembling that of a skull. The doctor who created the experimental serum that transformed the young man, escapes and travels to America. Seven years later, the Red Skull (Scott Paulin) is working for the Nazi’s and Dr. Vaselli (Carla Cassola) has perfected the “Super Soldier Serum” and is ready to test it on Steve Rogers (Matt Salinger), a man who suffers from Polio. The transformation is a success, but a Nazi spy kills Dr. Vaselli and with her the process to create super soldiers. Steve, code named “Captain America” wears an outfit designed by Vaselli that is durable and fireproof as well as a shield that is nearly indestructible. In his first encounter with the Red Skull, Captain America is strapped to a missile headed for the white house, but at the last minute, he is able to divert it to Alaska where he is frozen in ice for 50 years. Eventually being found and defrosted and now has to face a still active Red Skull who has kidnapped the president in a plot to use a mind control implant to stop his environmental policies.
Captain America is a 1990 film that had an international theatrical release but was direct to video in the United States. It was released on December 14, 1990, in the United Kingdom, but was not released in the U.S. until 1992. This film is a lot closer to the source material then the other films mentioned so far but changed the characters origins to be California instead of Brooklyn, and the male German Dr. Erskine became the female Italian Dr. Vaselli. The costume design is a lot more accurate, although the wings on the cowl are a bit too big. Matt Salinger has a good look for Captain America, although not muscular enough. The film was critically panned but over the years has found a cult following.
I remember watching this film on VHS and thinking it was a bit corny and not a fair representation of the complexity of the Captain America character. The movie feels a bit disjointed at times and spends far too much time traveling around Canada and Italy with unnecessarily long car chases and unentertaining action sequences. We do get to see some fun fight choreography and acrobatic flips and the overall story isn’t bad and I did enjoy watching it. I did find it funny that the plot revolves around environmental issues and countries and corporations fighting a reduction in emissions and 35 years later, in real life, as a country, we haven’t gotten any better at finding a solution to that exact same problem.
MCU Captain America / Avengers Franchise (2011 – Present)
Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), a sickly kid from Brookly, New York, wants nothing more than to be able to do his part in fighting the bullies of the world specifically the Nazis, but unlike his best friend Bucky Barnes, he cannot enlist in the Army due to his health issues. That doesn’t stop him from trying. He eventually gets his chance when Dr. Erskine (Stanley Tucci) sees that special spark in him and he is chosen as the recipient of the “Super Soldier Serum” which makes him super strong, fast and able to heal quicker. Unfortunately, Erskine is killed after the process has been completed on Roger’s. Steve eventually becomes a hero, but ends up frozen in the artic tundra while saving the U.S. from destruction. He is eventually revived and goes on to become an important part of the Avengers and the battle against Thanos in the Infinity War saga. At the end, he decides to retire and live the life he should have lived had he not been frozen all those years ago. Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) a.k.a. the Falcon, will eventually take over as Captain America.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe version of the character first seen in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) is the closest and best representation of the character when comparing it to the source material. Chris Evans is the perfect choice with his stunning good looks, blond hair, muscular body, and acting complexity, bringing to life the “man out of time” aspect of the character while still being able to connect on an emotional level with the audience. His moral compass never wavering, which sometimes puts him at odds with the government he was so eager to protect. The updates to both the story and the costume made sense, looked great and still kept to the spirit of the source material. My honest feeling is the Captain America trilogy within the MCU (Captain America: the First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Captain America: Civil War) is probably the best of the MCU films with the Avenger’s Saga coming in just behind. Wrapped up in the MCU world are also some related television shows, like Peggy Carter and Falcon and the Winter Soldier each adding to the Captain’s mythology and the expanded universe of the MCU.
Honorable Mention
3 Giant Men a.k.a. 3 Dev Adam (Film 1973)
A crime wave terrorizing Istanbul prompts the police to call in the American superhero Captain America and the Mexican wrestler Santo to help end it also featuring Spider-Man…as the murderous villain?!
3 Dev Adam is a Turkish Cinema film, and I have not seen it, but I have heard it described as “Just strap yourself in — 3 Giant Men is a ride into insanity, the kind of world that Sergeant Joe Friday worried about when kids in the 60’s started doing LSD and jumping out of windows.” It is nothing like the comic books, but sounds entertaining in a violently comical way.
Captain America is one of those heroes you just expect to be there forever and is so engrained in pop culture, but even deeper than that. Captain America has been the mirror that is turned on the American Politics highlighting its faults and its victories. He is a symbol, not of the real or current America, but as the idealistic America as it should be. The essence of the “Stars and Stripes” holding the government accountable for its actions while still protecting its people no matter the cost.
