Hakahima (Benson Fong) is a Japanese scientist working on a formula to create a synthetic fuel. By accident, a sample of an old formula called 722 is mixed with distilled water and creates the fuel the Japanese are looking for. The formula had been one that American Professor Raymond (Mauritz Hugo) had developed. Hakahima had been one of Raymond’s assistants when he was studying in America. Raymond had been looking for a new explosive and had considered formula 722 a failure. The discovery delights the Japanese forces, however, all Hakahima had was a sample of 722. The written formula is in the United States. There are two copies, Hakahima has it in his notes which are still hidden in America and Professor Raymond has the formula in his notes as a failed experiment. Japan needs to get a hold of the formula before the United States realizes its importance.
Japan assigns the task to an espionage agent called Nabura (Victoria Horne). Nabura is headquartered on a neutral island, Shadow Island, belonging to an American criminal expatriate named Lucky Kamber (Cy Kendall). Kamber allows criminals and spies to live on the island provided they pay him protection. A Nazi ship called the Lorelei is also moored at the island. The German captain, Captain Grut (Arno Frey) and Nabura devise a plan to get the formula from Hakahima’s notes to the island. Plans go awry and the formula is lost at sea. Now they need to find another way to get the formula from Professor Raymond without him knowing.
An American secret agent called X-9, also known as Phil Corrigan (Lloyd Bridges), ends up on Shadow Island trying to find out what Nabura is up to. Corrigan’s contacts on Shadow Island are Chinese agent Ah Fong (Keye Luke), and Australian agent Lynn Moore (Jan Wiley). Together they try to stop Nabura, Grut and their minions from achieving their aims while trying to find out what the cryptic name 722 means.
“Secret Agent X-9” was released in 1945 and was directed by Lewis D. Collins and Ray Taylor. It is a thirteen-chapter adventure, espionage serial based on the comic strip “Secret Agent X-9” by Dashiell Hammett. The serial was produced by Universal Pictures and is the second “Secret Agent X-9” serial that Universal did. The first was done in 1937.
There are some good things and some not so good things about this serial. The cast is good; the story is also good but a little involved. That’s not really a bad thing since it keeps the action going and interesting. The characters are also a plus. There are some nice explosions and a rather satisfying end. One of the interesting things about this serial is that the recaps in the beginning of each chapter are done using the actors in little scenes vignettes as opposed to words crawling up the screen.
One of the annoying things about the serial is the constant reference to 722, what it was and the fact that the Americans were, as yet, unaware of its significance. It was brought up by someone in every chapter. I’m sure that by halfway through the serial even the actors were sick of saying it. The serial is a little talky but blowing up things now and then makes up for it. One minor point is that Jan Wiley, who plays the Australian agent Lynn Moore, is not all that believable as Australian since her accent is American and not Australian. Another minor point is that Victoria Horne, who plays Nabura, spends the entire serial looking down. I suppose it’s supposed to make her look more Japanese.
Both Keye Luke and Benson Fong played sons of Charlie Chan. Keye was Lee, number 1 son and Benson played Tommy, number 3 son.
Chapter Titles: 1) Torpedo Rendezvous, 2) The Flaming Lake, 3) Death Curve, 4) Floodlight Murder, 5) Doom - Downgrade, 6) Strafed by a Zero, 7) High Pressure Deadline, 8) Dropping Floor, 9) Danger Point, 10) Japanese Burial, 11) Fireworks for Dead Men, 12) Bug Gun Fusilade, 13) Zero Minute.