Chamorro
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"Another challenge for the Green Hornet, his aid Kato, and their rolling arsenal the Black Beauty. On Police records a wanted criminal, Green Hornet is really Britt Reid, owner-publisher of the Daily Sentinel, his dual identity known only to his secretary and the district attorney. And now, to protect the rights and lives of decent citizens, rides THE GREEN HORNET."
So, what does this campy 1960's TV show have to do with the Golden Era you ask? Plenty!
From 1936-52, the "Flight of the Bumblebee" signaled another episode of the Green Hornet. The popular juvenile (that means kids of all ages) did an amazing amount of buzzing! (A theramin made the otherworldly sound of the Hornet.) Created by The Lone Ranger team of producer George Trendle and director James Jewell, the Green Hornet has some of the same pace as the western Masked Man. (Actually, trivia buffs, The Lone Ranger was the Green Hornet's great uncle. Masks run in the family!)
Movie serials in '40 made the Green Hornet all the more popular on radio. Al Hodge played Britt from '36-'43, with Raymond Hayashi (changed to Ray Toyo after WW II began) creating Kato. The Sentinal staff reporters worked on the facts along with Reid. Lenore 'Casey' Case was played by Lenore Allman. Bob Lowry does the reportorially-challanged stooge, Michael Axford. A young Mike Wallace (of early interview TV and 60 Minutes fame) was one of the young announcers!
The Green Hornet is a super-hero something like Superman, Blue Beetle, and Batman. Both Clark Kent and Britt Reid are journalists (Britt actually owns the Daily Sentinel). That gets them knee-deep in the latest crime waves that constantly sweep their respective cities. Britt's like Batman in that they are ordinary mortals (faking playboy-types), allowing Kato, his man-servant or assistant, to be Robin-like. Both The Green Hornet and Batman drive cool cars. Britt Reed's sleek, superpowered "Black Beauty" is certainly a match for the Batmobile.
The TV show was always one of my favorites and that is how I will always picture the Green Hornet in my mind's eye.
Britt Reid/The Green Hornet: Van Williams
Kato: Bruce Lee
Lenore "Casey" Case: Wende Wagner
Mike Axford: Lloyd Gough
District Attorney F.P. Scanlon: Walter Brooke
Theme: Rimsky-Korsakov's The Flight of the Bumble Bee
Theme Played by: Al Hirt
Don't you just love that green fedora and suit?
Anyway, Hollywood once again is revamping the character and coming out with a new movie version. It seems that there are no original ideas left in Tinseltown.
Mirimax is the film company and Kevin Smith will direct, so there may yet be hope.
Friday 2nd April 2004:
The Green Hornet Update:
Kevin Smith is reported to be considering either Jet Li or Zhang Yi for the role of Kato in The Green Hornet, and yes Zi is female, he is considering changing the sex of the character.
Thursday 18th March 2004:
Director Kevin Smith is thought to be in talks with Jake Gyllenhaal to take the lead role in The Green Hornet.
Tuesday 24th February 2004:
Kevin Smith has answered a pile of questions on ViewAskew about his next project Green Hornet:
WHAT'S THIS MEAN FOR "FLETCH WON" and "RANGER DANGER"?
Everything just gets pushed back a year. If it's any consolation, Harvey's insisting we go right into "Fletch" after "Hornet" wraps.
HAVE WE STARTED CASTING "HORNET" YET?
Yes. Some offers went out to actors this week. I'm meeting with the guy we all want for Britt Reid Monday night. If actors start accepting offers, I'll let you know.
WHAT CAR'S GONNA BE THE NEW BLACK BEAUTY?
There are a few manufacturers we're talking to already (for me, though, the dream car is the Cadillac 16).
ARE ANY V.A. REGULARS GONNA BE IN IT?
I'm writing a part for [Jason] Mewes, I know that. Beyond that, expect to see some other familiar faces pop up as well.
HOW TRUE ARE YOU STAYING TO THE CHARACTERS AND BACKSTORY?
Very, very true. The story spans a few decades, though.
SO WILL YOU MENTION THE LONE RANGER CONNECTION THEN?
Can't. The Lone Ranger is owned by someone else. Legally, we can't refer to him without optioning that character as well.
HAVE YOU STARTED WRITING THE SCRIPT?
Yes. I'm fifty pages in.
WHAT'S THE BUDGET?
Too early to tell. But early guesses put it around seventy million.
IS THERE A RELEASE DATE SET?
Not a specific date, but we're due in theaters August '05.
WILL IT BE SERIOUS OR SPOOFY?
It's serious. Granted, there will be some humor in it, but we're still playing it straight on this one.
Friday 20th February 2004:
Director Kevin Smith has been fielding questions on his ViewAskew site about the recently announced Green Hornet movie.
Wednesday 18th February 2004:
Writer/director Kevin Smith has finally commited to a superhero project, The Green Hornet, for Miramax Films. The characters created by Fran Striker and George Trendle first appeared in a radio serial that launched in 1936 and was then a TV series in the 70s in which Bruce Lee appeared as the Hornet's sidekick Kato. "I always said I'd never do one, based on my limited experience writing on 'Superman' and having to answer to the studio, the producer, the comics company and eventually a director," Smith said. "Then there's a fandom that gets up in arms if you even try to stray from their character. Here, there is simplicity in the character and the situation."
Thursday 29th May 2003:
Miramax is looking for a car manufacturer to sponsor the hero vehicle in
The Green Hornet and it's not going cheap apparently as they are looking
for a cool $35million!
I hope they don't screw it up ...
