Captain America (1944 Serial)

Captain America is the 1944 Republic Pictures live-action movie serial based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name.

Dick Purcell stars as district attorney Grant Garndner who wears the mask of Captain America. Lorna Gray appears as Gail Richards, Gardner's secretary, who is captured by the villainous Scarab (Lional Atwill). Captain America must rescue Gail and stop the Scarab from unleashing the Purple Death.

The series was produced before the establishment of Marvel Comics, while Captain America was published by Timely Comics, the precursor to Marvel. The serial departs drastically from the comic books which, of course, featured Steve Rogers as a scrawny but willing soldier who is transformed by the super-soldier serum. The serial Captain uses a gun instead of a shield.

This is believed to be the first live-action depiction of a Marvel Superhero on film or TV, distinction that would stand until the 1970s, when Spider-Man appeared on The Electric Company.