Jean Rogers in
Secret Agent X-9 (1937)
with Scott Kolk
Jean Rogers in
Secret Agent X-9 (1937)
with Scott Kolk
EYE ON JEAN:
After becoming a star with her performance in "Flash Gordon," Jean Rogers seems underutilized in this serial.
Her character contributes an element of mystery to the plot, but mainly takes a back seat to the action of Secret Agent X-9.
On the plus side, she adds beauty and charm to a movie primarily about G-men and jewel thieves. The significance of this movie is
that it is one of Jean Rogers' last movies as a blond.
~by JeanRogersFan
SUMMARY BY CHAPTERS
(The summaries below are from the beginning of the serial chapters, except for the Chapter 12 summary
which is written by JeanRogersFan.)
The Belgravian crown jewels, worth millions, are stolen just as they are being shipped back to the homeland. Brenda, international jewel thief, whose identity is hidden even from his own men, is suspected of the crime. The jewels are placed in a safe deposit box, and the receipt is cleverly concealed under a painting. Secret Agent X-9 sees a suspicious character escaping from the art shop and starts out in hot pursuit.
[IMAGES]CHAPTER 2 – The Ray That Blinds
The only clue to the Belgravian crown jewels is a safe deposit receipt concealed between the canvas and the pigment of an oil painting. Brenda, international jewel thief, informs his men, through Blackstone, that the painting is at the Apollo Art Shop. While searching for the receipt with the aid of a powerful x-ray beam, the men are warned that the G-Men are coming. Dexter and Pidge, in advance of the rest of the G-Men, see Brenda's men getting away, and start after them in hot pursuit.
[IMAGES]CHAPTER 3 – The Man of Many Faces
The only clue to the Belgravian crown jewels is a receipt concealed between the canvas and the pigment of an oil painting. Pidge, a G-Man, finds the painting and hides it at a farm to keep it from falling into the hands of Brenda, notorious jewel thief. Tommy Dawson, X-9's pal, accompanies Shara to Raymond's estate, but is surprised by Brenda's men and thrown into a closet. X-9 suspects Baron Karsten and forces him to go to the Raymond Estate and pick up the trail that will lead to Brenda.
[IMAGES]CHAPTER 4 – The Listening Shadow
The only clue to the crown jewels is a receipt concealed between the canvas and pigment of an oil painting. The painting is found by a G-Man and hidden at a farm to keep it from Brenda, notorious jewel thief. Brenda's men learn this, and realizing that X-9 is on the job, races to the farm in an effort to get the painting. X-9, accompanied by his pal, Dawson, arrives at the farm first and starts a quick search for the painting.
[IMAGES]The receipt for the crown jewels is stolen by Baron Karsten and hidden in the library of the Raymond Estate. X-9 tricks the Baron into disclosing the hiding place, but is surprised by Blackstone, chief aide of the mysterious Brenda. Turning X-9 over to his men, Blackstone leaves with Karsten, after hinting that the Baron is their mysterious leader. While Brenda's men are excitedly discussing this news, Pidge sneaks in through the fireplace and releases X-9.
[IMAGES]The crown jewels stolen by Brenda, international jewel thief, are hidden in a safe deposit box. Ransom, one of Brenda's men, tries to escape with the jewels but pays with his life for the double-cross. X-9, on the trail of Brenda tracks his chief aide, Blackstone to an apartment. Blackstone, confident he has given the G-Men the slip, eagerly starts to open the box of priceless jewels.
The Belgravian jewels, originally stolen by Brenda, are finally recovered by the department of justice. Brenda, disguising himself as Baron Karsten, whom he is holding prisoner, calls at headquarters and claims the jewels. X-9, suspicious of the setup, hurries to headquarters with Shara to denounce the imposter. Brenda is just leaving headquarters with the jewels when X-9 arrives.
[IMAGES]Brenda, diguised as Baron Karsten, whom he holds prisoner, is determined to get the crown jewels. One of Brenda's men, captured by the G-Men, is about to confess when he is mysteriously killed by a sailmaker's needle. X-9 traces the needle to a shop on the waterfront, where Baron Karsten is held prisoner. He is about to make an important discovery when he is spotted by Blackstone, Brenda's lieutenant.
[IMAGES]As a last means of getting the crown jewels, Brenda disguises himself as Baron Karsten, whom he holds prisoner. To baffle police, Brenda hides the Baron on an old pirate ship. X-9 is about to discover the hideout, when Brenda's men quickly transfer Karsten to a motor boat. Before Brenda's men make a clean getaway, X-9 spots them and starts out in pursuit.
Brenda, disguised as Baron Karsten, forces Shara to help him gain entry into the embassy. Under threat of harming Baron Karsten, who is held prisoner, the Ambassador turns over the jewels to Brenda. X-9 rescues the Baron and, learning of Brenda's plan, starts for the embassy to capture him. Brenda, realizing the G-Men are about to close in on him, makes a quick getaway from the embassy with the jewels.
[IMAGES]Brenda, diguised as Karsten, makes his way into the embassy and forces them to turn over the crown jewels. The jewels are taken to the pirate ship, Brenda's hideout, pending further action. Trader Delaney brings a prospective buyer to the ship by a secret passageway. X-9 and Pidge see them board the ship and decide to follow them in a row boat.
CHAPTER 12 – Crime Does Not Pay
X-9 and the G-Men raid the pirate ship, but a gunfight ensues and Brenda escapes with the box of jewels. He finds the box empty and realizes that Trader Delaney, who had been arrested, had removed them. Brenda has his lawyer arrange for Delaney's release, then kills him while taking away the jewels. X-9 shows up, arrests Brenda and recovers the jewels. The End.
[IMAGES]