The Lightning Raider

The Lightning Raider is a 1919 American action film serial directed by George B. Seitz. It was the on-screen debut of Boris Karloff, albeit as an extra. The film serial survives in an incomplete state with some reels preserved at the Library of Congress Public Archives of Canada/Dawson City collection and other film archives, but it is not available on home video. The serial was shown in France as Par Amour.

The Lightning Raider
Film poster
Directed by	George B. Seitz
Written by	John B. Clymer Charles W. Goddard George B. Seitz
Based on	stories written by May Yohe
Produced by	Pathe Pictures
Starring	Pearl White Warner Oland Boris Karloff
Distributed by	Pathé Exchange Astra Films
Release date	January 15, 1919 (1919-01-15)
Running time	300 minutes
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

Plot

A beautiful young woman is in reality a daring master thief. While fleeing the scene of her latest robbery, she meets a handsome young millionaire named Thomas Babbington North. The film belongs to the sensationalistic "Yellow Menace" genre of its time, with Warner Oland playing the insidious Oriental Wu Fang.

Cast

Ad for film

• Pearl White as The Lightning Raider
• Warner Oland as Wu Fang
• Henry G. Sell as Thomas Babbington North
• Ruby Hoffman as Lottie
• William P. Burt as The Wasp (credited as William Burt)
• Frank Redman as Hop Sing
• Nellie Burt as Sunbeam
• Sam Kim
• Henrietta Simpson
• Boris Karloff as an extra
• Billy Sullivan (credited as William A. Sullivan)
• Anita Brown

Episodes

1. The Ebony Block
2. The Counterplot
3. Underworld Terrors
4. Through Doors of Steel
5. The Brass Key
6. The Mystic Box
7. Meshes of Evil
8. Cave of Dread
9. Falsely Accused
10. The Baited Trap
11. The Bars of Death
12. Hurled Into Space
13. The White Roses
14. Cleared of Guilt
15. Wu Fang Atones

See also

• List of film serials
• List of film serials by studio
• Boris Karloff filmography

External links

• The Lightning Raider at IMDb