Inspired by the success of the
Batman series, The Green Hornet TV series aired from 1966-67, which introduced martial arts master Bruce Lee to American audiences and starred Van Williams as the
Green Hornet. Unlike the campy Batman series, the TV version of The Green Hornet was played straight. The series detailed the adventures of Britt Reid, debonair newspaper publisher by day, crime-fighting masked hero at night aided by his manservant/chauffeur/bodyguard/enforcer Kato. Interestingly, Britt Reid is a blood relative of
The Lone Ranger. The character of Dan Reid, who appeared on the Lone Ranger programme as the Masked Man's nephew, was also featured on the Green Hornet as Britt Reid's father, making the Green Hornet the grand-nephew of the Lone Ranger. And while Batman had his Batmobile, Green Hornet has Black Beauty, which could fire explosive charges from tubes at its bumpers, had a concealed-when-not-in-use, drop-down knock-out gas nozzle in the center of the front grille, and could launch a small flying video/audio surveillance device through the trunk lid.
The music of "Flight of the Bumblebee" was the theme for The Green Hornet and this music was featured during a key scene in the 2003 film, Kill Bill, Vol. 1, which paid tribute to
Kato by featuring dozens of swordfighters wearing Kato masks during the film's key fight sequence.
The
Captain Action figures had a lot of accessories.
Kubrick Green Hornet and Kato
Kubrick Green Hornet and Kato
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