) and extravagant costumes of the debonair characters (evening gowns and furs, and tuxedos with top hats and tails).The screenplay, written by screenwriter Robert Riskin, was derived from a 1939 film treatment, titledThe Life and Death of John Doe, written by Richard Connell and Robert Presnell (the recipients of the film""s sole Academy Awards nomination for Best Original Story).At the restaurant, Paulie (on his way to his meat-packing plant job) informed Rocky about the "fake Looney Tune fight" -- and Rocky watched a replay of the match with a "stunning knockout" of his opponent, although there was "fallout" over the disputed KO.When Radagast investigated, he sensed a "dark power" within - "the shadow of an ancient horror, one that can summon the spirits of he dead.The main theme of each chapter was the heroine-in-jeopardy, although the chapters in his early serial were basically complete in themselves.