AllMovie

Based on the turn-of-the-century dimestore novels of Bert L. Standish (real name: William Patton Gilbert), this slow-moving serial featured husky Donald Briggs in the title role, a Fardale College star athlete who inherits a valuable ring from his father (William P. Carleton). By deciphering an inscription on the ring, Merriwell and his Hollywood friends (played by second generation actors such as House Peters, Jr., Wallace Reid, Jr., Allan Hersholt, and Carlyle Blackwell, Jr.) discover a hidden treasure of gold nuggets worth $30,000. There is opposition from a gang of cutthroats, of course, but Merriwell (who is both "merry" and "well") still manages to win the Big Game for his college. Lending much needed feminine appeal to the proceedings is Jean Rogers, who that same year would skyrocket to fame as Dale Arden in the Flash Gordon serial.