More Shadow

 

 (mubi.com)

THE SHADOW: INVISIBLE AVENGER-1958-In New York, Lamont Cranston (Richard Derr; WHEN WORLD'S COLLIDE (1951)) visits New Orleans after receiving a phone call from his friend Tony (Steve Dano) just before he's stabbed to death. As The Shadow, Cranston makes himself nearly invisible, appearing only as a shadow with an echo voice and creepy laughter. He's accompanied by his kind of guru, Jogendra (Mark Daniels). The main plot is about a dictator who runs the fictitious South American country, Santa Cruz. There's a firing squad execution on the local nightly news and two brothers are on the opposite side of the military dictatorship. 

This embarrassingly cheap production started out as several episodes of a planned TV show featuring the mysterious crimefighter (created by Walter Gibson in 1931). Three directors are created including the great cinematographer James Wong Howe. Another is named Ben Parker. Some sources say this is the same guy who later directed the nutty TEENAGE STRANGLER (1964) but somehow, I doubt it.

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No Shadow

 

 (imdb)

INTERNATIONAL CRIME-1938-Disappointing crime drama features Lamont Cranston (Rod La Rocque; a silent film star who retired in 1941)) as a crime fighting reporter who writes a column and broadcasts a radio show both called “The Shadow Knows”. He's kind of assisted by Phoebe Lang (Astrid Allwyn) and a short cab driver (Lew Hearn). He doesn't “cloud men's minds” or laugh in this. He's just a regular guy. 

Director Charles Lamont went on to directed many of Abbott & Costello's “Meet” movies.

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Early Boris

 (imdb)

THE PUBLIC DEFENDER-1931-Rich playboy Pike Winslow (Richard Dix) is actually the mysterious crime fighter The Reckoner who investigates a group of corrupt businessmen who framed their partner, the father of Pike's childhood sweetheart Barbara (Shirley Grey; later in THE MYSTERY OF THE MARY CELESTE). He's assisted by the erudite Professor (Boris Karloff) and big lug Doc (Paul Hurst). They meticulously plan each attack they make on the bad guys looking for evidence to clear the wronged man. 

THE PUBLIC DEFENDER seems similar to "The Shadow", also created in 1931 and may have been an influence on the creation of Batman (although that was 8 years away). 

Star Dix was an Academy Award nominated best actor in 1931 (for the western CIMARRON, the first movie to win the best picture Oscar). Karloff was just a few months away from playing the monster in FRANKENSTEIN. Interesting ahead of its time crime drama directed by J. Walter Ruben. 

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Who knows?

 (you-tube)

THE SHADOW-1954-TV PILOT-Lame attempt to bring the famous crime fighter to TV with a run of the mill murder plot as a police detective seems hell bent on arresting a young man (William Smithers) for the shooting death of his girlfriend. A pompous music teacher (Alexander Scourby) is also involved. Criminologist Lamont Cranston (Tom Helmore) and girl pal Margo Lane (Paula Raymond) investigate. 

The Shadow only appears as a flash of light but does cloud men's minds, sinisterly cackles and says his famous phrase. Director Charlie Haas later became a fairly versatile prolific TV director (Mickey Mouse Club, The Millionaire, Bonanza) but also made off beat movies like THE BEAT GENERATION and GIRLS TOWN).

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Judex

 

JUDEX-1963-A rich banker Favraux (Michel Vitold) receives threatening letters. If he does not hand over half his fortune to charity before midnight he will die. They are signed by the mysterious Judex (The Judge). It turns out Favraux isn't so nice and made his money because of a scandal. He even runs down an old man who went to prison because of Favraux's shenanigans. He hires a PI to investigate and find out who's sending the letters before a party announcing the engagement of his daughter Jacqueline (Edith Scob) who has a child, Alice. 

The PI finds out the daughter isn't really happy with the engagement and Favraux wants to marry his granddaughter's governess (Francine Berge') but she has a lover. At the party at the stroke of midnight Favraux appears to die. Later his lawyer informs Jacqueline of her dad's nefarious deeds which involved blackmail. The next day she renounces her fortune and breaks her engagement (he was a gold digger anyway). 

However things are not as they seem. The mysterious Judex (American magician/actor Channing Pollock) is watching everything. Favraux is not dead, merely drugged and taken back to Judex's lair as is the old man who's life Judex saved. Judex planned on killing Favraux because his threats were not followed but because of his daughter's actions Judex allows the banker to live but be imprisoned forever. Meanwhile the governess and her lover break into the Favraux's house to steal the incriminating papers he possessed (she had been eavesdropping). They don't get the papers but try to kidnap daughter. They are thwarted by a pack of dogs belonging to Judex who gives Jacqueline a bunch of pigeons to release if she is ever in danger. The governess surmises Favraux is still alive and being held captive. 

There's several twists and Judex doesn't always get the upper hand. Though there is sound it's presented like a silent movie with title cards and frequent fade outs. This figures because this French film is based on a silent film and is dedicated to the original director Louis Feuillade. It was director by Georges Franju three years after his classic EYES WITHOUT A FACE (which also starred Scob).

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Sgt. Preston

SGT. PRESTON OF THE YUKON-This color series featured the adventures of Sgt. Preston of The North West Mounted Police who patrolled The Yukon in Canada during the gold rush. 78 episodes were produced over 3 seasons. 

Richard Simmons played the by the book but fair Mountie who always got his man usually with a minimum of killing. In all 78 the Sarge was accompanied by his wonder dog Yukon King. In the first season he rode Rex, a wonder horse. In this season there was no snow. Apparently it was the summer months where it was always daylight. The second and third seasons took place entirely in the snow bound winter. No Rex as Preston traveled by sled but Yukon King was there to pull his master's fat out of the fire many times. 

There were some guest stars and some unusual points. One episode "Gold Rush Patrol" (S 3 Ep 16) was co-written by Ron Ormond. Another was written by comic book writer Arnold Drake. Coleman Francis, the director of THE BEAST OF YUCCA FLATS acted in 4 episodes. Other guest stars: Richard Powers (aka Tom Keene), Almira Sessions, I. Stanford Jolley (2), Dan Blocker, Frank Scannell, George Cisar, Keene Duncan (3), Don Red Barry, Gene Roth (2), Michael Mark, Iron Eyes Cody, John Hart, Dick Wilson (2), Harry Lauter, Bud Osborne, Fred Graham, Richard Devon, Syd Saylor, Lane Bradford (2), X Brands, Jason Johnson (2), Hank Patterson, Rusty Westcoat, Guy Williams, Jody McCrea, William Fawcett, Glenn Strange, Robert Shayne, Steven Ritch. 

                                            Coleman Francis in disguise!

The show's sponsor for most of its run was Quaker Oats. Preston ended nearly every episode saying : "Well, King this case is closed". Coincidentally Simmons had already played a Mountie in KING OF THE ROYAL MOUNTED (1940) though in an uncredited role.

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Yeah..He Knows..When He Shows...

THE MISSING LADY-1946-Mystery and murder surround "the jade lady" (a statue). Lamont Cranston (Kane Richmond) is framed for murder and only The Shadow can clear him. The police chief (James Flavin) wants to run him in but Cranston's uncle the police commissioner (Pierre Watkin) saves and defends him. Margo Lane (Barbara Read), chauffeur Shrevvie (George Chandler) and Serrvy's girlfriend (Claire Carleton) provide the annoying comedy. 

There's not much of The Shadow himself in this cheap disappointing feature from Monogram. For some reason the character of Margo is presented in these three movies as a real airhead in direct contrast to her radio persona. Phil Karlson directed again.

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He Still Knows....

BEHIND THE MASK-1946-A conniving newspaper columnist Jeff Mann (James Cardwell) is killed by The Shadow in his office on the eve of the wedding of Lamont Cranston (Kane Richmond) and Margo Lane (Barbara Read). Of course someone is actually pretending to be the crime fighter. Mann was blackmailing a mobster (Robert Shayne) and a female bookie May Bishop (Marjorie Hoshelle). There's way too much comedy in this with Shevvie, the chauffeur now played by familiar character actor George Chandler. 

Director Phil Karlson made the Charlie Chan mystery DARK ALIBI the same year.

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He Knows....

THE SHADOW RETURNS-1946-This begins with a body being exhumed from its grave. Then Lamont Cranston (Kane Richmond) and Margo Lane (Barbara Read/Reed) argue about getting married. Of course Cranston is the crime fighting Shadow who dons a mask and appears as a shadow on the wall. 

The kind of boring story revolves around some jewels and the suspects who suddenly commit suicide (Frank Reichert and Cyril Devanti play two of them). Cranston is wise ass PI who the chief of police (Joseph Crehan) doesn't like (with good reason). But the commissioner (Pierre Watkin) is Cranston's uncle. Margo is somewhat of a ditz and they have a chauffeur named Shevvie (Tom Dugan, who seems to be channeling Shemp Howard!). 

The Shadow doesn't appear much in this first of 3 movies produced by Monogram featuring the mysterious crime fighter and the first to star Richmond (THE SPY SMASHER). Grand National had made 2 features (with Rod La Rocque in the lead) and a 12 part serial (with Victor Jory) in the late '30's. Old hand Phil Rosen handled the direction (some sources cite William Beaudine with an uncredited assist). He directed many of the Charlie Chan/Sidney Toler mysteries.

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