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.

Thanks for reading!