Who Knows?

 (crimereads.com)

THE SHADOW: THE CURSE OF THE COTTON KIMONO-1954-Lamont Cranston (Tom Helmore; later in Hitchcock's VERTIGO (1958)), a police psychiatrist, helps a cheerful police commissioner (Frank M. Thomas) and a dour detective (Norman Shelly) solve the murder of a seemingly innocent woman. He's assisted by girlfriend Margo Lane (Paula Raymond; THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS (1952)). The dead girl's boyfriend Bromm (William Smithers) leads Cranston to music teacher Rollo (Alexander Scourby). Cranston becomes the Shadow laughs and threatens Rollo who's killed before being of any help. 

This pretty dull TV pilot failed to impress any network and was never picked up as a series. Directed by Charlie Haas who early directed episodes of the ill-fated Dick Tracy show.

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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).

Thanks for reading!