Alec Baldwin is Lamont Cranston, "The Shadow," based on the radio series voiced by, among others, Orson Welles. The series began with, "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The shadow knows!" followed by "Le Rouet d'Omphale," composed by Saint-Saëns. The Shadow can make himself invisible, read minds and is an expert marksman. He was often accompanied in his crime-solving exploits by socialite Margo Lane (Penelope Ann Miller in the film). The Shadow actually had several identities, the wealthy, dashing Lamont Cranston being only one, but this film deviates a bit from the original story. Here, The Shadow had a past life as a cruel and vicious Chinese warlord, who is taught a new way of life by a master and emerges in the 1930s as The Shadow. He comes up against Shiwan Khan, the last descendant of Genghis Khan, who hypnotizes Margo Lane's scientist father into making a bomb that will destroy the world.
Besides the stars - Baldwin, Miller and Lone - the film boasts a very good supporting cast including Peter Boyle, Ian McKellen, Tim Curry and Jonathan Winters. The art deco decor throughout is gorgeous - it is a beautiful film with some great special effects. Despite a good story, cast and wonderful photography, "The Shadow" flopped at the box office. Caught on television, however, it was highly enjoyable.
Baldwin is handsome and dapper here, thinner than he is today and very much the young leading man on the way up. Somewhere along the line, it didn't happen for him, though he's made a marvelous career for himself in character roles on television and on stage. You can almost see here why Baldwin didn't remain a leading man - he has a talent that takes him out of that straightforward range, and it serves The Shadow well - he can be funny and cool, but also dark and dangerous. Miller wears some spectacular '30s outfits. She's fine in the role, but I've seen her be much more effective. John Lone is very powerful as Shiwan Khan, while Ian McKellen is totally wasted. Winters plays Lamont's uncle, the police commissioner, in a role where he doesn't get to use his off-the-wall sense of humor. Tim Curry as a villain has the best supporting role; he's quite funny.
I don't frankly remember this film's release and why it flopped - it perhaps got lost in some of its competition at the time. Nevertheless, seeing it with today's eyes, it's well worth a viewing.
Besides the stars - Baldwin, Miller and Lone - the film boasts a very good supporting cast including Peter Boyle, Ian McKellen, Tim Curry and Jonathan Winters. The art deco decor throughout is gorgeous - it is a beautiful film with some great special effects. Despite a good story, cast and wonderful photography, "The Shadow" flopped at the box office. Caught on television, however, it was highly enjoyable.
Baldwin is handsome and dapper here, thinner than he is today and very much the young leading man on the way up. Somewhere along the line, it didn't happen for him, though he's made a marvelous career for himself in character roles on television and on stage. You can almost see here why Baldwin didn't remain a leading man - he has a talent that takes him out of that straightforward range, and it serves The Shadow well - he can be funny and cool, but also dark and dangerous. Miller wears some spectacular '30s outfits. She's fine in the role, but I've seen her be much more effective. John Lone is very powerful as Shiwan Khan, while Ian McKellen is totally wasted. Winters plays Lamont's uncle, the police commissioner, in a role where he doesn't get to use his off-the-wall sense of humor. Tim Curry as a villain has the best supporting role; he's quite funny.
I don't frankly remember this film's release and why it flopped - it perhaps got lost in some of its competition at the time. Nevertheless, seeing it with today's eyes, it's well worth a viewing.