This is the first Shadow movie. However, I have already seen this film's sequel, "International Crime", so I guess I am doing it a bit backwards. I had hopes that this would be a better film than the next one, as "International Crime" was a bit dull. And, fortunately it is in most ways.
The plot involves The Shadow, Lamont Granston, inexplicably posing as a lawyer and getting sucked into a murder mystery. When the fake lawyer (Granston) is called to create a new will for a rich guy, in the middle of their conversation the guy is shot dead!! During the investigation, organized crime and the various beneficiaries in the will are all considered suspects--but the real culprit and his reasons are revealed at the end.
Granston (Rod La Roque) is The Shadow in this film. However, the character's name in the radio shows and pulp magazines was Kent Allard but he sometimes posed as Mr. Cranston. Why the film got this so wrong is beside me, but what's worse is that almost NONE of the original character (begun in 1930) is present other than his occasionally donning a cloak and fedora. In other words, his weird psychic power to cloud men's minds is gone--and Granston, frankly, is indistinguishable from later characters like The Saint or The Falcon. In other words, he's just another bored gentleman amateur detective. Now this isn't bad--but it's NOT The Shadow in any meaningful way. In fact, at the end of this film, Granston reveals who he is!!! Yet, he returns for more films--which makes no sense. It's all pleasant and entertaining--especially since La Rocque was great as a glib gentleman and man about town. And, compared to other detective B-movies it's pretty good--with decent writing, acting and production values. Just don't expect anything 'Shadowy'!
The plot involves The Shadow, Lamont Granston, inexplicably posing as a lawyer and getting sucked into a murder mystery. When the fake lawyer (Granston) is called to create a new will for a rich guy, in the middle of their conversation the guy is shot dead!! During the investigation, organized crime and the various beneficiaries in the will are all considered suspects--but the real culprit and his reasons are revealed at the end.
Granston (Rod La Roque) is The Shadow in this film. However, the character's name in the radio shows and pulp magazines was Kent Allard but he sometimes posed as Mr. Cranston. Why the film got this so wrong is beside me, but what's worse is that almost NONE of the original character (begun in 1930) is present other than his occasionally donning a cloak and fedora. In other words, his weird psychic power to cloud men's minds is gone--and Granston, frankly, is indistinguishable from later characters like The Saint or The Falcon. In other words, he's just another bored gentleman amateur detective. Now this isn't bad--but it's NOT The Shadow in any meaningful way. In fact, at the end of this film, Granston reveals who he is!!! Yet, he returns for more films--which makes no sense. It's all pleasant and entertaining--especially since La Rocque was great as a glib gentleman and man about town. And, compared to other detective B-movies it's pretty good--with decent writing, acting and production values. Just don't expect anything 'Shadowy'!