Had to give this film 10 stars as , although only
an RKO detective series B picture , it is a gem of it's type.
Tom Conway as the Falcon is charming as always. Veda Ann Borg , in a rare featured role , is delightful as his cabbie side-kick ( and looking adorable 5 years after major facial reconstruction following an auto crash ).
A young and beautiful Barbara Hale ( of later Perry Mason fame ) also co-stars . Half of the lines of film producer Dwyer ( played by Martin Abbot ) are quotes from Shakespeare .
The opening features the Hollywood Turf Club racetrack and many of the scenes are set on the RKO backlot ( where the murder takes place ) . There are also some fascinating forties Hollywood street scenes and a sequence at the Los Angeles Coliseum ( opened in 1923 ).
The lighting and cinematography are exceptional , the dialogue clever and the pacing excellent. A beautifully realized studio era genre film .
Tom Conway as the Falcon is charming as always. Veda Ann Borg , in a rare featured role , is delightful as his cabbie side-kick ( and looking adorable 5 years after major facial reconstruction following an auto crash ).
A young and beautiful Barbara Hale ( of later Perry Mason fame ) also co-stars . Half of the lines of film producer Dwyer ( played by Martin Abbot ) are quotes from Shakespeare .
The opening features the Hollywood Turf Club racetrack and many of the scenes are set on the RKO backlot ( where the murder takes place ) . There are also some fascinating forties Hollywood street scenes and a sequence at the Los Angeles Coliseum ( opened in 1923 ).
The lighting and cinematography are exceptional , the dialogue clever and the pacing excellent. A beautifully realized studio era genre film .