This is the Shadow's first big screen feature (he appeared in six 15-20 minute shorts in the early 1930s), and the first of two produced by Colony Pictures. The Shadow foils a burglary at an attorney's office. As the police arrive to arrest the culprits, the Shadow slips into a side office to change to his alter ego, Lamont Granston (spelled here with a 'G' for some reason). However, after being spotted by a police officer, he is forced to pose as the attorney who occupies the office. Before he can get away he becomes embroiled in a mystery surrounding the murder of one of the attorney's wealthy clients, who was just about to change his will...
Setting the trend for the next nine years, this Shadow is not someone with mystical powers and the hypnotic ability to 'cloud men's minds'; he's simply an amateur detective (the Shadow identity gets very little screentime, establishing another bemusing trend). But a plus here is that whilst there are light-hearted moments, there's no attempt to turn the film into a 'screwball comedy' (the absence of the Margo Lane character may have helped with that). The Shadow is played by the likeable Rod La Rocque (who comes across as a discount Ronald Coleman), the supporting cast are good, and the mystery has a strong air of 'Agatha Christie'. 6.5/10
Incidentally, whilst watching this it suddenly struck me what a fantastic Shadow/Lamont Cranston Vincent Price would have made, maniacal laugh and all!
Setting the trend for the next nine years, this Shadow is not someone with mystical powers and the hypnotic ability to 'cloud men's minds'; he's simply an amateur detective (the Shadow identity gets very little screentime, establishing another bemusing trend). But a plus here is that whilst there are light-hearted moments, there's no attempt to turn the film into a 'screwball comedy' (the absence of the Margo Lane character may have helped with that). The Shadow is played by the likeable Rod La Rocque (who comes across as a discount Ronald Coleman), the supporting cast are good, and the mystery has a strong air of 'Agatha Christie'. 6.5/10
Incidentally, whilst watching this it suddenly struck me what a fantastic Shadow/Lamont Cranston Vincent Price would have made, maniacal laugh and all!