The Falcon Strikes Back

Entertaining little mystery with a puppeteer theme among the sub-plots and easy to watch. TOM CONWAY, sounding amazingly like his brother George Sanders who originated the role of the Falcon, does a commendable job of mixing sleuthing with romance.

Jane Randolph is good as the romantic interest, but Harriet Hilliard offers little evidence of either acting ability or future possibilities as a romantic lead. She had a much brighter future on TV.

The plot has something to do with war bonds but only serves to provide a modicum of interest until the murderer is finally revealed. Edgar Kennedy has one of his more memorable roles here.

A breezy entry in the series, very watchable. Amusing to see Cliff Edwards (of "Pinocchio" fame) in a supporting role.

First in the series in which Tom Conway stars fully on his own as the Falcon. Tom starts and ends this movie by being dragged into danger by a beautiful damsel in distress – Rita Corday starts her appearances in the series with this film. Some good comic bits include two tramps telling Tom the time by an improvised sundial (and then commenting on how fortunate they are for their state of affairs compared to Tom). The basic plot involves a war bond theft, a murder at a swimming pool, and Tom's relationship with Jane Randolph (who swoons to his kiss). Cliff Edwards' only appearance as Goldie Locke (better portrayed in later films by Edward Brophy). Edwards does much better later as the voice of Jiminy Cricket. Edgar Kennedy seems miscast but the introduction of a puppeteer as a character is interesting. An early Harriet Hilliard as a resort manager will be more remembered in the Ozzie and Harriet TV series. The Falcon and his cronies always seem to outmaneuver and yet assist the bumbling policemen. The past is too fast for much character development. Good directing saves this entry into what is otherwise only a fair series.

In his first movie starring as the suave Falcon, Tom Conway is accused of murder and the theft of a quarter of a million dollars in war bonds. Besides Cliff Edwards and Richard Loo as his minions, there are the usual RKO starlets and Edgar Kennedy in a straight role as a puppeteer.

It's a fairly good little mystery from a story by Stuart Palmer and direction by Edward Dmytryk, and a limited number of sets that we've seen before: the hotel lobby, the pool, and so forth. The economy that this series was made with made it quite profitable for RKO, and it cleared almost $200,000 after expenses. It also have Edgar Kennedy a chance to do some straight acting. He was best known as a screen comic, beginning with Keystone, and having starred in his own series of shorts from RKO for ten years at this point. You may recognize him as the peanut seller in DUCK SOUP doing his patented slow burn. Here, he's definitely creepy.

The Falcon films with George Sanders were mostly very enjoyable, with only 'The Falcon's Brother' being lacking. Tom Conway's first solo outing in the title role is one of the better films in the Falcon series, and Conway is every bit as good as his brother.

Faults are few. It is agreed that the murderer's alibi is a bit on the feeble side and arouses suspicion somewhat at that point. There are two exceptions to an otherwise great cast. One is Harriet Hilliard (or Harriet Nelson), who comes over as a stiff and one-note actress in a pretty limited role. The other is Cliff Clark, who mugs in a buffoonish manner, makes one miss James Gleason who would have been a much better choice.

Conway however is perfectly cast, bringing the very same qualities to the character that Sanders did and is very clearly enjoying himself. Cliff Edwards is amusingly solid as Goldie (the character making a welcome return after being sorely missed in 'The Falcon's Brother'), a worthy replacement for the admittedly still superior Allen Jenkins. Jane Randolph and Rita Corday are very charming support, and Edgar Kennedy proves in his splendidly malevolent performance that he is much more than a slapstick stooge. Edward Gargan's material is much stronger here, and he's fun.

Advantaging them all the way are the playful, crackling script, an absorbing story that balances humorous comedy with suspenseful mystery (if occasionally rushed, which is the fault of the short running time) and superior direction from Edward Dmytryk. Production values-wise, 'The Falcon Strikes Back' is slick and atmospheric, and the music lively.

On the whole, very entertaining film and one of the best of the series. Conway's first solo outing couldn't have been a better one. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I taped the whole Falcon series from UK TV in 1988, I guess I must have seen every entry at least 10 times so far since and this is one of my favourites. It's the usual inconsequential mix of comedy and crime, smart ass one-liners and murders, non-serious but jealous romances, and atmospherically photographed melodrama that can keep you pleasantly occupied for just over an hour, that is if you like the genre.

Tom Lawrence (Tom Conway's first solo flight as the Falcon) while recovering from a hangover is disturbed by an exotic woman who's just come in through the bedroom window. She orders him to find her brother, much to the disgust of his girlfriend Jane Randolph who again is a rather unreporting newspaper reporter. That is the ruse to ensnare and frame him in a USD 250,000 War Bond robbery, his efforts to clear himself from the chasing cops and get the real baddies is the plot. The search takes him and Goldie via the Volunteer Knitters For America to a rather splendid (studio bound) Pinecrest Hotel, where it seems all of the guests are shifty about something and who deserve watching – even old RKO stock slapstick characters. Only downside: the murderer's alibi always struck me as technically pretty feeble. Favourite bits: the 5 second interchange between the hotel bellgirl, the Falcon checking in and the receptionist – an incredible lightness of touch! Also Inspector Cliff Clark's terse command to give Mr. Wong a bong and bring him along – though it wouldn't win praise from the pc brigade today.

Overall, a nice watch for fans of 40's b&w b features, one I hope to be spared to watch another 10 times – where's the Deluxe Complete Collection Edition DVD??