The Falcon in San Francisco

I watched this expecting, given the budget limitations of B-picture series, to see only a few "establishing shots" of San Francisco from stock footage, but a surprising number of scenes appear actually to have been shot on location -- or were at least very convincingly matted. Even more impressive is the film's rather successful grasp of San Francisco atmosphere. Too-handsome tough guys, a twisted dame with a streak of brutality, a gloomy Nob Hill mansion, and details like the extras in the nightclub scene and the furnishings in the dame's apartment are all done quite as well as in the higher-budgeted "Out of the Past." Some continuity elements seem to have been left on the cutting room floor, as in other RKO noirs, but to good effect, and it is obvious the bit players (including Dorothy Adams) were carefully chosen. Better preserved than some of the Falcon pictures, this one merits attention beyond the context of the series.

After 5 Falcon films without him, Goldie Lock makes his return with Ed Brophy in his first of 2 – although he had played a cop in the 1st Falcon film in 1941 too. This was also Tom Conway's 8th outing in the title role - this time with a cold - to Rita Corday's 5th as suspect. "In San Francisco" was an earthier entry in the series, with some realistic acting, more violence to go with some of the seedier locales and a punchier storyline: all adding up to make an excellent film [11/13].

A little girls' guardian is found dead on a sleeper train, suave passengers Tom Lawrence and Goldie offer to take her home but get arrested for child abduction. It turns even nastier when various shady parties think that the Falcon's working for the other side, leading to him getting roughed up in his quest to find out what's going on. The trail leads to an ex-bootlegger, an old moll in a ridiculous hat, silk smuggling – in short, an interesting and cogent plot with a satisfying climax. Thankfully the possibilities with cute little Annie in tow were not taken up, a very brief bedtime reading of Peter And The Wolf was as close as we got. Comedy was supplied by Brophy with the running gag of him trying to become a married poyson to save on his income tax payments.

It's always been my favourite Conway Falcon movie, best for those of us who like watching 1940's b&w detective b pics whether in a series or not.

"The Falcon in San Francisco" is a 1945 entry into The Falcon series starring Tom Conway. This one has some nice shots of San Francisco and captures the city's atmosphere - old timers familiar with the city will love it. In this one, Tom and Goldie (Edward Brophy) meet a cute little girl (Sheryl Moffett) and her dog Diogenes on a train. While traveling, the girl's nurse is found dead. The Falcon and Goldie soon find themselves in a web of intrigue involving a crime ring, a shipping company, and a secret kept by the girl's beautiful sister (Rita Corday). King Kong's Robert Armstrong plays the shipping company's business manager. The mystery is actually pretty good, and the film moves quickly.

For some reason, these Falcon films always end somewhat abruptly. However, it's enjoyable.

Tom Lawrence, The Falcon, is on a train for a vacation in San Francisco. Along for the ride is his sometimes sidekick, Goldie Locke. They meet a cute 9-year old girl named Annie Marshall and her equally cute little dog, Diogenes. She claims she's being held prisoner in her own house in SF. The Falcon and Goldie don't believe her, but then Annie's nurse turns up dead and the SF PD suspect The Falcon. He now believes Annie's story and sets about finding out what's going on. The story gets a little complicated and the viewer has to watch close to keep up. There's no Cliff Clark and Edward Gargan to provide comic relief as bumbling New York cops and the film suffers for it. There is plenty of stock footage of San Francisco to keep the viewer interested. Watch for Myrna Dell in a bit part as a hotel guest who is definitely not interested in Goldie. 9-year old Sharyn Moffett is quite good as Annie. Both her parents had been in show business and her mother pushed her into a Hollywood career. Sharyn was quite religious and soon left the business, got married, and moved to Pennsylvania where both she and her husband became Episcopalian ministers. Sharon (she changed the spelling to the biblical way) later became head of the national Big Sisters Organization.

Tom Conway and Eddie Brophy take the train to San Francisco, the city by the bay, so that Brophy can hunt up a wife -- he thinks he pays too much in income taxes, and a wife would solve that. Along the way, Conway charms little Sharon Moffat, who starts to tell fibs. This lands him in hot water with the police, and more with Rita Corday, leading into a nicely tangled mystery involving hemp, silk and ex-gangster Robert Armstrong.

Conway isn't quite as smooth as his brother, George Sanders for the first four of the series, but he certainly knows how to portray a man out of his depth and bluffing. Director Joseph H. Lewis is a little more standard in this movie than many of his better known B masterpieces, but the mystery will keep fans of the form amused.