Pérolas Fatídicas

This is the second of the Lone Wolf series starring the roguish Warren William. While this film includes a positive cast change (Eric Blore is now the butler), the overall level of supporting acting is a big drop off from the last film. In the first one, Rita Hayworth and Ida Lupino were along for the ride as well as the Wolf's daughter (played very well by the excellent child actress, Virginia Weidler). Apart from Blore, the show is all Warren William and while he is very good, the film's chemistry is a bit lacking--making this a pretty ordinary B-detective film. While not quite as exciting or magical as a Sherlock Holmes or Charlie Chan film, it is roughly on-par with a Saint or Falcon film--and this isn't bad company for this film. A slightly better than average time-passer for fans of the genre--but unfortunately, not a lot more.

Michael Lanyard, aka The Lone Wolf is hired by Delia Jordan, who's father was killed, and had some highly valuable jewellery stolen.

It's perhaps not as good as the first film, but it's still a fine watch. It's a very easy going watch, it's fun, it's intriguing, and there's enough happening to keep you entertained, pacing is good, helped by a relatively short running time.

Warren William is great once again as the lead character, oozing charm and charisma, Joan Perry is great in support, Eric Blore is outrageous as The Butler, he's an absolute scream.

It's a very stylish looking film, even after so many years have past it still looks so slick, it's beautifully shot and produced.

I loved those quirky scenes with the fish, so different.

Nothing heavy, just a very pleasing, east to watch mystery.

7/10.

"The Lone Wolf Strikes" from 1940 is a neat entry into the Lone Wolf series starring Warren William. William is delightful as Michael Lanyard, aka The Lone Wolf. His butler is played by Eric Blore, who has a large part in this and is very funny. In this story, Lanyard is asked by a friend to find pearls that were stolen from a friend of his, who was subsequently murdered - though the murder was called an accident.

Fake pearls and real pearls bounce back and forth, with William going to a gathering as Emil Gorlick, a diamond merchant. Gorlick is actually played by Montagu Love, but when William finds out that he has never met the thieves, he ties Gorlick up and impersonates him in order to re-steal the pearls.

Warren William was a wonderful, relaxed actor, an old-fashioned patrician type, who found humor in roles once the silents ended. In silents, he usually played the heavy. He played Perry Mason, Sam Spade, and Philo Vance, among other parts. He continued to play the occasional heavy, but he's best known for his precode work as a meanie. He died in 1948, only 53.

Very enjoyable.

This film starts out with a very rich older man showing a young woman his home and a picture of his wife who is wearing a very beautiful diamond necklace. The man offers the young lady the opportunity to wear this necklace to a party they were going to attend and that is when the story gets interesting. There are a few murders and plenty of laughs with Michael Lanyard the Lone Wolf,(Warren William) and his butler Jamison, (Eric Blore). In this film the Lone Wolf decides to retire from detective work and his big hobby is having all kinds of fish tanks all over his apartment which drives Jamison out of his mind trying to take care of them all. This picture was very entertaining with a film background on a car ferry around Manhattan during the 1940's. Enjoy

Director Sidney Salkow directed the films in the Lone Wolf series, Warren William portrayed with considerable charm the shady leading man, and the formula generally worked well.

Skillful B&W cinematography by Henry Freulich definitely helps, especially the interiors where all the pearl necklace shenanigans happen, with so many faux/real item exchanges that it did not take long for me to feel that I was looking for a ball under countless thimbles.

William and Joan Perry make a good looking leading duo, he with his attention firmly trained on his multifaceted aquarium, she heads over heels for a fella using her to spy on the Lone Wolf, and Eric Blore ever the thumb-sucking butler who the Lone Wolf counts on to spill the beans, so as to deceive the villains.

The final chase is a real sleeper to wrap a light-hearted 67-minute flick that is definitely worth watching. Found it better than the more famous THE LONE WOLF KEEPS A DATE. 7/10.