International Crime (1938)

Lamont Cranston (Rod La Rocque), amateur criminologist and detective, with a daily radio program, sponsored by the Daily Classic newspaper, has developed a friendly feud that sometimes ... See full summary »

Director:

Charles Lamont

Writers:

Theodore S. Tinsley (story), Jack Natteford (screenplay),

Stars:

Rod La Rocque, Astrid Allwyn, Thomas E. Jackson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Rod La Rocque	...	Lamont Cranston
Astrid Allwyn	...	Phoebe Lane
Thomas E. Jackson	...	Commissioner Weston (as Thomas Jackson)
Oscar O'Shea	...	Heath
Lew Hearn	...	Moe
Wilhelm von Brincken	...	Flotow (as Wm. von Brincken)
Tenen Holtz	...	Starkhov
William Pawley	...	Honest John (as Wm. Pawley)
Peter Potter	...	Burke (as Wm. Moore)
John St. Polis	...	Roger Morton
Jack Baxley	...	Matthews
Walter Bonn	...	Steffen
Harry C. Bradley	...	Barrows (as Harry Bradley)
Will Stanton	...	Lush

Storyline

Lamont Cranston (Rod La Rocque), amateur criminologist and detective, with a daily radio program, sponsored by the Daily Classic newspaper, has developed a friendly feud that sometimes passes the friendly stage with Police Commissioner Weston (Thomas E. Jackson). He complains to his managing editor, Edward Heath (Oscar O'Shea), over the problems that have developed in his department since Phoebe Lane (Astrid Allwyn) has been hired as his assistant. He is advised to forget it since she is the publisher's niece. During his broadcast about Honest John (William Pawley), a famous safe cracker who has served his time, Phoebe gives him a note that the Metropolitan Theatre is to be robbed at eight o'clock and she is so insistent that he adds it as his closing note. Off the air, he learns she got the information from a man she met in a café who had an honest face. Cranston goes to the theatre where Weston and his men have gathered and, of course, nothing happens but, across town, a safe is ...

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Plot Keywords:

banker | police | robbery | safe | broadcast | 

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Taglines:

CRIME DIDN'T PAY WHEN THIS MASTER DETECTIVE STEPPED IN! (original poster - all caps)

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Genres:

Adventure | Crime | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 April 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

L'accusatore segreto

Company Credits

Production Co:

M & A Alexander Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

62 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lew Hearn made occasional appearances on "The Jack Benny Program" radio show starting around 1935 as the character "Schlepperman". His trademark was saying, "Hello, stranger," using his distinctive accent just as he does in this movie.

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Quotes

Phoebe Lane: This is going to be thrilling, isn't it, Mr. Cranston?
Lamont Cranston: Yes, and dangerous, too. Particularly for you.
Phoebe Lane: For me? Why?
Lamont Cranston: Well, when the crooks start shooting it seems they pick off the girl first.

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Connections

Follows The Shadow Strikes (1937)

User Reviews

A strange but entertaining version of The Shadow

The second of the Rod La Rocque Shadow movies is a vast improvement on the first, and bears no relation to that film or anything else about the character.

In this, Lamont Cranston is a newspaper/radio reporter who writes a column on crime, as well as having a radio show. His identity thus is a secret to no one. He is aided by Phoebe Lane, an aspiring reporter, in unraveling a mystery.

The mystery is interesting enough to hold interest and involves a crime that baffles everyone. There is some good scenes, especially with Cranston and Phoebe. But the characters (other than the Shadow) are all over the place. Phoebe is sometimes a smart protofeminist and also a complete ditz -- often in the same scene. Her final scene makes no sense after what we've seen before it.

But the movie does move along fairly well and the mystery is intriguing enough. It's a decent little film if you want something fun to kill an hour.