A Date with the Falcon (1942)

The story's maguffin is a formula for flawless industrial diamonds pursued by the Falcon and a bevy of villains.

Director:

Irving Reis

Writers:

Lynn Root (screenplay), Frank Fenton (screenplay),

Stars:

George Sanders, Wendy Barrie, James Gleason

Cast

Complete credited cast:
George Sanders	...	Gay Lawrence / The Falcon
Wendy Barrie	...	Helen Reed
James Gleason	...	Inspector Michael 'Mike' O'Hara
Allen Jenkins	...	Jonathan 'Goldy' Locke
Mona Maris	...	Rita Mara

Storyline

In the second film of the series (and not a second part of anything), Gay Lawrence, aka The Falcon, is about to depart the city to marry his fiancée, Helen Reed, when a mystery girl, Rita Mara, asks for his aid in disposing of a secret formula for making synthetic diamonds. He deliberately allows himself to be kidnapped by the gang for which Rita works. His aide, "Goldy" Locke, trails the kidnappers and brings the police. But the head of the gang escapes, and the Falcon continues the pursuit.

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Plot Keywords:

the falcon | diamond | police | synthetic diamond | kidnapper | 

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Taglines:

ALL NEW THRILLS! (original ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 January 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cita con El Halcón

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

63 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the first series entry, "The Gay Falcon," Goldie's name was spelled with an "ie," but here in the second it's spelled with a "y."

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Goofs

It is obviously a stunt man who is knocked down as Goldie, not Allen Jenkins.

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Quotes

Inspector Michael 'Mike' O'Hara: [Understating] Only a little murder wrap is all.
Helen Reed: Murder?
Inspector Michael 'Mike' O'Hara: Yes.
Helen Reed: What makes you think you're a detective? Just because your arches are broken down?

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Connections

Followed by The Falcon Strikes Back (1943)

User Reviews

A date with Homer Bilky was strenuously denied

This Falcon entry (2/13) was played mainly for laughs, sometimes bordering on slapstick. The puns and wisecracks come thick and fast between the leading characters, all of them doubting everyone else's intelligence or honour. Wendy Barrie is almost manic in her assumed jealousy, James Gleason as the police Inspector is perfect and always brings his performance in "Arsenic and old lace" to my mind whenever I see him. But it's George Sanders as the Falcon and Allen Jenkins as his sidekick Goldie that have the majority of the smart ass one-liners, Sanders' body language is sometimes Music Hall but always believable.

Scientist Alec Craig apparently murdered by a gang after his formula to produce perfect synthetic diamonds, the Falcon unwillingly pulled into the caper whilst urgently trying to get off to get married to the frothing Barrie. As usual the entire NY police force was alerted to apprehend him as a murderer that no-one ever believes he really is. And Barrie loves him with a passion even though she knows he'll always love nearly all women. And Goldie stays with him wanting an easy life but knowing he'll never be getting one.

Enjoyable film, 61 minutes short but a lot seems to happen. Ed Gargan as Bates even shone here with a supreme show of brainpower!