The Shadow Returns (1946)

People are literally flying off balconies to their deaths as Lamont Cranston, aka the Shadow, tries to make sense out of a confusing jumble of murders, disappearances, jewels that aren't ... See full summary »

Director:

Phil Rosen

Writer:

George Callahan (original screenplay)

Stars:

Kane Richmond, Barbara Read, Tom Dugan

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Kane Richmond	...	Lamont Cranston
Barbara Read	...	Margo Lane (as Barbara Reed)
Tom Dugan	...	Shrevvy
Joseph Crehan	...	Police Insp. Cardona
Pierre Watkin	...	Police Commissioner J.R. Weston
Robert Emmett Keane	...	Charles Frobay
Frank Reicher	...	Michael Hasdon
Lester Dorr	...	William Monk
Rebel Randall	...	Lenore Jessup
Emmett Vogan	...	Joseph Yomans, aka Paul Breck
Sherry Hall	...	Robert Buell
Cyril Delevanti	...	John Adams
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George Chandler	...	Shrevvy [replaced by Tom Dugan] (scenes deleted)

Storyline

People are literally flying off balconies to their deaths as Lamont Cranston, aka the Shadow, tries to make sense out of a confusing jumble of murders, disappearances, jewels that aren't jewels, hidden laboratories and secret formulas.

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Plot Keywords:

the shadow | based on pulp magazine

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Taglines:

HIS GUNS SPEAK A SONG OF DEATH!

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Genres:

Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 February 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Sombra Retorna

Company Credits

Production Co:

Monogram Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

61 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Connections

Followed by Behind the Mask (1946)

User Reviews

Cute, don't you think?

Lamont Cranston and Margo Lane have sneaked into a darkened office. Lamont puts his ear to the safe dial but fears that it's too old and rusty for him to crack. Margo suggests that perhaps it's not locked, if it's such an old safe, which comment prompts a dirty look from Lamont. Undeterred, she reaches past him, turns the handle, and... bingo! opens the safe. With a sweet smirk, Margo then neatly sums up everything you need to know about this film: "Not a profound piece of deduction, but...cute, don't you think?"

Well, Lamont Cranston is not particularly impressed, and for all I know neither will true fans of the Shadow be amused. But...that's about what we get from this movie. I suspect that my own minimal knowledge of the Shadow and his various incarnations only increased my capacity for enjoying this film. And enjoy it I did--while it's no great shakes, it's fast moving, has some humor, and has enough plot to at least carry the jokes and various relationships.

"Enough plot," I say--which I guess really isn't much, since it struck me during the final suspect-gathering scene that I really barely recognized any of the roomful of suspects. However, Lamont knew them all, and he pointed the inspector in the right direction, and he also maintained the secret of his other identity. And importantly: Kane Richmond does make it all look like fun.