The Shadow of the Eagle (1932)

The Eagle uses sky writing to make threats against a corporation. Nathan Gregory owns a traveling fairground and is thought to be the Eagle. Craig McCoy is a pilot who goes looking for the Eagle when Gregory turns up missing.

Directors:

Ford Beebe, B. Reeves Eason (uncredited)

Writers:

Ford Beebe (story), Colbert Clark (story)

Stars:

John Wayne, Dorothy Gulliver, Walter Miller

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Wayne	...	Craig McCoy
Dorothy Gulliver	...	Jean Gregory
Walter Miller	...	Danby
Kenneth Harlan	...	Ward
Richard Tucker	...	Maj. Evans
Pat O'Malley	...	Ames
Edmund Burns	...	Clark
Yakima Canutt	...	Boyle
Roy D'Arcy	...	Gardner
Billy West	...	Bob - Clown
Edward Hearn	...	Col. Nathan Gregory
Lloyd Whitlock	...	Green
'Little Billy' Rhodes	...	The Midget (as Little Billy)
Ivan Linow	...	Henie - Strong Man
James Bradbury Jr.	...	Henry - Ventriloquist

Storyline

Nathan Gregory is a World War I veteran pilot who runs a small, debt-ridden traveling carnival along with loyal daughter Jean. Gregory is at odds with five of his former squadron comrades, who he thinks shot him down in 1918 and stole his plans for an incredible invention, a radio=piloted plane. An enigmatic criminal, called "The Eagle", and his gang of toughs skywrites threatening the five businessmen with vengeance for their past misdeeds. Although Gregory is suspected of being the arch-villain, especially after he disappears, hero Craig McCoy and the carnival's midget, strongman, and ventriloquist struggle to expose "The Eagle's" identity.

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Plot Keywords:

carnival | ventriloquist | strongman | midget | murder | 

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Taglines:

A CRASHING Adventure Serial! (1949 re-release poster)

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 February 1932 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Sombra da Águia

Filming Locations:

Antelope Valley, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mascot Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

218 min (12 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

CHAPTER TITLES: 1. The Carnival Mystery; 2. Pinholes; 3. The Eagle Strikes; 4. The Man of a Million Voices; 5. The Telephone Cipher; 6. Code of the Carnival; 7. Eagle or Vulture?; 8. On the Spot; 9. When Thieves Fall Out; 10. The Man Who Knew; 11. The Eagle's Wings; 12. The Shadow Unmasked.

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Goofs

The long shot of the scene depicting John Wayne as Craig and RoyD'Arcy as Gardener are clearly shot with the men on a merry-go-round, but the closeups of both men are mismatches and none of the bars and struts of the ride can be seen since both actors are clearly on the ground and not moving.

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Quotes

Henie the Strong Man: [backing accidently into the midget] Hey, get out under my feet, you little squirt!
The Midget: Don't get persomal, you big palooka! It's guys like you that make guys like me hate guys like you.

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Connections

Featured in Action Heroes of the Cliffhanger Serials (1992)

User Reviews

john wayne.... lesser thang. from a series...

John Wayne in one of his early credited roles - Craig McCoy, a fancy flier. Dorothy Gulliver is "Jean", and her family is losing the circus if they don't come up with some cash fast. Wayne is the "Ace" who is determined to stop the "bad guys" from using and producing "the invention" stolen from the original "Eagle". Lots of unknowns here. It also seems to be a film made from a twelve episode series. The picture and sound quality are pretty rough. Much use of trick photography effects, to make it look like the plane was lighting the circus tents on fire, and even during the sky-writing itself. Skip this one. Stapled together from a serial series. Written and directed by Ford Beebe. Meh..... goes for 3 hours.