The Gay Falcon (1941)

The Falcon investigates jewel thieves who are working with hard up socialites to defraud insurance companies. First of the Falcon series.

Director:

Irving Reis

Writers:

Lynn Root (screenplay), Frank Fenton (screenplay)

Stars:

George Sanders, Wendy Barrie, Allen Jenkins

Cast

Complete credited cast:
George Sanders	...	Gay Laurence / The Falcon
Wendy Barrie	...	Helen Reed
Allen Jenkins	...	Jonathan G. 'Goldie' Locke
Nina Vale	...	Elinor Benford (as Anne Hunter)
Gladys Cooper	...	Maxine Wood
Edward Brophy	...	Detective Bates
Arthur Shields	...	Inspector Mike Waldeck
Damian O'Flynn	...	Noel Weber
Turhan Bey	...	Manuel Retana
Eddie Dunn	...	Detective Grimes
Lucile Gleason	...	Vera Gardner
Willie Fung	...	Jerry
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Florence Bates	...	(scenes deleted)

Storyline

Society grand dame Maxine Wood who hosts charity parties in her home is mixed up in a jewel theft racket which defrauds insurance companies. When another socialite, Vera Gardner, is murdered, Gay Laurence (a.k.a. The Falcon) and assistant 'Goldie' Locke are on the case with help from beautiful Helen Reed, who becomes a rival to Gay's fiancée Elinor for the sleuth's affections.

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Plot Keywords:

party | the falcon | false accusation | rko pictures | runyonesque characters | 

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Taglines:

FICTION'S MIGHTY MAN OF MYSTERY...now on the screen! (original print ad)

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 October 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

El halcón galante

Filming Locations:

RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

67 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although Gay's last name is spelled "Laurence" on his office door, in contemporary reviews and subsequent films it is spelled "Lawrence".

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Goofs

Evidently not considered worth a re-shoot, a fly lands on the Falcon's hat and climbs down it when he arranges to meet Helen at Tony's cafe.

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Quotes

Elinor Benford: Don't you dare come near me!
Gay Lawrence: What's the matter?
Elinor Benford: Matter? You take me to a party and then dance with every female in the place, but me. I sit around like Miss Muffet on my tuffet, while you prance off to solve a murder that doesn't concern you in the least. And then you hop through my bedroom window at one o'clock in the morning and ask me what's the matter. Ask me what's the matter!

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Connections

Followed by The Falcon's Brother (1942)

User Reviews

terrific movie, the best of the series

I have seen this movie several times (months ago), and kept it on my DVR, meaning to write a review. Don't miss this movie. I have seen most of the Falcon series films (both with Sanders and Conway), and this (which happens to be the first Falcon film) is by far the best. It is excellent in its own right.

Everything about it is great -- the writing, direction and acting. Nina Vale, the Falcon's fiancée, comes off very well; I wonder why she made so few films. I particularly liked Wendy Barrie; I think this is her best performance. No need to mention all the other great well-known supporting cast.

There isn't a wasted scene in the movie. It was meticulously made. Wonderful dialog and gibes. Very logical screenplay.

One perplexing thing about the move, and it doesn't bother me much: throughout the movie, the Falcon (Sanders) is saying that he loves Elinor Benford (played by Vale) and wants to marry her. Yet in scene after scene he is constantly flirting with Helen Reed (played by Barrie) and other women, in front of Elinor. And the women return the favors.