The Falcon Strikes Back (1943)

Tom Lawrence, who has inherited his brother's sobriquet of "The Falcon," is framed for the theft of war bonds and murder.

Director:

Edward Dmytryk

Writers:

Edward Dein (screenplay), Gerald Geraghty (screenplay)

Stars:

Tom Conway, Harriet Nelson, Jane Randolph

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Tom Conway	...	Tom Lawrence
Harriet Nelson	...	Gwynne Gregory (as Harriet Hilliard)
Jane Randolph	...	Marcia Brooks
Edgar Kennedy	...	Smiley Dugan
Cliff Edwards	...	Goldie Locke
Rita Corday	...	Mia Bruger
Erford Gage	...	Rickey Davis
Wynne Gibson	...	Geraldine Lipton
André Charlot	...	Bruno Steffen (as Andre Charlot)
Richard Loo	...	Jerry
Cliff Clark	...	Inspector Timothy Donovan
Edward Gargan	...	Detective Bates (as Ed Gargan)
The Velma Dawson Puppets	...	Group Performers

Storyline

The Falcon is framed for the murder of a banker and the theft of war bonds. He makes his escape into the mountains where he hides out in a rustic lodge. From here he uncovers a phony war bond operation.

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Plot Keywords:

1940s | war bond | murder | the falcon | escape | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

7 May 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Falcon Comes Back

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

66 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Falcon drives a 1942 Buick Special convertible coupe. Less than 2,500 were made before the start of WWII when civilian automobile production was suspended. It appears to be the same car used in "The Falcon's Brother" (1942).

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Goofs

Dugan is shown using a "silencer" on a revolver - which doesn't actually work in real life at all because of the gap between the cylinder and the barrel of the gun. And, of course, no silencer (supressor, actually) would make any gun go "pfft" like we hear here and in so many other films.

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Quotes

Smiley Dugan: Oh, so it's you. What are you pussy-footin' around here for?
Inspector Timothy Donovan: Just lookin' for clues.
Smiley Dugan: Yeah? Did you ever get a good look at yourself? You're the suspiciest character I ever seen! I oughta arrest you for just impersonating a human bein'!

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Connections

Followed by The Falcon in Hollywood (1944)

User Reviews

Nice rollicking robbery romp

I taped the whole Falcon series from UK TV in 1988, I guess I must have seen every entry at least 10 times so far since and this is one of my favourites. It's the usual inconsequential mix of comedy and crime, smart ass one-liners and murders, non-serious but jealous romances, and atmospherically photographed melodrama that can keep you pleasantly occupied for just over an hour, that is if you like the genre.

Tom Lawrence (Tom Conway's first solo flight as the Falcon) while recovering from a hangover is disturbed by an exotic woman who's just come in through the bedroom window. She orders him to find her brother, much to the disgust of his girlfriend Jane Randolph who again is a rather unreporting newspaper reporter. That is the ruse to ensnare and frame him in a USD 250,000 War Bond robbery, his efforts to clear himself from the chasing cops and get the real baddies is the plot. The search takes him and Goldie via the Volunteer Knitters For America to a rather splendid (studio bound) Pinecrest Hotel, where it seems all of the guests are shifty about something and who deserve watching – even old RKO stock slapstick characters. Only downside: the murderer's alibi always struck me as technically pretty feeble. Favourite bits: the 5 second interchange between the hotel bellgirl, the Falcon checking in and the receptionist – an incredible lightness of touch! Also Inspector Cliff Clark's terse command to give Mr. Wong a bong and bring him along – though it wouldn't win praise from the pc brigade today.

Overall, a nice watch for fans of 40's b&w b features, one I hope to be spared to watch another 10 times – where's the Deluxe Complete Collection Edition DVD??