The Shadow Strikes (1937)
Directed by Lynn Shores, The Shadow Strikes is an early cinematic adaptation of the legendary pulp hero The Shadow, created by Walter B. Gibson. Released by Colony Pictures, this 61-minute crime mystery stars Rod La Rocque as Lamont Cranston, the suave vigilante who uses disguise and deduction to fight corruption.
Plot Summary
When Lamont Cranston, aka The Shadow, interrupts a robbery at a lawyer’s office, he assumes the identity of the attorney to investigate further. The case quickly escalates into a murder mystery involving a wealthy family, inheritance disputes, and a tangled web of suspects. Using his wits and secret identity, Cranston unravels the truth while evading both criminals and the police.
Cast Highlights
- Rod La Rocque as Lamont Cranston / The Shadow
- Agnes Anderson as Marcia Delthern (credited as Lynn Anders)
- James Blakeley as Jasper Delthern
- Walter McGrail, Cy Kendall, and Kenneth Harlan in supporting roles
- John St. Polis as Caleb Delthern, the patriarch whose death sets the mystery in motion
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- The film is a loose adaptation of The Ghost of the Manor, a story from The Shadow Magazine published June 15, 1933
- It was produced on a tight budget, typical of Colony Pictures, with minimal sets and brisk shooting schedules
- The earliest known TV broadcast occurred on February 23, 1947, on WCBS Channel 2 in New York City
- Rod La Rocque’s performance was praised for its poise, though critics noted the film lacked the energy and polish of higher-budget noir fare
