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
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.