THE SHADOW STRIKES

US, 1937, 61 minutes, Black-and-white.
Rod La Rocque, Agnes Anderson, James Blakely, Walter Mc Grail, Walter Kellogg.
Directed by Lynn Shores.


The caption has had quite a number of incarnations. This small-budget supporting feature had Rod La Rocque as Lamont Granston, criminologist, investigator. The next year he appeared in International Crime but the surname had been changed to Cranston instead of Granston.

Cranston is investigating the death of his father at the hands of the mob. He is assisted by a non-descript Henry who dries for him as well as various other odd jobs. While two men are robbing a safe in the office of a lawyer, Cranston surprises them, rings the police and then pretends to be the lawyer when the police arrive.

His son into the house of a wealthy man in order to go over a will. While at the table writing, the wealthy man is shot. Cranston is able to cover himself in terms of identity as well is Henry disconnecting the phone when his ringing the lawyer’s secretary.

The record some complications with the potential areas. One of the young men is an inveterate gambler, under the thumb of the owner of the casino and his associates. Another is rather absent-minded, wandering off for walks. Then there is the daughter, attracted to Cranston, falling out with her boyfriend who seems to be after her money. There are lawyers, police investigating, complicated meetings including Cranston going to see the gambling syndicate and setting up a surveillance microphone in the office.

Eventually, the actual lawyer returns but is grateful for Cranston preserving his reputation.

In the background, there was always the butler – and, the butler did it, because he was the father of the young man that the daughter had been engaged to.

The next year there was International Crime, with the plot more extensive with international overtones.