The gay falcon film

This 60-minute programmer shows just how efficient and entertaining Hollywood's little films could be during its so-called Golden Age.

It's the first of the Falcon series, at a time when amateur sleuths (Boston Blackie, The Saint, et al.) were popular movie fare. What would they think of having macho Sanders utter their innocent line, "Just call me Gay". He reveals that she, her husband Weber and Retana were responsible for the thefts. Actor-magician John Calvert played "The New Falcon" in three low-budget features produced by Film Classics.

Even one of the villains approaches a woman to dance with the line: 'Will you teach me to dance?' This was when Hollywood writers knew how to write crackling dialogue. (The surname was spelled "Lawrence" in subsequent films.) Thus "The Falcon" became an alias or nickname, à la "The Saint." In later outings, in various media, the character had a variety of "real names," still being known as The Falcon.

Forewarned, Retana goes to Gay’s apartment, ties up his servant Jerry, and demands the diamond at gunpoint when Gay returns. In each teaser, a previously unseen woman would approach the Falcon, usually in desperation, and signal the title and locale of his next movie. Wendy Barrie is also quick as a whip, lively as a frog jumping on a hot rock, and winsome as a kitten.

I can't believe she didn't do more. And it helps that the final solution to the mystery at least makes sense and is ultimately satisfying. She tells them she has been receiving threats, so they stand guard in the living room while she sleeps. He is frightened off when he mistakes Helen at the door for the police.

Now certain about his theory, Gay goes to see Maxine, taking Inspector Waldeck along.

In this picture Gay Laurence decided to get out of the detective business and become a stock broker on Wall St., NYC. However, he soon changes his mind when he decides to get involved with catching some Jewel Thieves who are also involved with Insurance companies. Nothing to make you fall in the floor with laughter, just good, light-hearted fun.

Gladys Jenkins, Edward Brophy, and Arthur Shields should be familiar to any fan of classic B-fare. And his tongue is so far into his cheek you can see it poking out. Then too, he's got help from an array of lively supporting players. Oddly though, all are upstaged by the strong performance of Nina Vale who surprisingly only appeared in two other films.

In the film, Gay Lawrence is killed by assassins, prompting his brother Tom Lawrence to become the new Falcon. It should have been Retana. Then Gay finds a hypodermic needle on the floor. Wonderful dialog and gibes.