Customer Reviews

Shadow [VHS]

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Serial fans know that the chapterplays churned out by Columbia were seldom up to the standard of those made by Republic (compare BATMAN to THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL for proof), lacking the imagination, polish, and furious pace found in the more famous studio's releases. THE SHADOW comes as a bit of surprise, then, after reading some negative comments on it. It must be pointed out that the character of the Shadow existed in several incarnations during his time. The radio version is the most famous, with his powers of invisibility, pretty assistang Margo Lane, and eerie laughter. The pulp hero, by contrast, did not become invisible and was a far more physical, though still eerie and mysterious, entity, with a vast network of operatives at his disposal. In addition to these, there was a lesser known version that ran as a newspaper strip and featured in his own comic for several years. This took its cue mainly from the pulps, but made the Shadow even more earthly and eliminated nearly all of his operatives. The Columbia serial version takes its cue mainly from this incarnation. Toss in radio's Margo Lane, (Harry) Vincent from the pulps and add The Black Tiger, a villain with the radio Shadow's gift for invisiblity and you've got an immensely enjoyable experience. Most of the faults found in Columbia serials are certainly present, like woefully unimaginative chapter endings (how many roofs can fall on the Shadow?), some indifferent pacing, and a reliance on coincidence that's staggering even for a serial. However, this one improves on Columbia's other efforts in two important departments. First, the photography is great, frequently dark, appropriately shadowy, and much more impressive than the ugly, nonexistent photography found in, say, BATMAN. The scene in which the Black Tiger makes himself invisible in order to address his (particularly idiotic) minions is very atmospheric, and you'd better like it, because it's repeated in every chapter. Second, this is an unusually well acted serial. Victor Jory is ideal casting as Lamont Cranston/The Shadow. Jory was a successful stage actor who mainly played supporting roles in feature films and rarely got the opportunity to play the leading man. While starring in a Columbia serial may have been a step down from his stage work, Jory clearly relishes ths spotlight, turning in a whirlwind performance that's never less than perfect. And he looks exactly like the illustrations of Cranston in the comics and pulps, too. He's ably supported by a cast of serial/b-movie veterans including Veda Ann Borg as Margo and Roger Moore as Vincent. And never has a serial villain's true identity been more obvious than it is in THE SHADOW. This, along with the sadly unavailable THE SPIDER'S WEB, is one of Columbian's best serials, proving that maybe they should have just stuck to pulp characters. Enjoy.

Radio's "Lamont Cranston" had a fine sense of justice, a sly sense of humor, and "the power to cloud men's minds." In the serial version, however, The Shadow terrorizes the underworld, takes no nonsense from anyone, and is plainly visible in hat and cloak. Although Victor Jory plays Cranston earnestly, the serial just barely takes itself seriously: when the hammy villain speaks his lines with an overdone sneer, or when Jory sneaks up on some gangsters DISGUISED AS A TREE, it's hard to accept the film as a legitimate drama. But there are some good moments, including very clever staging for the villain, who materializes as a vaporous beam of light. Serial fans will enjoy this most, and Jory's performance is the best part of the show (he's got The Shadow's trademark laugh down cold!).

Star JORY always delivered his lines with a quick response. Reminding me of Basil Rathbone who did the same in his movies. And JORY could play villian as he was that carpertbagger in "GONE WITH THE WIND". But here, he could use that voice, and his athletic skills to indeed BE the SHADOW in the movies. There were other leading actors in other Shadow features ,but JORY indeed WAS---- THE SHADOW in the Serial during the wonderful Saturday theatre afternoon days. Complete with the usual expected fist-fights,explosions,mystery voice,etc..and-" how will he ever get out of that situation?" episode ending...this whole serial looks good,sounds good and is fun to watch.And those tough fans of the SHADOW radio program were not dissapointed,even though Orson Wellse could not have played JORY's part! (You OTR fans know what I mean here.)

"Who Knows What Evil Lurks In The Hearts of Men. The Shadow Knows!
It began on radio on the Detective Story Hour on July 31, 1930 as a character in the story. James Curto was the voice 1930-31 and then Frank Readick Jr. (1931-37). The program became known as "The Shadow" on September 26, 1937. Also providing the voice of "The Shadow" was Orson Welles (1937-38), Bill Johnstone (1938-43), Bret Morrison in 1943, John Archer in 1944 and Bret Morrison again in 1945-54. The last radio program of "The Shadow" was broadcast December 26, 1954.
They tried turning The Shadow into several motion pictures. The Shadow Strikes (1937), International Crime (1938), both with Rod La Rocque. Then Columbia decided to make "The Shadow" serial in 1940 for the movie theatres. Similar to the Dead End Kids serials with Billy Halop (Junior G-Men [1940], Sea Raiders [1941], Junior G-Men Of The Air [1942]), they would show a chapter (episode) each week in the movie theatre. Each episode was only 15 to 30 minutes long and each one ended with a cliff-hanger. The next week, the theatre would show the next chapter. You would see how the cliff-hanger turned out (of course, our hero survives), but in 15 minutes here is another cliff-hanger. In "The Shadow" serial their are 15 episodes to enjoy and get the chills from.
Victor Jory is "The Shadow"/Lamont Cranston and successfully disguises himself as "Lin Chang". Can you actually believe that is Victor Jory? Look at the chin closely. It is Victor Jory. If you notice in the credits at the beginning of each serial, the evil "Black Tiger" is ???. It's Victor Jory too.
Also in the cast: Veda Ann Borg, Roger Moore (not the Saintly 007 one), Robert Fiske, J. Paul Jones, Jack Ingram, Charles Hamilton, Edward Peil Sr, Frank La Rue, Philip Ahn, Eddie Fetherston, Kit Guard.
Total running time: 4 hours, 44 minutes.
Monogram made three Shadow films with Kane Richmond.
The Shadow Returns (1946)
The Missing Lady (1946)
Behind The Mask (1946)
A "Shadow" tv series was unsold and never aired. Those three episodes were combined to make a new motion picture,
Invisible Avenger (1958) with Richard Derr.
The Shadow (1994) with Alec Baldwin.

Based upon stories published in "The Shadow" Magazine, this cliffhanger serial presented by Columbia Pictures comes in a beautiful case and is fabulous entertainment. The fantastic action scenes will bring tears to the old eyes who had the opportunity to see this movie serial at movie theaters during the 40's and at the same time will make young eyes 'taste' the chemistry and the excitement of a genuine classic cliffhanger serial. Bizarre features, breathless fighting performances and explosions, old car chasing and thrilling suspense are just a few of the ingredients of "The Shadow", who is feared in the underworld and reputed to be supernatural. Victor Jory plays Lamont Cranston, a noted scientist and criminologist, who works in disguise in "The Shadow", the one who combats a mysterious figure known as "The Black Tiger", whose mad ambition is to acquire supreme financial power. The Shadow's true identity is known only by a couple of people: Margot (Veda Ann Borg), his beautiful secretary and Vincent (Roger Moore), his loyal "chauffeur". The mortal laugh of "The Shadow" freezes the bad guys and will surely conquer a remarkable place in anyone's video library.

"The Shadow" (1940) has little relation to the classic radio series of the 1930s. Instead, this 15-chapter Columbia serial wavers between film-noir atmospherics and delirious physical humor. It makes sense when you realize that the director is James W. Horne - the man responsible for some of Laurel and Hardy's best films. Horne stages each chapter like a two-reel comedy, even though Victor Jory manages to keep a straight face in the title role. Despite its obvious padding and repetition (not to mention several lame cliffhangers), "The Shadow" moves at a good clip thanks to Horne's bizarre stylistics. Definitely a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience.

Columbia Pictures present "THE SHADOW" (1940) (325 mins/B&W) (Dolby digitally remastered) --- is a 15-Chapter Columbia Movie Serial starring Victor Jory, Veda Ann Borg, Robert Fiske, Jack Ingram & Eddie Fetherston, relive those thrilling days week after week venue brought you to the theater, as you were mesmerized in your seat waiting for the final chapter ... exciting action within 15 episodes from the Columbia Serial Staff, released on January 5, 1940, story thus far, a criminal mastermind known only as the Black Tiger who can make himself invisible is sabotaging rail lines and factories across America, and scientist Lamont Cranston must become his shadowy alter ego to uncover the fiend and halt his schemes ... The Shadow infiltrates the ranks of the villain's gang, disguised as a crook and calling himself Lin Chang ... Victor Jory is perfect as Lamont Cranston and our mysterious ... The Shadow is a fictional character created by Walter B. Gibson, his character is one of the most famous of the pulp heroes of the 1930s and 1940s ... made even more famous through a popular radio series, the Shadow has since been featured also in comic books, comic strips, television, and at least seven motion pictures. Regardless, The Shadow is best regarded for its radio years, in which pulp crime fiction received perhaps its most compelling broadcast interpretation... even after decades, the unmistakable introduction from The Shadow has earned a place in the American lexicon: "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!"

Under James W. Horne (Director), Larry Darmour (Producer), Joseph O'Donnell (Screenwriter), Ned Dandy (Screenwriter), Joseph F. Poland (Screenwriter), Walter B. Gibson (Original Story), Lee Zahler (Original Score), James S. Brown Jr.(Cinematographer), Dwight Caldwell (Editor), Ken Strickfaden (Special Effects) ------ the cast includes Victor Jory (Lamont Cranston, aka 'The Shadow'), Veda Ann Borg (Margo Lane), Roger Moore (Harry Vincent), Robert Fiske (Stanford Marshall, business leader), J. Paul Jones (Mr. Turner, business leader), Jack Ingram (Flint, chief thug), Chuck Hamilton (Henchman Roberts), Edward Peil Sr. (Inspector Joe Cardona), Frank LaRue (Commissioner Ralph Weston), Budd Buster (Beggar giving Cranston tip on radio shop), Lloyd Ingraham (Judge), Charles King (Henchman Russell), Tom London (Driver of Hi-jacked Truck) ... great stunt work by the Columbia stunt personnel ... fast and furious direction by James W. Horne as he brings radio's mysterious, black-clad hero proves that "the weed of crime bears bitter fruit" in this thrill-packed Columbia serial. --- don't leave the theater until the final chapter "The Shadow's Net Closes" ... another winner from the vaults of Columbia serials --- this is a must watch for the serial buffs in all of us.

CHAPTER TITLES:
1. The Doomed City
2. The Shadow Strikes
3. The Shadow's Peril
4. In the Tiger's Lair
5. Danger Above
6. The Shadow's Trap
7. Where Horror Walks
8. The Shadow Rides The Rails
9. The Devil In White
10.The Underground Trap
11.Chinatown At Dark
12.Murder By Remote Control
13.Wheels Of Death
14.The Sealed Room
15.The Shadow's Net Closes

BIOS:
1. Victor Jory
Date of birth: 23 November 1902 - Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada
Date of death: 12 February 1982 - Santa Monica, California

2. James W. Horne (aka: James Wesley Horne) (Director)
Date of birth: 14 December 1880 - San Francisco, California
Date of death: 29 June 1942 - Hollywood, California

If you're into vintage serials as I am, why not pick up a copy of the following titles from VCI Home Video:
VCI CLIFFHANGER TRAILERS:
1. Adventures of Red Ryder (Don "Red" Barry)
2. Adventures of the Flying Cadets (Bobby Jordan)
3. Buck Rogers (Buster Crabbe)
4. Captain Midnight (Dave O'Brien)
5. Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere (Judd Holdren & I. Stanford Jolley)
6. Dick Tracy's G-Men (Ralph Byrd)
7. Don Winslow of the Navy (Don Terry)
8. Don Winslow of the Coast Guard (Don Terry)
9. Drums of Fu Manchu (Henry Brandon)
10.Fighting Kit Carson (Johnny Mack Brown)
11.Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (Buster Crabbe)
12.The Green Archer (Victory Jory)
13.Jungle Girl (Frances Gifford)
14.Jungle Jim (Grant Withers & Raymond Hatton)
15.Lost City of the Jungle (Russell Hayden & Keye Luke)
16.Mandrake the Magician (Warren Hull & Dick Curtis)
17.Miracle Rider (Tom Mix & Tony Jr)
18.The Painted Stallion (Ray "Crash" Corrigan)
19.The Phantom (Tom Tyler)
20.The Return of Chandu (Bela Lugosi)
21.Riders of Death Valley (Dick Foran, Leo Carrillo & Buck Jones)
22.Secret Agent X-9 (1937) (Scott Kolk & Henry Brandon)
23.Secret Agent X-9 (1945) (Lloyd Bridges & Keye Luke)
24.Sky Raiders (Donald Woods & Billy Halop)
25.Undersea Kingdom (Ray "Crash" Corrigan)
26.Winners of the West (Dick Foran, Harry Woods, Roy Barcroft & Charles Stevens)
27.Zane Greys "King of the Royal Mounted" (Allan "Rocky" Lane)
28.Zorro's Cliffhanger Collection (Reed Hadley, John Carroll & Linda Stirling)

Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc), Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") and Trevor Scott (Down Under Com) as they have rekindled my interest once again for B-Westerns and Serials --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '20s, '30s & '40s and B-Westerns ... order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on VHS, stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with deadly adventure --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out VCI Entertainment where they are experts in releasing B-Westerns and Serials --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Time: 325 mins on VHS ~ Sony Video ~ (5/27/1997)

Starring Victor Jory as Lamont Cranston/ The Shadow Roger Moore as Vincent & Veda Ann Borg as Margo Lane. This is a great Shadow serial from Columbia Pictures. The characters have all been brought to life from the magazine pages & radio show. Victor Jory makes a great Shadow & he has one of the best Shadow laughs I've ever heard! The only major element missing is the Shadow's ability to ''cloud men's minds''by becoming invisible to his enemies. Things are reversed a bit here because the villain the Black Tiger makes himself invisible to his henchmen by standing under a special beam of light. Black Tiger is a perfect name for this enemy. He has a growling snarling vicious voice that sounds like a tiger or panther! And he ALWAYS sounds angry about something! You have to see this serial to love this guy! The best cliffhanger ending happens at the end of chapter 4. The Shadow is trapped in a sealed room which starts to shake rattle & roll before it caves in on him. At the start of chapter 5 the Shadow simply dusts himself off & stacks up a few crates so he can climb out of the rubble. Victor Jory really shows what he can do whenever he disguises himself as Lin Chang. Lin Chang is a Chinese mobster with underworld connections. Also Victor Jory wears the nicest looking Shadow costume I've ever seen. Serials are low budget movies but the Shadow's costume doesn't look cheap. Overall this is a highly enjoyable Shadow movie. I hope it comes out on dvd soon!

This very entertaining serial is a must for all SHADOW lovers. But don't be fooled by the name, he is a completely different Character than the pulp comics hero. His past in Tibet and Ability to cloud mens minds completely left out, leads him to be more like a cheezy Batman serial and not the Shadow. Who Knows What Evil Lurks In The Hearts Of Men? This Shadow doesn't have a clue.

While not completely true to the pulps, this is a very entertaining serial. Victor Jory has the moves down and the laugh. Laugh is much better than the Alec Baldwin modern version. The Black Tiger is one of the best gimmick villians ever. Several clever scenes and some campy ones. I taught my african grey parrot the shadow laugh in two days by playing the tape multiple times. Classic video.....jack welch