THE SHADOW (1940)

The Shadow on the prowl!

THE SHADOW (15 chapter Columbia serial/1940). Director: James W. Horne. COLORIZED.

A gang headed by the mysterious Black Tiger is causing havoc in the city as well as conniption fits in some of the most prominent civic leaders, members of the Committee. The Black Tiger is using a special ray to bring down plane after plane as well as targeting railroad trains and other industries. Police Commissioner Weston (Frank LaRue) brings in criminologist Lamont Cranston (Victor Jory) for help -- along with his assistant Harry Vincent (Roger Moore) and secretary Margo Lane (Veda Ann Borg of Accomplice) --  but doesn't realize that Cranston's alter ego, the masked and cloaked crimefighter the Shadow, is also on the case. But Weston comes to believe that the Shadow and the Black Tiger are one and the same, which means Cranston has to fight off cops as well as gunsels!

Victor Jory

The Shadow, one of the best of Columbia's chapterplays, has its flaws -- there aren't that many decent cliffhangers and way too many explosions which the Shadow simply gets up and walks away from -- but in general it's fast-paced and vastly entertaining. Shadow purists have already complained that the Shadow doesn't use his ability to cloud men's minds or seemingly turn invisible -- not to mention that "Lamont Cranston" was also a fake identity -- but he does dress in his cloak and takes on the bad guys with aplomb. While the fight scenes may not achieve the level of operatic -- or acrobatic -- intensity of the Republic serials, they are still quite lively and well-done. The more memorable cliffhangers include Margo being caught below a descending freight elevator, the Shadow falling onto tracks with a train rapidly approaching, and Margo and two others held captive as a sizzling laser beam inexorably pivots in their direction.

Veda Ann Borg as Margo Lane

Then there's Victor Jory, who is perfect casting as Cranston/ the Shadow, a fine actor who adds that touch of class to the proceedings. He also gets the Shadow's taunting, sinister laugh down pat. Jory also scores as the Oriental Ling Chan, another of Cranston's disguises, which he uses to infiltrate the mob. Borg, Moore, LaRue are all on target, and there is notable work from Philip Ahn as Wu Yung, who also assists Cranston, and especially Jack Ingram as Flint Williams, the Black Tiger's main henchman. Richard Cramer does the amusing, terminally grumpy voice of the Black Tiger, who can seemingly become invisible and talks through the replica of a tiger's head. 

Cranston faces the Committee: who is the Black Tiger?

I found this colorized version of The Shadow on youtube and quickly pounced. Although some sections of the serial are not as clear as I might like (I'd rather watch a clear black and white print than a murky colorized one), the color does add to the enjoyment, although some might suggest that a character like the Shadow belongs in black and white. This version is also edited, which means you get the entire serial (not an 80-minute "feature" version like they used to show on television) with the credits, aside from the first chapter, excised. Some might miss those dramatic and fun cliffhanger closings, but this way you get all of the thrills and don't have to sit through the credits over a dozen times. This is not the first or last serial to utilize a grouping or committee of civic leaders, one of whom is intimated to be the master criminal, but The Shadow certainly keeps you guessing as to which one, as the members of the committee are rather numerous. James W. Horne also co-directed Flying G-Men. 

Verdict: Suspenseful and thrilling Columbia serial is a lot of fun! ***1/2.