User reviews

Though he's the title character, Welter Pigeon plays a back seat to the villain. The villain is played smoothly by the superb Joseph Schildkraut. The rest of the cast is fun. Nat Pendleton is Schildkraut's bodyguard. Donald Meek is Pigeon's sidekick -- and a beekeeper, to boot. Florence Rice is very good in what looks like a sympathetic role, and is, though she's initially on the wrong side of the law.

What makes this stand out is its plot. We see this at the very start; so I'm giving nothing away: Schildkraut is blowing up ships at sea to collect on their insurance. It's shocking to think of such cold-blooded behavior. But to underline the heinous nature of his crime, we see the captain and some crew members chatting just before theirs is blown to bits.

This isn't the greatest of Jacques Tourneur movies. But his masterly touch is evident. Schildkraut is often photographed in profile and generally partially in shadow. He reminds one of a streamlined, custom-made sports car of the time. He is stylish -- and almost impossibly cruel.

Instantly sinister, Joseph Schildkraut gives a knife throwing lesson to some underlings. Schildkraut is delightfully wicked as a shady character who manages a night club—and also runs a ship-wrecking insurance scam.

Walter Pidgeon makes his second appearance as detective Nick Carter, once again exuding self-confidence; he is again joined by Donald Meek as would-be detective Bartholomew, better known as the Bee Man. Together they gradually unravel the ship-wrecking plot with the help of the usual supporting characters—including John Carroll as a shipping magnate's son, and Florence Rice, who is quite good as the requisite beautiful young woman mixed up in the case.

The setting is Panama, and while the first half of the picture moves rather slowly, it features plenty of MGM-style Panama atmosphere. Eventually the plot starts to move along and builds nicely to a truly exciting climax on board ship.

Nat Pendleton is amusing as a dumb henchman who is told to "Take a walk around the block" any time there is real dirty work to be done. Meek is entertaining as always, and Pidgeon handles both the detective work and the smart-alecky dialog adeptly. Schildkraut as the villain, however, has the juiciest role.

The plot is nothing special but it does include a nifty surprise or two; overall, there's not much to this picture but it's plenty easy to watch.

The other two entries in the Nick Carter detective series focused on spies or Fifth Columnists; this one is about an evil insurance scam whereby cargo ships, with their crews, are blown up. Llewelyn's of London, the insurer of the ships, hires Carter to investigate. Joseph Schildkraut as the suave but vicious gangster leader behind the bombings easily outshines the rather uninspiring performance of Walter Pidgeon as Nick Carter. The most striking scene in the whole movie is the brief scene showing the crew of the cargo ship amiably chatting with one another moments before their ship is blown up. An incredible scene. As with the other two entries in the series, this one has an excellent supporting cast with Florence Rice, John Carroll, Nat Pendleton, Cecil Kellaway, and Schildkraut. Donald Meek is on hand as Carter's sidekick, the wacky Mr. Bartholomew. It's a matter of taste whether one finds the Bartholomew character annoying or welcome comedic relief. Either way, he certainly is a memorable character. I think this is the best of the Nick Carter movies and certainly worth a watch, but the series itself is not as good or entertaining as many another B detective series.

Phantom Raiders was the second (the first being 1939 Nick Carter - Master Detective) and the last film directed by Jacques Tourneur about the adventures of a popular detective Nick Carter whose character was created still in the end of the 19th century and who served as a protagonist of several films before this one during the silent era. Here yet again Walter Pigeon plays the main part of invincible detective and is joined once more by his peculiar assistant Bartholomew known as the Bee-man (hilariously played by Donald Meek). They were destined to reunite only once again the same year as Phantom Raiders to film Sky Murder but this time under the direction of George Seitz.

In Phantom Raiders Nick Carter answers the duty call while on vacation and is sent to Panama to investigate the mysterious sinking of several cargo ships near the Panama coast where he is joined by his eccentric assistant Bartholomew who as usually provides sometimes a valuable help and on other occasions creates havoc though always remaining handy. Soon they discover that a nightclub owner Al Taurez is involved, but very soon our heroes discover to their disappointment that he's a bit tougher then appears to be at first sight. A little weaker than its predecessor - Nick Carter-Master Detective, The Phantom Raiders is still a decent viewing experience. 6/10

Second in the Nick Carter detective series, from MGM and director Jacques Tourneur. P.I. Carter (Walter Pidgeon) is hired to look into a series of mysterious explosions sinking ships near the Panama canal. It's all part of a insurance scam run by slick crook Al Taurez (Joseph Schildkraut).

Unlike many B-detective flicks, this one isn't a mystery, as the crimes are clearly shown, as are the culprits, even before Carter makes his first appearance in the film. I haven't seen the first movie, but an introduction didn't really seem necessary, even if Carter's relationship to partner Bartholomew (Donald Meek) isn't explained. Meek seems like an unlikely detective, but he was enjoyably offbeat, particularly when he pretends to be a lunatic.

Schildkraut makes for an excellent villain, and Pidgeon is amiable enough. His Carter seems more at home schmoozing in the nightclubs than throwing punches. However, since there is no mystery to the story, there isn't a lot of suspense, and some of the other supporting characters seem superfluous and distracting.

"Phantom Raiders" is the second of three Nick Carter mystery films made by MGM that starred Walter Pidgeon. His co-star in all three is Donald Meek who plays Bartholomew, a beekeeper and wanna-be detective. Carter calls him "Beeswax," and the bee man turns out to be a sharp sleuth in his own right. In this film he saves Nick's life at least twice. He always shows up in the nick of time - to save Nick.

This film takes place in Panama where Nick has gone on vacation and Bartholomew tracks him down to deliver a $5,000 check for his taking on an investigation of ship bombings or sinkings in the Pacific out of Panama. Nick discovers that an old acquaintance, Al Taurez, from a crime racket in the States has set up shop in Panama. A whole lot of characters are involved in this one, but Nick solves it.

This series of Carter mysteries was made during World War II, but before the U.S. entered the war. While moviegoers would be getting newsreel reports of the war in Europe and somewhat in China, there would be no hint of a war going on in these films.

This film has some notable supporting actors of the day, including Joseph Schildkraut, Nat Pendleton and Cecil Kellaway. In each of these films, Carter has an image of a playboy and he seems to go for floozies. Still, Pidgeon is a delight to watch as an actor for his amiable persona - even when he is commanding.

None of these films were first class productions. The plot is somewhat choppy and the screenplay is just fair. But, it's an enjoyable enough film to watch on a rainy day.

Here are some favorite lines from the film.

Bartholomew, "This Mr. Taurez seems to be a man of generous nature." Nick Carter "Ah, yeah, Nick, would give his best friend a knife in the back any day."

Nick Carter, "Uh, I don't suppose you're a spy?" Cora Barnes, "Oh, but I am. Everyone in Colon's a spy. Haven't you seen the sign in the movie theaters? No spies under 18 admitted."

Nick Carter, "Al, you look different." Al Taurez, "Well, perhaps you miss the handcuffs, hnh,hnh."

Nick Carter, "Tell me, Al, what became of the Cleaners and Dyers Union you used to run in the old days?" Al Taurez, "Oh, Nick, you know I'm superstitious. When 13 G-men started looking for me on a Friday, I figured that was bad luck and I got out of town."

Conceived in the 19th century by Ormond G. Smith and realized as a literary character by several writers, detective Nick Carter has had a long life in newspaper serials, novels, movies, radio series and comics. From his first appearance in September 1886, Carter has evolved according to the times, and it would not be a surprise for a revival in this century with new adventures and cases to solve. In 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer launched a trilogy with Walter Pidgeon in the role of Carter, composed of "Nick Carter, Master Detective", and the following year by "Phantom Raiders" and "Sky Murder", all three based on original scripts.

«Phantom Raiders» (known in Latin America as "Nick Carter in Panama") has the peculiar distinction (for Panamanians) of being set in the city of Colón, on the Atlantic coast of Panamá, and belonging to a group of films that use the country as exotic location and little else. As in many productions imagined in Los Angeles, the cities below the Rio Grande are rather rural villages, with music combining Spanish cadences, rancheras and Cuban rhythms. The first establishing shots are places on the other ocean (Pacific), giving way to the Colón of Culver City, a Moroccan-looking set with hotels and a club for cheerful sailors and women called La Cita Café, where much of the plot takes place.

That bizarre mishmash seems a hint of what continues, an agile and funny plot of sabotage (although there are countless dead on the road... or at the bottom of the Caribbean sea) which, fortunately, has nothing to do with Asian or Eastern European spies trying to destroy the Panama Canal. No, this time it is a knife-throwing villain from San Francisco, one Al Taurez (Joseph Schildkraut), who sinks ships from his office in Colón, by exploding bombs ingeniously located on the vessels, in order to collect insurance. But his greed betrays him, because, when the third ship is sunk in the course of a fortnight, the insurance company Llewelyn's of London hires Carter to solve the case.

In addition to the traps that Taurez tends, in which Carter falls and escapes from, with the usual elegance of Pidgeon, the plot is dotted with humor and spark, thanks to the interventions of the "bee man" Bartholomew (Donald Meek), Carter's assistant; and from a Mexican prostitute named Dolores Arango (played by Hungarian Steffi Duna), who entangles everything, including her boyfriend (Nat Pendleton), a jealous former boxing champion who wants to finish Carter off. The direction is aptly handled by Jacques Tourneur, the man behind the classics «Cat People», «I Walked with a Zombie», «Out of the Past» and «Night of the Demon», which guarantees a pleasant 70-minute ride. Enjoy.

Tiny studios like Monogram, PRC and First National made tons of B- movies--short, quickly written and generally super-cheaply made. However, the big studios also made Bs--and despite slightly bigger budgets and bigger named actors (in some cases) they also were super-cheap and looked an awful lot like their poverty row versions. In the case of "Phantom Raiders", the prestigious MGM has made a B-- starring their A picture leading man, Walter Pidgeon. And, not surprisingly, it's just as goofy and entertaining as many of the cheapo B detective films.

This is the second Nick Carter film and it's plot is very goofy. It seems that lots of merchant ships are being blown up and Nick and his weirdo sidekick Beeswax (Donald Meek) are sent to investigate. But HOW are these ships being blown up? Here's where it gets REALLY goofy. An oddly named Al Taurez (Joseph Schildkraut) has some sort of weird electronic device that causes bombs on the ships to explode...and he can activate these bomb via remote control many, many miles away! Plot-wise, this is as goofy as any of the wild plots in the Charlie Chan films from Monogram--way out, for sure.

So is it any good? Well, despite the silly plot, the film IS entertaining. It also features one of the strangest Donald Meek performances you'll ever see--with him pretending to be a psychopath. The bottom line is that the film is silly, breezy entertainment but something that doesn't make a lot of sense or is for an audience who isn't willing to cut the film a lot of slack. You like B detective films, you'll like this one...otherwise, it's easy to skip.

The second of three Nick Carter movies (all are middling and forgettable) again directed by the talented B-Movie auteur. This series is an MGM production and includes many talented character actors and all three films have a "going to war" prelude plot.

The velvet voiced, skirt chasing screen adaptation of the Pulp Detective is so whimsical and heavily propagandized that it serves its heavy message with a lot of sugar and very little else. It is all done in a professional A-Studio way and has a minimum of entertainment value and a maximum of hokum. This was also the most studio-bound of the three with every scene obviously on the back-lot.

There are three recurring themes in these justly forgotten relics. Carter's lechery, sidekick, and his fight against the impending American involvement in WWII. It does have an attraction as to the movie machine and its value at shaping public opinion, as an icon of 1939-40 silly sensibilities and what was accepted as good family fun with a not so subtle message of Nationalism.

Phantom Raiders portrays a crime that is all to possible today, blowing up ships set off by electrical devices. However this was 1940, the era of the wisecracking detective and his sidekick neatly wrapping up the mystery in a little over an hour. What sets this film apart from other movies of the same type is its crackling good dialog, an insidious villain,(Joseph Shildkraut),the suave Nick Carter,(a clean shaven Walter Pigeon), his assistant, Mr Bartholomew (beautifully played by Donald Meek), the innocent ingénue(the captivating Florence Rice). Speaking of Florence Rice, she literally lights up the screen when she is on. At the same time vulnerable, adoring. Listen to the way she says "I love him", talking about her boyfriend, it will melt your heart. Highly recommend!

As B-films go, PHANTOM RAIDERS is just a slight cut above a serial cliffhanger, the kind that the poverty row studios churned out in the '30s and '40s. Surprisingly enough, this one comes from MGM and has a certain gloss.

It's fast moving, neatly developed and, except for some unnecessary comic interludes, provides a satisfying look at the pre-WWII era. Nick Carter (Pidgeon) is assigned to find out who is blowing up cargo ships in Panama for insurance money. We learn early on that the culprit is the cruel and cunning Joseph Schildkraut, always one step ahead of the authorities until the very end.

Donald Meek has a rather annoying role as a bee-keeper who happens to be Carter's sidekick. His unlikely role is a departure from his usual "meek" roles but it becomes tedious after some comic interludes in a mystery that tries to blend corny humor with suspense. Thankfully, the good supporting cast includes Florence Rice, John Carroll, Cecil Kellaway and Nat Pendleton.

Not bad, but easily a programmer you can afford to miss. Obviously made before Walter Pidgeon became a big name at Metro via being teamed with Greer Garson in a series of successful films.

If you're a fan of the old private dick movies from the 30s & 40s then I'll bet you a wooden nickel that you're gonna like this one. It has plenty of cliche's, but remember, when this film was new a lot of the plot devices were not quite so hackneyed. The use of lighting and shadow is nicely done noir, all in glorious black & white of course. Walter Pidgeon is fine as Nick Carter. This is apparently his second time playing the streetsmart, wry humored, skirt chasing gumshoe. The rest of the cast is just fine too. It's not Bogart, Astor, Greenstreet, & Lorre; but it was released a year before that film, against which all in this genre are inevitably compared to. I really liked Nat Pendleton as tough guy "Gunboat". To sum it up, I love the corny humor and tidy endings of the films from this era. That old timey slang really cracks me up too. Say you birds, give dis picture show an even break and don't take it too seriously... I wouldn't kid ya, I'm on da level here.

Walter Pidgeon reprises as Nick Carter in this follow-up to 1939's NICK CARTER, MASTER DETECTIVE. This time he and Donald Meek head down to Panama to deal with ships sinking -- the insurance company which covers the old hulks thinks there's something suspicious going on.

It's definitely a programmer, but given the usual MGM gloss, with Jacques Tourneur directing and Clyde de Vinna handling the camera. The usual assortment of high-class supporting actors include Joseph Schildkraut, Nat Pendleton, John Carroll, and Cecil Kellaway. Steffi Duna has a funny bit as a b-girl who doesn't speak English, but parrots stock phrases that are almost on point.

Nick Carter was an old Dime Novel character invented by the son of one of the founders of Street & Smiith in 1886. He was soon given his own line of weekly magazines, with his adventures reprinted in book form. By the middle of the 1910s, S&S had gotten out of dime novels and was producing Detective Story Magazine. An attempt to revive Carter within its pages in the middle of the 1920s In the 1930s, he got his own pulp. Novels continued to appear, and in 1943, Mutual began broadcasting a radio series which ran through 1955. In the 1960s, Nick Carter became a spy, in the Killmaster series, which ran through 1990.

Along the way, there were several movies series, including a French one around 1910, an adopted son, Chick Carter., and an Eddie Constantine vehicle.

Mysterious rash of cargo ships sinking in Panama leads insurers Llewellyns of London to hire vacationer Nick Carter and his eccentric associate Bartholomew to investigate. Nick recognizes influential nightclub owner Al Taurez as a shady operator, but getting the goods on him depends on slick diversions involving the heavyweight champ of the Pacific Tuna Fleet, a Panamanian bombshell armed with American slang, a young couple in love and a whole raft of crooks and cutthroats.

A strong entry in the entertaining Nick Carter series which stars Walter pidgeon as the cool ladykiller Nick Carter and Donald Meek as the eccentric sidekick called Barthemlow aka Beeswax- the latter adds some humour. He's a great character - a wannabe detective with bees as friends. The plot is fast moving and slick, the Panama location is good and the villainy is a standout - the knife throwing villain is quite a nasty cold blooded character. It's quite an entertaining mystery thriller, probably the best out of the three Nick Carter films. Love the witty dialogue.

There is wartime espionage in Panama and ships have been lost. An insurance company is desperate to hire private detective Nick Carter (Walter Pidgeon) but he's on vacation. Beeswax Bartholemew (Donald Meek) tracks him down for the job.

It's the second of a trilogy. It continues the espionage aspect as the real world war rages on. I have to admit that I didn't realize that the bee man is a franchise regular. While he provides some essential humor, he needs to quit the bee thing. It's a ridiculous gimmick that makes no sense. He's just carrying bees around like Batman carrying his Batarangs. He could be carrying smoke bombs, honey treats, and stinger-like daggers. The big difference between this and the first movie is a lack of big action scenes. I like the chemistry between Nick and the Bee Man but it's not enough in this one.

In between the start of talkies and about the time of this, there were all sorts of experiments with the detective form. An amazing number, just absolutely amazing, of discrete types were invented. It was a heady time, much more ambitious and adventuresome than what we have today.

Most of the experiments failed, or course. And that's true even of experiments that were profitable enough to spawn a series. Success in this way means more than just selling tickets, which is easy enough. Its knowing when you find the bones to something you can understand and rebuild over and over in different ways. Its the difference between copying and creating and the creators will always win.

To win you need to understand and to understand you need to try and fail. This is a failure of an interesting type. It sticks to the normal three component model: the detective, the villain, the causal mechanism.

We usually these days are presented with a cool detective, in part because we rely more on actors and personalities. Unfortunately that's not very cinematic usually, so it doesn't reward. This movie treats us to pretty uninteresting detective, pretty much a dope. And his assistant is too, both comic.

Most of the attention — so far as character — is on the villain. He's supersmooth, always calm and anticipating the next move until towards the end. His weapon is the knife, which he can throw perfectly. At the beginning, he even throws a pen across a room and hits the center of the target.

Incidentally, the causal mechanics of the plot are somewhat incomprehensibly complex. There isn't much complicated in the device, but it is peculiar in a way. Its a radio that sends a triggering signal to bombs concealed on ships. These are blown up for the insurance money. What's unsettling, strange, is that the bombs are concealed in radio receivers. There's no reason for this except to make it easier for us to read.

But the business behind the scenes is what makes the plot work, all sorts of business about swapping cargo, forging inspection documents and manifestos. I admit that THIS was difficult to read because nothing could be shown. It could only be explained.

An interesting fossil, but a bad movie, even though the director had some reputation.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.