The Falcon in San Francisco

This is a movie that can be enjoyed on a superficial level, but if you think too much about the plot it might just give you a headache. That's because the plot often just doesn't make much sense--particularly the far-fetched ending.

Tom Conway plays his usual dapper role as Tom Lawrence ("The Falcon") and the film is greatly improved by having his old sidekick ("Goldy", played by Eddie Brophy). For some reason, while earlier Falcon films always featured a sidekick, for quite a few of Conway's film the sidekick had disappeared--making the films a bit flat and needing an infusion of humor. Also, fortunately, there is no ditsy female to clutter up the film. The female leads in THE FALCON IN Hollywood and several other previous films were just awful--playing both love interests and comic relief. However, they all just came off as annoying. Fortunately, Goldy is not annoying but provided able support--as did the cute little kid who appeared in the film. Often, cute kids are detriments to a film but here she infuses a nice new element to the film.

While I could TRY to explain the film, frankly it didn't make all that much sense to me and I am sure it would only confuse you if I tried! It was that convoluted! For fans of the series, this is a good and welcome addition to the series. But for others, it's probably not going to make them fans of the Falcon films.

Tom Conway and retainer Ed Brophy are on their way to San Francisco on a train when they make the acquaintance of young Sharyn Moffett. The Falcon charm work on women of all ages and the little girl asks for his help saying she's become a prisoner in her own home. Her rather severe nurse is later murdered on the train and the Falcon and the always helpful Goldie Locke are involved.

Besides Moffett this caper will involve her older sister Rita Corday, a former bootlegger from Prohibition days Robert Armstrong, a Dutch importer John Mylong and a poor man's Gale Sondergaard Fay Helm.

This is one of the bloodiest Falcon episodes that RKO did. A whole lot of people die in this one, especially in an incredibly bloody climax.

Conway is charming as usual and Brophy provides much needed comic relief in this story. Still even his relief was too much. He reads that he can pay less income tax when married and starts coming on to every woman he sees with inevitable results. Now if Conway had done it...........

Tom Conway and Eddie Brophy take the train to San Francisco, the city by the bay, so that Brophy can hunt up a wife -- he thinks he pays too much in income taxes, and a wife would solve that. Along the way, Conway charms little Sharon Moffat, who starts to tell fibs. This lands him in hot water with the police, and more with Rita Corday, leading into a nicely tangled mystery involving hemp, silk and ex-gangster Robert Armstrong.

Conway isn't quite as smooth as his brother, George Sanders for the first four of the series, but he certainly knows how to portray a man out of his depth and bluffing. Director Joseph H. Lewis is a little more standard in this movie than many of his better known B masterpieces, but the mystery will keep fans of the form amused.

This is the eleventh Falcon film, notable for the entry of a child actress in a major role. Having the Falcon exchange witty lines with Sharyn Moffett who in the film 'will be 18 in nine years' time', as she puts it, and who 'has decided to marry Tom Lawrence (the Falcon)' when she grows up 'but then he'll have to stop chasing after other girls', is a refreshing and amusing change. Tom Conway does very well at communicating with a kid, and Sharyn is charming in the part. Unfortunately, the hideously boring and coarse Edward Brophy is the Falcon's sidekick in this one, which is so annoying. There is a marvellous wicked femme fatale in this one played by Fay Helm, who obviously finds it delicious to be devilish. Rita Corday appears in her fifth Falcon film, and has become a reliable fixture in the series. Robert Armstrong, solid and good viewing, appears in this one and adds conviction to a double identity. The film is well directed by Joseph H. Lewis, his one foray into falconry, with some good San Francisco location shots, excellent framing, and a nice pace. The story is satisfying in its puzzling complexity, and we really can't figure out very much at all until we get near the end. Falconers will enjoy this one, and lesser mortals should too.

Tom "The Falcon" Lawrence (Tom Conway) and his sidekick Goldie Locke are on the train to San Francisco. They befriend cutie Annie Marshall and her little dog. She tells them that she's being held prisoner by her nurse. The nurse is dead and the Falcon suspects murder. When they arrive in San Francisco, the Falcon gets arrested for kidnapping the little girl while he's trying to bring her home.

I love the start with the little girl. Goldie and her have a fun energy. It's fun whenever the girl shows up. The plot gets convoluted real quick. It's downright Kafkaesque. It's fun in its audacity. There's no point in trying to solve the whodunnit. I don't even follow the whatisit. It's much better to enjoy the wild and crazy ride. It's the 11th entry in the series.