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      The Falcon Takes Over

      Released May 29, 1942 1h 3m Mystery & Thriller List
      Reviews 44% Audience Score 100+ Ratings Dashing private detective Gay Lawrence (George Sanders) and his sidekick, Goldy Locke (Allen Jenkins), search for the recently escaped and physically imposing convict Moose Malloy (Ward Bond) after he flees the scene of a crime. But they end up investigating the disappearance of Malloy's ex-girlfriend Diana Kenyon (Helen Gilbert) and a series of murders. Lawrence enlists reporter Ann Reardon (Lynn Bari) to help him trace the clues and uncover the evidence that will lead them to the killer. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Jan 01 Buy Now

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      Audience Reviews

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      dave j Theme identical to "Murder My Sweet" except that this weak version was released first story written by film noir author Raymond Chandlier used as the third "Falcon" movie starring George Sanders as the title character. It has Ward Bond synonymous for starring on many John Wayne westerns, he plays a wrestling lug, Moose Mallory bent on tracking his girlfriend named Vilma. The Falcon's sidekick and partner "Goldie (Allen Jenkins) stumble into this bizarre love triangle when he was waiting for his boss The Falcon on front of a night club. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member George Sanders is the Falcon, an upper crust society-type who is also a private investigator. He seems to also have a way with the ladies (a la James Bond). However, in this film, a rendering of Raymond Chandler's Farewell, My Lovely, the Falcon is really Philip Marlowe, so there's a bit of dissonance: Marlowe was never so suave. Indeed, Dick Powell's Marlowe in the superior Murder, My Sweet (1944) is far more lived in and grungy. He also gets beat up a fair bit which doesn't happen to the Falcon; instead Sanders has a sidekick played by Allen Jenkins who takes the various beatings from Moose Malloy and also provides comic relief by getting into trouble. This moves the film into the more formulaic territory of the mystery serials (e.g., Charlie Chan, Dick Tracy, Mr. Moto, Sherlock Holmes, etc.) which were generally lighter fare. But somehow the Chandler text elevates the picture to something more than the usual "guess the murderer before he/she is identified by the sleuth" mystery - it is a little more confusing, less straightforward, more interesting. George Sanders' star power is more than evident but he's still an odd droll character - who thought he should be the hero? That said, I fully approve of him and the film was fine. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member George Sanders is back as The Falcon, but storewide this film is actually an adaptation of Raymond Chandler's oft filmed "Farewell, My Lovely." The Falcon helps a punch drunk ex-con find his old girlfriend Velma. Certainly not as good as "Murder, My Sweet" but still a pretty good retelling of the Chandler mystery and a solid vehicle for Sanders as The Falcon. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member a B movie 'murder my sweet' knock-off Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Just as good a private detective story as the first two in this series, with Allen Jenkens adding plenty of colour to the film as usual. There's less emphasis on 'The Falcon's' love-life in this one which is the only sub-plot theme that is continuous through all the films. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member i enjoy all the falcon films, a time of champayne cocktails, cigarette cases and smudges of red lipstick on hankerchiefs, late night movies. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Falcon Takes Over

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Dashing private detective Gay Lawrence (George Sanders) and his sidekick, Goldy Locke (Allen Jenkins), search for the recently escaped and physically imposing convict Moose Malloy (Ward Bond) after he flees the scene of a crime. But they end up investigating the disappearance of Malloy's ex-girlfriend Diana Kenyon (Helen Gilbert) and a series of murders. Lawrence enlists reporter Ann Reardon (Lynn Bari) to help him trace the clues and uncover the evidence that will lead them to the killer.
      Director
      Irving Reis
      Distributor
      RKO Radio Pictures
      Production Co
      RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
      Genre
      Mystery & Thriller
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      May 29, 1942, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 1, 2009
      Runtime
      1h 3m
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