Devil’s Cargo * (1948, John Calvert, Rochelle Hudson, Roscoe Karns) – Classic Movie Review 10,131

Director John F Link Sr’s 1948 thriller Devil’s Cargo is the opener in John Calvert’s poor trilogy of Falcon films, and the 14th part in the series, so with just two more to go – Appointment with Murder (1948) and Search for Danger (1949).

The magician and actor Calvert takes over as Michael Waring, (from Tom Conway as Tom Lawrence), aka The Falcon, in the first of the three final low-budget episodes, in which he is hired by Ramon Delgado (Paul Marion) to investigate a playboy’s killing and save him from a murder charge. Rochelle Hudson plays Delgado’s wife Margo and Theodore von Eltz plays Delgado’s attorney Tom Mallon.

Devil’s Cargo is weak, ultra-cheap-looking Poverty Row movie, with a feeble mystery yarn fleshed out with Calvert’s conjuring displays and the appearance of his dog.

Also in the cast are Rochelle Hudson, Roscoe Karns, Lyle Talbot, Tom Kennedy, Theodore von Eltz, Paul Marion, Paul Regan, Eula Guy, Christine Larson, Michael Mark, Dick Rush, Fred Coby, Peter Michael and Walter Soderling.

Devil’s Cargo is directed by John F Link Sr, runs 64 minutes, is made by Falcon Pictures Corporation, is released by Film Classics (1948) (US) and Associated British Film Distributors (1949) (UK), is written by Don Martin, based on a story by Jason James and Robert Tallman, based on the character The Falcon by Michael Arlen, is shot in black and white by Walter Strenge, is produced by Philip N Krasne, is scored by Paul Dessau, with Set Decoration by Tommy Thompson.

It was shot at Universal Studios, California, and released on 1 April 1948.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,131

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