The Falcon in Hollywood *** (1944, Tom Conway, Barbara Hale, Jean Brooks, Rita Corday, Veda Ann Borg, John Abbott, Sheldon Leonard) – Classic Movie Review 3213

In the tenth of 16 movies in the Falcon series, Tom Conway again stars as Michael Arlen’s débonair detective The Falcon (aka Tom Lawrence). This time The Falcon investigates an actor’s murder in Hollywood in this above-par-for-the-course entry for the Falcon series, which began in 1941 with The Gay Falcon.

Indeed there is a series of Hollywood murders that seem to be linked to a jinxed movie production, supervised by neurotic studio executive Martin Dwyer (John Abbott). Accompanied by wisecracking cabbie Billie (Veda Ann Borg), Lawrence looks around a film studio where the main suspects include starlet Peggy Callahan (Barbara Hale), prima donna Lili D’Alio (Rita Corday) and shady businessman Louie (Sheldon Leonard).

There’s sharp direction by Gordon Douglas, keen photography by Nicholas Musuraca, a strong support cast and a very decent little mystery story by screen-writer Gerald Geraghty, whose brother Maurice produced. But this 1944 film gets its main charge from the iconic Forties views of Hollywood in its prime.

Also in the cast are Jean Brooks, Konstantin Shayne, Emory Parnell, Frank Jenks and Walter Soderling.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 3213

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