The Notorious Lone Wolf ** (1946, Gerald Mohr, Janis Carter, Eric Blore, John Abbott)– Classic Movie Review 13,042

Gerald Mohr takes over from Warren William as Michael Lanyard, the Lone Wolf detective on the trail of a stolen diamond, in the 1946 American mystery film The Notorious Lone Wolf.

Director D Ross Lederman’s 1946 American mystery film The Notorious Lone Wolf stars Gerald Mohr as Michael Lanyard, Janis Carter as his lover Carla Winter, and Eric Blore as the butler Jameson.

It is Columbia Pictures’ twelfth Lone Wolf film and Gerald Mohr’s first of three.

Also in the cast are John Abbott as Lal Bara, William B Davidson as Inspector Crane, Don Beddoe as bar owner Stonely, Ian Wolfe as jeweller Adam Wainwright, Adele Roberts, Peter Whitney, and Olaf Hytten.

[Spoiler alert] The less impressive Gerald Mohr takes over from Warren William as Michael Lanyard, the Lone Wolf detective, in this minor series formula episode about a gem robbery at a museum and the Lone Wolf trying to retrieve a stolen piece of jewellery, aiming to clear his name after he is accused of murdering a bar dancer, Lilli (Virginia Hunter), while tackling the villain, murderous thieving jeweller Adam Wainwright (Ian Wolfe).

The Shalimar diamond, owned by the Prince of Rapur (Olaf Hytten) and Lal Bara (John Abbott), has been  stolen by bar owner Stonely (Don Beddoe) for the mastermind Wainwright.

Yes, Warren William is much missed, but on the other hand, Mohr does bring some style and conviction to the Wolf role, and The Notorious Lone Wolf boasts a busy, complex, and surprisingly well-constructed plot. It has a rich cast of character actors, and it races entertainingly along. A minor series formula episode it may be, but dull it isn’t.

Columbia Pictures signed up Gerald Mohr after a sickly Warren Williams decided to stop playing the title role. Mohr previously had a minor role in One Dangerous Night (1943),

But Eric Blore continues playing Lanyard’s butler Jamison, for the ninth time.

The screenplay is by Martin Berkeley, Edward Dein, and William J Bowers.

Helped by the short running time of 64 minutes, it was quickly shot in a couple of weeks. Filming took place from October 22, 1945 to November 5, 1945

It was released in the US in February 1946.

It is followed by The Lone Wolf in Mexico (1947) also with Gerald Mohr.

The cast are Gerald Mohr as Michael Lanyard / The Lone Wolf, Janis Carter as Carla Winter, Eric Blore as Jameson, John Abbott as Lal Bara, William B. Davidson as Inspector Crane, Don Beddoe as Stonley, Adele Roberts as Rita Hale, Mark Roberts as Dick Hale, Peter Whitney as Harvey Beaumont, Ian Wolfe as Adam Wheelright, Edith Evanson as Olga, Carla’s Maid, Olaf Hytten as Prince of Rapur, Virginia Hunter as Lili, Nightclub Dancer, John Tyrrell as Pierre, the Chauffeur, Eddie Acuff as Detective Jones, and Eddy Chandler as House Detective.

The Notorious Lone Wolf is directed by D Ross Lederman, runs 64 minutes, is made and released by Columbia Pictures, is written by Martin Berkeley and Edward Dein, is shot in black and white by Burnett Guffey, is produced by Ted Richmond, and is scored by Mischa Bakaleinikoff.

American cinematographer Burnett Guffey (May 26, 1905 – May 30, 1983) won two Academy Awards: From Here to Eternity (1953) and Bonnie and Clyde (1967).

The Lone Wolf feature films

The Lone Wolf’s Daughter (1929), Last of the Lone Wolf (1930), Cheaters at Play (1932), The Lone Wolf Returns (1935), The Lone Wolf in Paris (1938), The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt (1939), The Lone Wolf Strikes (1940), The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady (1940), The Lone Wolf Keeps a Date (1941), The Lone Wolf Takes a Chance (1941), Secrets of the Lone Wolf (1941), Counter-Espionage (1942), One Dangerous Night (1943), Passport to Suez (1943), The Notorious Lone Wolf (1946), The Lone Wolf in Mexico (1947), The Lone Wolf in London (1947), The Lone Wolf and His Lady (1949).

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,042

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