Review of The Falcon Takes Over (1942) by Lauren H — 12 Nov 2010

Bizarrely enough, this is an adaptation of Raymond Chandler's 'Farewell, My Lovely', with a good bit of the plot preserved. Pared down to an hour-long programmer, the film bounces along on the strength of a bevy of good character actors, with George Sanders in the lead.

Sanders referred to the Falcon films as the 'nadir of my career', which is probably true. The Falcon is basically the Saint sans the criminal edge. Sanders cares so little about the part that he actually makes it sillier than it might have been, which works out perfectly.

Not exactly Philip Marlowe, but not bad at all.