The Gay Falcon

1941

1h 7m

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

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Mystery

Having forsaken the detective business for the safer confines of personal insurance, Gay Laurence is compelled to return to his sleuthing ways. Along with sidekick Jonathan "Goldie" Locke, he agrees to look into a series of home party robberies that have victimized socialite Maxine Wood. The duo gets more than they bargained for when a murder is committed at Wood's home, but Lawrence still finds time to romance the damsel.

Directors

Irving Reis

Writers

Frank Fenton(screenplay by)

Lynn Root(screenplay by)

Michael Arlen(story by)

Stars

George Sanders

Wendy Barrie

Allen Jenkins

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Top cast

George Sanders

Gay Laurence …

Wendy Barrie

Helen Reed

Allen Jenkins

Jonathan G. 'Goldie' Locke

Elinor Benford

Maxine Wood

Detective Bates

Inspector Mike Waldeck

Noel Weber

Manuel Retana

Detective Grimes

Mrs. Vera Gardner

Jerry

Bartender (uncredited)

Hans Conried

Herman, Police Sketch Artist (uncredited)

Polly Bailey

Landlady in Hallway (uncredited)

Bobby Barber

Angelo (uncredited)

James Blaine

Police Officer in Hallway (uncredited)

Lee Bonnell

Hysterical Woman's Brother (uncredited)

Directors

Irving Reis

Writers

Frank Fenton(screenplay by)

Lynn Root(screenplay by)

Michael Arlen(story by)

All cast & crew

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User reviews1

Review

Featured review

6/10

Irving Reis packs loads into the hour or so it takes George Sanders' "Gay" to try to sort out a complex series of jewel robberies whilst fending off the affections of ladies from all over the place! "Maxine" (Gladys Cooper) is the society matriarch concerned when she realises that her lavish and exclusive parties might be being used as a vehicle for some thievery and insurance fraud. That nervousness isn't helped when another renowned hostess whose dancing really does make your toes want to curl - "Vera" (Lucile Gleason) finds her own toes have curled up - permanently. Poor old "Gay" is just trying to get on with his peaceable life with fiancée "Elinor" (Nina Vale), but together with sidekick "Goldie" (Allen Jenkins) and the aforementioned, rather smitten "Helen" (Wendy Barrie) must now endeavour to track down the conspirator, thief, murderer - before they strike again. If anything, it's all a bit rushed, which doesn't really suit Sanders' style of delivery, but the story is solid and the characters offer us as many breadcrumbs as they do him in the search for the protagonist. I'll admit that I didn't get it right - backed the wrong horse completely. This all smacks of a cheap and cheerful but reasonably well written and watchable adaptation of a radio play designed for some wartime diversion. It just about does the trick, too.

Geronimo196730 Nov, 2023