CRUD Challenge: A Date with the Falcon
Jan. 13th, 2026 07:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
skjamA Date with the Falcon (1942) dir. Irving Reis
Gay Lawrence (George Sanders), also known as "The Falcon", is planning a trip with his fiancée, Helen Reed (Wendy Barrie) to get married and have a honeymoon far from big city crime. But his old frenemy on the police force, Inspector Mike O'Hara (James Gleason) wants to draw him into the case of a missing scientist. Waldo Sampson (Alec Craig) has developed a formula for synthetic diamonds that are indistinguishable from real ones. Sampson was preparing to sell his process to the government to make industrial diamonds, much needed in the defense industry. Unfortunately, it appears that criminals also want the formula and have kidnapped its creator.
The Falcon initially turns down the case, but is soon lured in by a mysterious woman who says they've met before, possible jewel thief Rita Mara (Mona Maris). Gay's sidekick Jonathan "Goldy" Locke (Allen Jenkins) is none too happy about this, as it will expose them to danger, and the Falcon's wandering eye will raise Helen's jealous temper.
Before the case is solved, Gay will have chatted with several charming women, been kidnapped twice, and gotten wanted for murder. Is he ever going to get on that plane?
This is the second RKO film starring George Sanders as the Falcon, the first being The Gay Falcon (1941). The movies closely follow the pattern of the Saint movies that Sanders had also appeared in, so closely that Simon Templar creator Leslie Charteris actually sued!
This is an enjoyable B-movie, just over an hour long with little to no dragging. There's some witty dialog, plenty of twists and turns, plus Hans Conried gets an extended cameo as a nosy hotel desk clerk, and he's fun. The modest budget is used well.
Helen is ill-served though, having to veer between jealous shrew and melting lover at a moment's notice.
This is a fine short entertainment for those who like their detective suave and almost gentlemanly. It's short so would make a good double feature with a more noirish movie.
Gay Lawrence (George Sanders), also known as "The Falcon", is planning a trip with his fiancée, Helen Reed (Wendy Barrie) to get married and have a honeymoon far from big city crime. But his old frenemy on the police force, Inspector Mike O'Hara (James Gleason) wants to draw him into the case of a missing scientist. Waldo Sampson (Alec Craig) has developed a formula for synthetic diamonds that are indistinguishable from real ones. Sampson was preparing to sell his process to the government to make industrial diamonds, much needed in the defense industry. Unfortunately, it appears that criminals also want the formula and have kidnapped its creator.
The Falcon initially turns down the case, but is soon lured in by a mysterious woman who says they've met before, possible jewel thief Rita Mara (Mona Maris). Gay's sidekick Jonathan "Goldy" Locke (Allen Jenkins) is none too happy about this, as it will expose them to danger, and the Falcon's wandering eye will raise Helen's jealous temper.
Before the case is solved, Gay will have chatted with several charming women, been kidnapped twice, and gotten wanted for murder. Is he ever going to get on that plane?
This is the second RKO film starring George Sanders as the Falcon, the first being The Gay Falcon (1941). The movies closely follow the pattern of the Saint movies that Sanders had also appeared in, so closely that Simon Templar creator Leslie Charteris actually sued!
This is an enjoyable B-movie, just over an hour long with little to no dragging. There's some witty dialog, plenty of twists and turns, plus Hans Conried gets an extended cameo as a nosy hotel desk clerk, and he's fun. The modest budget is used well.
Helen is ill-served though, having to veer between jealous shrew and melting lover at a moment's notice.
This is a fine short entertainment for those who like their detective suave and almost gentlemanly. It's short so would make a good double feature with a more noirish movie.
