The Notorious
Lone Wolf (1946) - 5.0
The last Lone Wolf for Columbia had been Passport to Suez in 1943. Warren William who had been the Lone Wolf since 1939 with nine of them in the win column left the series. Due to his recurring illnesses he was only in a few more films before his death in 1948. I am a big fan of him and his films as the Lone Wolf as well as others. He started off as an A player and slowly sunk down to B films but you would never know it from his performances. He is replaced for three films by Gerald Mohr who is a blank to me. It may be just getting used to a new actor but he felt a bit light in the gravity that William could bring to these films. He is kind of a smirk with a lot of teeth. He was I noticed in a ton of TV later on
He is backed up here though with the wonderful Eric Blore who was the Lone Wolf's butler in most of the William's films. Three years later and he was ready to take on the role again though looking a little older (60 now) and stiff when he walks but he is still one of the best things about these films. The film takes into account this three year absence by explaining that the Lone Wolf was in the war effort. When he arrives back home Jamison practically jumps into his lap and gives him a dance he is so happy to see him. Their relationship has always been warm and funny. Lanyard (the Lone Wolf) already has a date set up with an old flame - played by the very sexy Janis Carter - who impressed me in a couple of the Whistler films. Basically, Lanyard spends the film trying to bed her but something else always comes up. Like a jewel robbery and a couple of murders that the police of course suspect him of doing. He and Jamison have to get to the bottom of it. Some nice light comedy here but pretty close to zero mystery or suspense. Directed by D. Ross Lederman. 64 minutes.
The Lone Wolf in Mexico (1947) - 6.0
This is the second of three films in which Gerald Mohr stars as the Lone Wolf. The Lone Wolf and his butler Jamison go off to Mexico for a holiday. Of course, there is no holiday for the Lone Wolf. First, Jamison declares that he is on vacation as well and Michael Lanyard (the Lone Wolf) will have to dress himself and make his own drinks. Then a spate of jewels keep showing up that are either fakes or real. And the dead bodies make an inevitable appearance. Once again he is in a mess not of his own making and the cops are ready to throw him in the hoosegow.
A decent script - the romance between Lanyard and Jamison is better than most portrayed in films like an all male Nick and Nora - a bunch of suspects, a dotty old lady being gypped at the roulette wheel and Lanyard playing it cool like a master thief has to. On one night he steals jewels from a safe, gives them back to the damsel in distress (the lovely Sheila Ryan), then steals them back from her husband and puts them back in the original safe. Tough work even for a jewel thief. Eric Blore as Jamison has a big hand in the film - the producers knew how popular he was - more than the leasing man I suspect - and he has some choice moments here and the Mexican air seems to have brought out the long dormant desire within - both for jewels and for young women. At 69 minutes I had no complaints.
The Lone Wolf in London (1947) - 5.5
This is the last of the three Gerald Mohr Lone Wolf films. Our two boys - Lanyard and Jamison (Eric Blore - getting quite tight around the belt - as if these B films could not even afford to buy him a new pair of pants) are in London and quite broke. That's what comes of living an honest life. Lanyard is writing a book on the most famous jewels in the world - I think a book of his thefts would be a better seller - and only has one more subject to finish his book. The Eyes of the Nile. Two perfect diamonds shaped like eyes. Unfortunately for Lanyard, the diamonds get stolen the day after he arrives and so the London police are all over him like a plate of bangers and mash.
He gets an offer by a wealthy man to hock some of his jewels for a commission but to keep his name out of it. This doesn't work out and a murder and a pack of suspects are on hand. It is a rather leisurely mystery that decides to leave any suspense on the cutting room floor and the chemistry between Lanyard and his gentleman's gentleman is the best part of the film. Lanyard chases after a showgirl played by the always reliable and lovely Evelyn Ankers while Jamison makes for her maid played by Queenie Leonard. For once I think Jamison struck gold while Lanyard struck rock. Alan Napier (Alfred in the Batman TV show) is hanging around and has a big smooch with Ankers as well. Lucky Alfred,
The Lone Wolf and His Lady (1949) - 5.0
The Columbia Lone Wolf series finally comes to an end and probably none too soon. Congratulations to me for watching them all. It ranks right up there with the invention of the telephone. The 15 film series ran from 1935 to 1949 and in those years the Lone Wolf was portrayed by Melvyn Douglas (1), Francis Lederer (1), Warren William (9), Gerald Mohr (3) and in this final film Ron Randell. Randell had earlier starred in two Bulldog Drummond films from Columbia. He doesn't bring much energy to his character but does have a smidgeon of lounge lizard charm. Columbia had intended to make a few films with Randell but this didn't get a very positive response. What did they expect - they not only replaced the Lone Wolf but also have the audacity to replace Jamison. Not that the actor who does is bad - actually fairly good - but he isn't Eric Blore.
In this one a lady reporter (June Vincent with a passing resemblance to Veronica Lake) gets the police beat and convinces the now tame Lanyard (the Lone Wolf) to give her his life story. But before he does, the newspaper convinces him to cover the unveiling of a diamond. During that a smoke bomb goes off, the diamond disappears and the cops zero in on Lanyard and Jamison - now being played by Alan Mowbray - an often seen actor in B films and always good. Inspector Crane also gets a new face - sadly that of William Frawley of I Love Lucy fame. There just isn't much here to hand your hat on. The diamond gets stolen and Lanyard gets it back. No mystery, nothing complicated. No romance. Well there is between Jamison and another newspaper employee - Colette Lyons, a bubby blonde who steals the film at times and was one of the five wives of George Randolph Hearst, son of William Randolph Hearst. I hope she got a bundle. And so the series ends on a rather ho-hum note, but I am glad I saw them.
The last Lone Wolf for Columbia had been Passport to Suez in 1943. Warren William who had been the Lone Wolf since 1939 with nine of them in the win column left the series. Due to his recurring illnesses he was only in a few more films before his death in 1948. I am a big fan of him and his films as the Lone Wolf as well as others. He started off as an A player and slowly sunk down to B films but you would never know it from his performances. He is replaced for three films by Gerald Mohr who is a blank to me. It may be just getting used to a new actor but he felt a bit light in the gravity that William could bring to these films. He is kind of a smirk with a lot of teeth. He was I noticed in a ton of TV later on
He is backed up here though with the wonderful Eric Blore who was the Lone Wolf's butler in most of the William's films. Three years later and he was ready to take on the role again though looking a little older (60 now) and stiff when he walks but he is still one of the best things about these films. The film takes into account this three year absence by explaining that the Lone Wolf was in the war effort. When he arrives back home Jamison practically jumps into his lap and gives him a dance he is so happy to see him. Their relationship has always been warm and funny. Lanyard (the Lone Wolf) already has a date set up with an old flame - played by the very sexy Janis Carter - who impressed me in a couple of the Whistler films. Basically, Lanyard spends the film trying to bed her but something else always comes up. Like a jewel robbery and a couple of murders that the police of course suspect him of doing. He and Jamison have to get to the bottom of it. Some nice light comedy here but pretty close to zero mystery or suspense. Directed by D. Ross Lederman. 64 minutes.
The Lone Wolf in Mexico (1947) - 6.0
This is the second of three films in which Gerald Mohr stars as the Lone Wolf. The Lone Wolf and his butler Jamison go off to Mexico for a holiday. Of course, there is no holiday for the Lone Wolf. First, Jamison declares that he is on vacation as well and Michael Lanyard (the Lone Wolf) will have to dress himself and make his own drinks. Then a spate of jewels keep showing up that are either fakes or real. And the dead bodies make an inevitable appearance. Once again he is in a mess not of his own making and the cops are ready to throw him in the hoosegow.
A decent script - the romance between Lanyard and Jamison is better than most portrayed in films like an all male Nick and Nora - a bunch of suspects, a dotty old lady being gypped at the roulette wheel and Lanyard playing it cool like a master thief has to. On one night he steals jewels from a safe, gives them back to the damsel in distress (the lovely Sheila Ryan), then steals them back from her husband and puts them back in the original safe. Tough work even for a jewel thief. Eric Blore as Jamison has a big hand in the film - the producers knew how popular he was - more than the leasing man I suspect - and he has some choice moments here and the Mexican air seems to have brought out the long dormant desire within - both for jewels and for young women. At 69 minutes I had no complaints.
The Lone Wolf in London (1947) - 5.5
This is the last of the three Gerald Mohr Lone Wolf films. Our two boys - Lanyard and Jamison (Eric Blore - getting quite tight around the belt - as if these B films could not even afford to buy him a new pair of pants) are in London and quite broke. That's what comes of living an honest life. Lanyard is writing a book on the most famous jewels in the world - I think a book of his thefts would be a better seller - and only has one more subject to finish his book. The Eyes of the Nile. Two perfect diamonds shaped like eyes. Unfortunately for Lanyard, the diamonds get stolen the day after he arrives and so the London police are all over him like a plate of bangers and mash.
He gets an offer by a wealthy man to hock some of his jewels for a commission but to keep his name out of it. This doesn't work out and a murder and a pack of suspects are on hand. It is a rather leisurely mystery that decides to leave any suspense on the cutting room floor and the chemistry between Lanyard and his gentleman's gentleman is the best part of the film. Lanyard chases after a showgirl played by the always reliable and lovely Evelyn Ankers while Jamison makes for her maid played by Queenie Leonard. For once I think Jamison struck gold while Lanyard struck rock. Alan Napier (Alfred in the Batman TV show) is hanging around and has a big smooch with Ankers as well. Lucky Alfred,
The Lone Wolf and His Lady (1949) - 5.0
The Columbia Lone Wolf series finally comes to an end and probably none too soon. Congratulations to me for watching them all. It ranks right up there with the invention of the telephone. The 15 film series ran from 1935 to 1949 and in those years the Lone Wolf was portrayed by Melvyn Douglas (1), Francis Lederer (1), Warren William (9), Gerald Mohr (3) and in this final film Ron Randell. Randell had earlier starred in two Bulldog Drummond films from Columbia. He doesn't bring much energy to his character but does have a smidgeon of lounge lizard charm. Columbia had intended to make a few films with Randell but this didn't get a very positive response. What did they expect - they not only replaced the Lone Wolf but also have the audacity to replace Jamison. Not that the actor who does is bad - actually fairly good - but he isn't Eric Blore.
In this one a lady reporter (June Vincent with a passing resemblance to Veronica Lake) gets the police beat and convinces the now tame Lanyard (the Lone Wolf) to give her his life story. But before he does, the newspaper convinces him to cover the unveiling of a diamond. During that a smoke bomb goes off, the diamond disappears and the cops zero in on Lanyard and Jamison - now being played by Alan Mowbray - an often seen actor in B films and always good. Inspector Crane also gets a new face - sadly that of William Frawley of I Love Lucy fame. There just isn't much here to hand your hat on. The diamond gets stolen and Lanyard gets it back. No mystery, nothing complicated. No romance. Well there is between Jamison and another newspaper employee - Colette Lyons, a bubby blonde who steals the film at times and was one of the five wives of George Randolph Hearst, son of William Randolph Hearst. I hope she got a bundle. And so the series ends on a rather ho-hum note, but I am glad I saw them.