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The Falcon Mystery Movie Collection, Volume 2

 

The Falcon Out West (1944)                     The Falcon in Mexico (1944)       The Falcon in Hollywood (1944)

 

 The Falcon in San Francisco (1945)                     The Falcon's Alibi (1946)       The Falcon's Adventure (1946)
 

Tom Conway continues his run as the suave society sophisticate sleuth Tom Lawrence in the second half of the smash RKO mystery series. Making the title role strictly his own, Conway clearly delights in mixing the detective with the dash. The war years and thereafter see the Falcon head out west for an extended sojourn, tackling criminals up and down the coast! Complete the RKO Falcon film saga with this 2-disc, 6 film collection. Beware miscreants - The Falcon is still on the hunt!

Posters


Comments

We already reviewed first 7 films in the Falcon series that were released by Warner Archive Collection on a 3-disc set. The remaining 6 titles were remastered and released in this set containing 2 replicated discs (not a DVD-R!). Tom Conway took over the reigns of Falcon in Falcon's Brother (1942) from his real-life brother George Sanders (they would co-star again as brothers in Death of a Scoundrel). This set contains the last 6 movies in the series with Tom Conway before it was resurrected by poverty row studio Film Classics with John Calvert for 3 more movies. For any film noir fan we can especially recommend two films in this set that makes it a must buy - The Falcon in San Francisco (1945) directed by Joseph H. Lewis and The Falcon's Alibi (1946) co-starring Jane Greer and Elisha Cook Jr. and directed by Ray McCarey of Little Rascals and Three Stooges fame and younger brother of Leo McCarey.

Compared to earlier Falcon set or The George Sanders Saint Movies Collection , all transfers look like they were remastered. There are still some marks on the prints, but its based on the source material and never become a problem. There a 3 movies on each dual-layered factory pressed disc. There are no additional extras, but we can still easily recommend this release.

  - Gregory Meshman

 

DVD Menus
 


 

directed by William Clemens
USA 1944

 

The murder of a wealthy, much-married rancher (Lyle Talbot) in a posh Manhattan nightclub is the catalyst for The Falcon Out West. Amateur sleuth Tom Lawrence (Tom Conway), aka The Falcon, deduces that the victim was killed with rattlesnake venom. He follows the trail of evidence to a dude ranch in a frontier town. The suspects include pretty Marion (Barbara Hale) and Vanessa (Carol Gallegher) and not-so-pretty Bates (Minor Watson) and Hayde (Don Douglas). Though Tom Conway seems bored and distracted throughout The Falcon Out West, the film itself is an above-average "Falcon" series entry!

Theatrical Release: 3 March 1944 (premiere)

Reviews                         More Reviews                         DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Warner Home Video (The Falcon: Mystery Movie Collection 2) - Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!

DVD Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

 

Distribution

Warner Home Video

Region 0 - NTSC

Runtime 1:04:16
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.15 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate

Audio Dolby Digital Mono (English)
Subtitles None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Warner Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• 6 films on 2 discs

DVD Release Date: February 19th, 2013
2 discs in Keep Case

Chapters 30

 

  

Screen Captures

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 


 

directed by William Berke
USA 1944

 

The Falcon in Mexico wastes no time getting started: within the first ten minutes, amateur sleuth Tom Lawrence (Tom Conway), aka The Falcon, gets mixed up with a damsel in distress, the murder of an art gallery owner, and a collection of valuable paintings attributed to a supposedly dead artist. Flying to Mexico, Lawrence gets in touch with Barbara (Martha MacVicar, later Vickers), the daughter of the allegedly deceased Humphrey Wade (Bryant Washburn). Before long, Lawrence has three more murders on his hands, not to mention an unknown assassin who's gunning for him. The film's most memorable performance is delivered by Nestor Paiva as a resourceful Mexican cabbie who's got a little more on the ball than is immediately apparent!

Theatrical Release: 4 August 1944 (New York, NY)

Reviews                          More Reviews                      DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Warner Home Video (The Falcon: Mystery Movie Collection 2) - Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!

Distribution

Warner Home Video

Region 0 - NTSC

Runtime 1:09:51
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.15 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

Audio Dolby Digital Mono (English)
Subtitles None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Warner Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:

DVD Release Date:
2 discs in Keep Case

Chapters 26

 


Screen Captures

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 


 

directed by Gordon Douglas
USA 1944

 

This delightful entry in RKO Radio's "Falcon" series finds amateur Tom Lawrence (Tom Conway), aka The Falcon, tring to solve a series of Tinseltown murders. The killings all seem to be tied in with a "jinxed" movie production, supervised by neurotic studio executive Martin Dwyer (John Abbott). Accompanied by wisecracked lady cabbie Billie (Veda Ann Borg), Lawrence pokes around a studio backlot, gathering clues and grilling suspects all along the way. Could the murderer be pretty starlet Peggy Callahan (Barbara Hale), haughty prima donna Lili D'Alio (Rita Corday) or shady "businessman" Louie (Sheldon Leonard)? Filmed on such locations as the Hollywood Park race track and the Hollywood Bowl, The Falcon in Hollywood spends most of its time within the offices, sound stages, technical departments and walkways of the RKO Radio studio itself. The film was one of the most popular of RKO's "Falcon" efforts, posting a $115,000 profit

Theatrical Release: 8 December 1944 (USA)

Reviews                            More Reviews                            DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Warner Home Video (The Falcon: Mystery Movie Collection 2) - Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!

Distribution

Warner Home Video

Region 0 - NTSC

Runtime 1:07:16
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.15 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

Audio Dolby Digital Mono (English)
Subtitles None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Warner Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:

DVD Release Date:
2 discs in Keep Case

Chapters 24

 


Screen Captures

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 


 

directed by Joseph H. Lewis
USA 1945

 

Filmed extensively on location, The Falcon in San Francisco is one of the best of RKO Radio's "Falcon" series. This time around, amateur sleuth Tom Lawrence (Tom Conway), aka The Falcon, comes to the aid of 10-year-old Annie Marshall (Sharyn Moffet). While trying to solve the murder of Annie's nurse, Lawrence is accused of kidnapping the kid. Several beatings, warnings and murders later, Lawrence discovers that the solution of the mystery is tied in with a gang of silk smugglers, headed by none other than? Oh, no! The surprise ending isn't going to be tipped off here! Director Joseph H. Lewis' occasional utilization of "cinema verite" techniques would later develop full-blown into such noir classics as Gun Crazy.

Theatrical Release: 20 July 1945 (New York City, NY)

Reviews                          More Reviews                      DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Warner Home Video (The Falcon: Mystery Movie Collection 2) - Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!

Distribution

Warner Home Video

Region 0 - NTSC

Runtime 1:05:46
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.35 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate

Audio Dolby Digital Mono (English)
Subtitles None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Warner Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:

DVD Release Date:
2 discs in Keep Case

Chapters 26


Screen Captures

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 


 

directed by Ray McCarey
USA 1946

 

A loose remake of 1941's The Gay Falcon, The Falcon's Alibi is one of the better entries in RKO's "Falcon" series, and one of the few that can stand on its own merits as a "film noir." This time, amateur detective Tom Lawrence (Tom Conway), aka the Falcon, is hired by a wealthy woman's secretary to protect the lady's precious jewels. Nevertheless, the thief still manages to get away with them, which puts Lawrence hot on his trail.

Theatrical Release: 12 April 1946 (New York City, NY)

Reviews                                   More Reviews                           DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Warner Home Video (The Falcon: Mystery Movie Collection 2) - Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!

Distribution

Warner Home Video

Region 0 - NTSC

Runtime 1:02:28
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.35 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

Audio Dolby Digital Mono (English)
Subtitles None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Warner Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:

DVD Release Date:
2 discs in Keep Case

Chapters 28

 


Screen Captures

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 


 

directed by William Berke
USA 1946

 

When a scientist discovers a way to create synthetic diamonds, a group of criminals kidnap his daughter Meredith (Louisa Braganza) in an attempt to ransom her for the valuable formula. Rescuing Meredith from her kidnappers, the Falcon (Tom Conway) becomes the prime suspect in a string of murders--including that of the scientist. It is then up to the Falcon to prove his innocence by discovering the identity of the true criminals. This film is the last of the Falcon series to star Conway.

Theatrical Release: 13 December 1946 (USA)

Reviews                                     More Reviews                                 DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Warner Home Video (The Falcon: Mystery Movie Collection 2) - Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!

Distribution

Warner Home Video

Region 0 - NTSC

Runtime 1:01:28
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.35 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

Audio Dolby Digital Mono (English)
Subtitles None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Warner Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:

DVD Release Date:
2 discs in Keep Case

Chapters 32
 

 


Screen Captures

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 


DVD Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

 

Distribution

Warner Home Video

Region 0 - NTSC

 

 




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