12 reviews
I've still a few of this series of films to see yet, but TLWMAL seems pretty typical of the William Warren Lone Wolf entries.
Basically the pretty and innocent socialite (Jean Muir) about to be married gets tangled up with theft and murder, then luckily for her gets tangled up with the Lone Wolf and his valet (Eric Blore). These two are about to go on holiday but stay to help the damsel in distress from the clutches of the law (Thurston Hall & Fred Kelsey).
There's quite a few twists and turns and the pace never lets up, especially when one of the baddies (Victor Jory) is summarily dismissed from the plot as a corpse without a shot being fired. I think one of the reasons why High Brows disdain this type of potboiler is because they're unnerved to find that it can take so much concentration to follow the story - This Should Not Be!
Favorite bit : In trying to give Muir an alibi, William runs the bath and orders her to take her clothes off - Blore is suitably and audibly outraged even though they immediately leave the room. The last few minutes are a bit frantic, but when the time was up they closed 'em down fast at Columbia.
This was good, recommended to all fans of the genre.
Basically the pretty and innocent socialite (Jean Muir) about to be married gets tangled up with theft and murder, then luckily for her gets tangled up with the Lone Wolf and his valet (Eric Blore). These two are about to go on holiday but stay to help the damsel in distress from the clutches of the law (Thurston Hall & Fred Kelsey).
There's quite a few twists and turns and the pace never lets up, especially when one of the baddies (Victor Jory) is summarily dismissed from the plot as a corpse without a shot being fired. I think one of the reasons why High Brows disdain this type of potboiler is because they're unnerved to find that it can take so much concentration to follow the story - This Should Not Be!
Favorite bit : In trying to give Muir an alibi, William runs the bath and orders her to take her clothes off - Blore is suitably and audibly outraged even though they immediately leave the room. The last few minutes are a bit frantic, but when the time was up they closed 'em down fast at Columbia.
This was good, recommended to all fans of the genre.
- Spondonman
- May 12, 2004
- Permalink
This movie is a B-detective series film. This means that as a "B" movie, it was the second and usually lesser film on a double-feature bill. This didn't mean that B meant it was a bad film, but it was certainly given a smaller budget and had lesser pretensions and expectations from the studio. Many B-films were detective series films and they provided great but also relatively predictable entertainment (much like a movie version of a TV show like MURDER SHE WROTE or even LAW AND ORDER). Common to all these films were goofy or evil supporting characters, a very fast pace, a relatively short length (55-70 minutes) and a certain familiarity with the main characters. Some notable examples are the Sherlock Holmes, Charlie Chan, Falcon or Saint series films.
The Lone Wolf is in many ways particularly like The Saint or Falcon films because the lead (Warren William) plays a reformed thief and gentleman who is smooth with the ladies. While he's very easy to like and is obviously a force for good, the police never seem to understand he's helping them. AND, because of this, the cops are pretty dumb! This is the trademark of all these films.
In this case, William is very ably assisted by Eric Blore (who is hilarious as his butler in this third Lone Wolf film). Unlike the last of the Warren William Lone Wolf films (The Lone Wolf Strikes), this one has a very good plot and actually has some entertaining twists and turns. Plus, like the first of the series (The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt), the supporting actors in general are excellent. A very good example of the series.
The Lone Wolf is in many ways particularly like The Saint or Falcon films because the lead (Warren William) plays a reformed thief and gentleman who is smooth with the ladies. While he's very easy to like and is obviously a force for good, the police never seem to understand he's helping them. AND, because of this, the cops are pretty dumb! This is the trademark of all these films.
In this case, William is very ably assisted by Eric Blore (who is hilarious as his butler in this third Lone Wolf film). Unlike the last of the Warren William Lone Wolf films (The Lone Wolf Strikes), this one has a very good plot and actually has some entertaining twists and turns. Plus, like the first of the series (The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt), the supporting actors in general are excellent. A very good example of the series.
- planktonrules
- Mar 22, 2007
- Permalink
Always enjoy the great acting of Warren William, (Michael Lanyard/Lone Wolf) and his partner, Jamison, (Eric Blore) who were planning on a nice trip to Lake Placid, N.Y. for some fun in the snow. However, their trip is upset because they almost run over a young lady who ran in the front of their automobile. This lady was Joan Bradley, (Jean Muir) who is a pretty blonde socialite about to get married and is robbed of a diamond necklace worth a great deal of money. Joan witnessed a murder and tells Michael Lanyard the entire story and he decides to help her get out of this mess of a situation she got herself into by giving her an alibi. The plot thickens and there are many twists and turns. There are plenty of laughs and you will never be able to figure out just who is the killer until the very end of the film.
If it weren't for some droll remarks by ERIC BLORE, this Lone Wolf entry called THE LONE WOLF MEETS A LADY hasn't got much material to distinguish it among all the other Wolf films.
Blore brings some much needed humor to the predictable formula which has the Wolf fleeing the authorities with a woman (JEAN MUIR) who has witnessed the murder of a man over the robbery of an expensive jewel. He and his valet (Blore) decide to help her free herself from the clutches of Inspector Crane (THURSTON HALL) as The Lone Wolf goes about to find the real man responsible for the crime.
The only surprise among the cast members is seeing BRUCE BENNETT pop up as an irate policeman. Bennett doesn't play his usual bland type and plays the feisty cop with a good display of temperament. Oddly enough, his name is billed last among the cast credits. WARREN HULL as Muir's fiancé is competent enough and better remembered by me as "The Green Hornet" in the serial series he did in the early '40s. As for WARREN WILLIAM, he seems completely at ease in the title role.
Nothing new here, and one of the less memorable but still enjoyable entries in this series.
Blore brings some much needed humor to the predictable formula which has the Wolf fleeing the authorities with a woman (JEAN MUIR) who has witnessed the murder of a man over the robbery of an expensive jewel. He and his valet (Blore) decide to help her free herself from the clutches of Inspector Crane (THURSTON HALL) as The Lone Wolf goes about to find the real man responsible for the crime.
The only surprise among the cast members is seeing BRUCE BENNETT pop up as an irate policeman. Bennett doesn't play his usual bland type and plays the feisty cop with a good display of temperament. Oddly enough, his name is billed last among the cast credits. WARREN HULL as Muir's fiancé is competent enough and better remembered by me as "The Green Hornet" in the serial series he did in the early '40s. As for WARREN WILLIAM, he seems completely at ease in the title role.
Nothing new here, and one of the less memorable but still enjoyable entries in this series.
The Lone Wolf comes to the aid of Joan Bradley, a young woman who gets herself embroiled in a case of murder and robbery.
Gentleman thief turned Private Detective Michael Lanyard is once again on the case, ably supported by Jamison.
A pretty good installment, a solid if unremarkable plot, but as a whodunnit, it worked quite well. This did actually remind me a little of The Lone Wolf Strikes, a case that also involves a jewellery theft.
It's quite well paced, it's full of twists and turns, and you are made to wait to learn exactly who the killer is.
Jean Muir is very good as Joan Bradley, but it's Eric Blore who steals the show as Jamison, he is absolutely hilarious throughout, his quick wit and one liners are a total joy, his delivery is flawless.
A pleasing mystery, one I enjoyed.
7/10.
Gentleman thief turned Private Detective Michael Lanyard is once again on the case, ably supported by Jamison.
A pretty good installment, a solid if unremarkable plot, but as a whodunnit, it worked quite well. This did actually remind me a little of The Lone Wolf Strikes, a case that also involves a jewellery theft.
It's quite well paced, it's full of twists and turns, and you are made to wait to learn exactly who the killer is.
Jean Muir is very good as Joan Bradley, but it's Eric Blore who steals the show as Jamison, he is absolutely hilarious throughout, his quick wit and one liners are a total joy, his delivery is flawless.
A pleasing mystery, one I enjoyed.
7/10.
- Sleepin_Dragon
- Jun 8, 2023
- Permalink
- classicsoncall
- Mar 27, 2016
- Permalink
I'd never heard of the Lone Wolf before watching this one but I ended up enjoying it a great deal. Much of that comes down to the unexpected comedy which makes this film a humorous treat. In particular, the witty interplay between the Wolf and his British manservant adds plenty of laughs to the proceedings. The film starts off with an involved little set up which sees an innocent woman getting framed for murder, and when the Lone Wolf gets drawn in when he vows to clear her name in any way he can. The plot twists and turns come thick and fast here and they never forget the laughs either. I'll watch more.
- Leofwine_draca
- Jul 24, 2023
- Permalink
- mark.waltz
- Nov 2, 2015
- Permalink
Enjoyable Lone Wolf film with plenty of twists in the plot and a hero who is suave and cunning. The witty one liners from the characters melds well with the snappy pace.
"The cleverest wolf.... still ends up as a fur coat!" A witticism from the long-suffering "Insp. Crane" (Thurston Hall) as he yet again finds himself accusing his constant antagonist "Lanyard" (Warren William) of being embroiled in (fake) jewellery theft and murder! This time though, he and loyal "Jamison" (Eric Blore) are taking the fall for "Joan" (Jean Muir) who had teed up an advantageous marriage with the son of a wealthy woman before she finds herself accused of murder. After an high-speed near miss with our sleuths, she finds her future is wrapped up with their's. With the police on their trail, "Lanyard" et al must rush to find out just what happened and who did what. This adventure provides some better examples of the quickly paced and engaging banter between William and Blore, with the latter frequently making observations that raise a smile and he juggles his innate curiosity with him "never denying his cowardice"... Sure, there's little jeopardy here but Muir has a bit more to her as the put-upon dame and there's actually more comedy to appreciate here, too.
- CinemaSerf
- Nov 29, 2023
- Permalink