snollen63 A still buff (enhanced by a well-padded double-breasted suit) and pre-automobile accident (after which he nearly lost a leg) WARD BOND literally steals the show (as he does in many films throughout his 31-year film career). George Sanders and Allen Jenkins are again solid as well in this Hollywood detective series entry, based on Raymond Chandler's "Farewell, My Lovely." This well-directed, fast-moving blend of suspense, crime, comedy and a pretty high body count (at one point, police captain James Gleason--always such a frustrated delight--pleads to have "at least one murder" at which Jenkins' "Goldy" Locke is not "laying around with the bodies") is well-directed and entertaining throughout. If you enjoy this series (and/or other 1940s detective series), this is one film not to be missed.

judy t Comparing this film to Chandler's novel or to Murder My Sweet - and I'm a huge fan of both - is pointless. This 'Falcon' is a terrific 40s programmer, and I enjoyed seeing how plot elements and characters from the novel were whipped up into a frothy and fun comedy. I've read all the bios on Chandler and knowing he loathed Hollywood, he probably loathed what RKO did to his magnum opus, but Falcon fans, and me, liked it. This is my first Falcon film, watched only because Lynn Bari played the female lead. My interest in seeing Bari's films comes from reading her superbly wonderful biography, 'Foxy Lady', and Bari is terrific here as the investigative reporter who could have solved this mystery all by herself. I've always liked George Sanders, and he doesn't disappoint. The Velma actress had the right vampish allure, but her hairstyle is jarring and I got distracted wondering why RKO didn't borrow Metro's Guilaroff to fix her wig. I laughed a lot at the comedians - Jenkins, Gleason and his sidekick, the Falcon's valet. All in all, I had a very enjoyable Saturday night at the movies.

blanche-2 George Sanders is again The Falcon in "The Falcon Takes Over," a 1942 entry into the series. This one is the plot of "Farewell, My Lovely," and Ward Bond as the nearly catatonic strongman Moose Malloy walking around in a fog looking for Velma.They've sort of stuffed The Falcon and Goldy into this plot, a complicated story that was tough to cram into 65 minutes. Consequently this isn't the breezy Falcon we're used to, and most of the comedy goes to Goldy, who is terrified of Malloy and sees him around every corner. James Gleason, as the Inspector O'Hara, investigating the murder of a night club manager, also had a funny bit he did several times with his underling.Hans Conreid has a serious role here as Marriot, and Turhan Bey has a small role as swami Jules Amthor.All in all, entertaining, maybe not the usual Falcon except for his flirting with every woman, but decent.

Michael_Elliott Falcon Takes Over, The (1942) ** 1/2 (out of 4) An ex-wrestler breaks out of prison, goes looking for his girlfriend and soon bodies start to pile up so The Falcon (George Sanders) gets involved in the case along with a reporter (Lynn Bari). This third film in the series adapted Raymond Chandler's 'Farewell, My Lovely' making it the first to do so and it's also an early example of film noir before the term really caught on. This is certainly the best of the first three films but after a very good start things slide downhill as the film loses target of the central story and doesn't pick up again until the very good ending. Sanders delivers his best performance out of the three films and Allen Jenkins is here in fine form.