THE SHADOW FILMS COLLECTION
The Shadow is a collection of serialized dramas, with the character originally appearing in 1930s pulp novels, and then in a wide variety of media. Details of the title character have varied over the years, but he is generally depicted as a crime-fighting vigilante with psychic powers posing as a "wealthy, young man about town.”
One of the most famous adventure heroes of the twentieth century, The Shadow has been featured on the radio, in a long-running pulp magazine series, in comic books, comic strips, television, serials, video games, and at least seven motion pictures. The radio drama is well-remembered for those episodes voiced by Orson Welles and introduced by a mysterious radio narrator.
The Shadow radio drama premiered on September 26, 1937, with the story "The Death House Rescue", in which The Shadow was characterized as having "the power to cloud men's minds so they cannot see him." As in the magazine stories, The Shadow was not given the literal ability to become invisible.
“Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!” The opening lines of the program captivated listeners and are instantly recognizable even today. At the end of each episode, The Shadow reminded listeners, “The weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Crime does not pay…. The Shadow knows!” Over the years, six motion pictures were made featuring the exploits of The Shadow. This is the complete collection of The Shadow Films including the movie serial and The Shadow TV Pilot.
The Shadow Strikes – The cloaked hero, Lamont Cranston (aka The Shadow), goes after a group of murderous racketeers… (1937)
International Crime – The great crime fighter returns to thwart a gang of foreign saboteurs…. (1938)
The Shadow Returns – People are literally flying off balconies to their deaths as Lamont Cranston tries to make sense out of a confusing jumble of murders… (1946)
Behind the Mask – Lamont Cranston, aka the Shadow, has his hands full as the murder of blackmailing reporter Jeff Mann is blamed on him.. (1946)
The Missing Lady – A jade statue, the “missing lady”, is stolen and its owner killed. Lamont Cranston, aka The Shadow, sets out to catch the killer but is blamed for the murders himself… (1946)
Invisible Avenger – Lamont Cranston, aka The Shadow, hunts the murderer of his “confidante” and uses his ability to become invisible in solving the crime. (1958).
The Shadow Serial - a 15-chapter movie serial starring Victor Jory, premiered in theaters in 1940. The serial's villain, The Black Tiger, is a criminal mastermind who sabotages rail lines and factories across the United States. Lamont Cranston must become his shadowy alter ego in order to unmask the criminal and halt his fiendish crime spree. As The Shadow, Jory wears an all-black suit and cape, as well as a black bandana that helps conceal his facial features.
The Shadow TV Pilot (1954)