TheLittleSongbird
The Falcon films, both with George Sanders and Tom Conway in the lead role, are on the most part very enjoyable. There are some very good ones like the first two Sanders Falcon films and 'The Falcon Strikes Back', though also a few disappointments like 'The Falcon in Danger' and 'The Falcon in Mexico'.On the most part, 'The Falcon in Hollywood' is very entertaining and one of Conway's better overall Falcon films. Certainly a big improvement over the previous two Falcon films 'Out West' and 'Mexico', both lesser efforts. Not everything works, Cliff Clark and Edward Gargan are missed and while Emory Powell and Frank Jenks are serviceable enough their characters don't have as much impact and their comedy not as interesting.As a result of having so many people bumped off, it is not hard to figure out very quickly who the perpetrator is, who admittedly I suspected early on. The ending is a little rushed too to a lesser extent, and the start of the film is a tad routine and pedestrian.However, a lot also does work. The music is lively and haunting enough, and on the most part the production values are slick and atmospheric with particularly nicely done photography. A new director is on board here and there is a very obvious and much-needed energy injected. Further advantages are a very playful script with dialogue that crackles with wit and a mostly absorbing story that is never less than bright, breezy and fun with some suspense and great twists and turns.Conway gives one of his best performances of the series, performing with suavity and a lot of witty energy. Barbara Hale and Rita Corday are alluring and charming, while brassy and sassy Veda Ann Borg really does liven things up.In conclusion, very entertaining if flawed and one of the better Conway Falcon films and amongst the top half of the series overall as well. 7/10 Bethany Cox
dougdoepke
Entertaining addition to the detective series. Putting the Falcon (Conway) in Hollywood of course means getting an inside look at movie-making, along with a whodunit for plot purposes. So catch all those backlot shots from the 40's—the sound stages, the guarded gate, the prop room, the film sets. It's pretty much a snapshot tour. And guys, there're all those half-clad girls traipsing between sound stages. I'd sure like to know what their movie was so I could tune in. And while we're on tour, note shots of the LA Coliseum looking hugely empty, and the Hollywood Race Track currently being replaced with another football stadium.Okay, there's also a murder mystery to weave into a plot. Something about a bullying director and another guy getting murdered; but given the reveal, I think the writers were taking their own insider shots. To me, the best part of the cast is brassy cabbie Veda Ann Borg. She's a good snappy foil for Conway without being clownish. Then too, this is WWII time (1944), so girl cabbies have taken over for guys in uniform. Thus Hollywood has to treat them respectfully. But how in the world could Perry Mason's own sweet Della Street (Barbara Hale) possibly be counted as a murder suspect. Perry would never stand for that. Neither would grouchy Lt. Tragg.Anyway, the whodunit is pretty pedestrian, but I take that as just an excuse for the studio (RKO) tour. And, oh yes, fans of noir shouldn't look for shadowy mood—it all transpires in high-key lighting. As any good sight-seeing tour should.
MartinHafer
In this installment of the Falcon series, Tom Lawrence arrives in Hollywood for a vacation. Like practically every other Falcon vacation, this one is punctuated by a murder and the amateur detective is sucked into determining whodunnit.It's nice to see the backlot of RKO and seeing how films are made is a rare treat. Because of this you'd think that this would be a decent addition to the Falcon series--with an unusual and engaging plot. However, no matter how hard Tom Conway tries in this film, he's saddled with one of the most annoying and pushy supporting characters from any B-detective series. Early in the film, the Falcon catches a ride with a female cabbie (something not uncommon to find during the war years). While she is pretty and could have been a welcome addition, over time she is just annoying. Why she is allowed to follow the Falcon about and annoy everyone is beyond me--Conway should have just socked her! But because he doesn't, this film ends up being a below par addition to the series.
Lamont-7
I was watching this movie on the hangar deck of the USS Yorktown in Ulithi lagoon in the Western Caroline islands in 1945. I remember a scene at a swimming pool. Then a Kamikaze struck the Randolf, an aircraft carrier anchored next to us. The movie was stopped and we went to battle stations. I have tried to locate a copy of this movie so that I could see the ending with no luck.
AD
