Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Falcon Takes Over

  • 19421942
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 5m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1K
YOUR RATING
George Sanders and Lynn Bari in The Falcon Takes Over (1942)
  • Comedy
  • Crime
  • Mystery
The Falcon and reporter Ann Riordan try to solve a string of murders after an ex-wrestler, released from jail, goes looking for his girl friend.The Falcon and reporter Ann Riordan try to solve a string of murders after an ex-wrestler, released from jail, goes looking for his girl friend.The Falcon and reporter Ann Riordan try to solve a string of murders after an ex-wrestler, released from jail, goes looking for his girl friend.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Irving Reis
  • Writers
    • Lynn Root(screenplay)
    • Frank Fenton(screenplay)
    • Michael Arlen(based upon the character created by)
  • Stars
    • George Sanders
    • Lynn Bari
    • James Gleason
Top credits
  • Director
    • Irving Reis
  • Writers
    • Lynn Root(screenplay)
    • Frank Fenton(screenplay)
    • Michael Arlen(based upon the character created by)
  • Stars
    • George Sanders
    • Lynn Bari
    • James Gleason
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 32User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos6

    George Sanders and Hans Conried in The Falcon Takes Over (1942)
    George Sanders and Lynn Bari in The Falcon Takes Over (1942)
    Ward Bond in The Falcon Takes Over (1942)
    George Sanders, Lynn Bari, and James Gleason in The Falcon Takes Over (1942)
    George Sanders, Lynn Bari, and Helen Gilbert in The Falcon Takes Over (1942)

    Top cast

    Edit
    George Sanders
    George Sanders
    • Gay Lawrenceas Gay Lawrence
    Lynn Bari
    Lynn Bari
    • Ann Riordanas Ann Riordan
    James Gleason
    James Gleason
    • Inspector Mike O'Haraas Inspector Mike O'Hara
    Allen Jenkins
    Allen Jenkins
    • Jonathan 'Goldy' Lockeas Jonathan 'Goldy' Locke
    Helen Gilbert
    Helen Gilbert
    • Diana Kenyonas Diana Kenyon
    William Alland
    William Alland
    • Reporteras Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    Roxanne Barkley
    • Hat Check Girlas Hat Check Girl
    • (uncredited)
    Turhan Bey
    Turhan Bey
    • Jules Amthoras Jules Amthor
    • (uncredited)
    Ward Bond
    Ward Bond
    • Moose Malloyas Moose Malloy
    • (uncredited)
    Sally Cairns
    • Girl in nightclubas Girl in nightclub
    • (uncredited)
    Fred Carpenter
    • Newsboyas Newsboy
    • (uncredited)
    George Cleveland
    George Cleveland
    • Jerry - Servantas Jerry - Servant
    • (uncredited)
    Hans Conried
    Hans Conried
    • Quincey W. Marriotas Quincey W. Marriot
    • (uncredited)
    Kernan Cripps
    Kernan Cripps
    • Doormanas Doorman
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie Dew
    Eddie Dew
    • Reporteras Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Fanning
    Frank Fanning
    • Detectiveas Detective
    • (uncredited)
    George Ford
    • Nightclub Patronas Nightclub Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Edward Gargan
    Edward Gargan
    • Detective Batesas Detective Bates
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Irving Reis
    • Writers
      • Lynn Root(screenplay)
      • Frank Fenton(screenplay)
      • Michael Arlen(based upon the character created by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    A Date with the Falcon
    6.4
    A Date with the Falcon
    The Falcon in Danger
    6.2
    The Falcon in Danger
    The Falcon's Brother
    6.4
    The Falcon's Brother
    The Gay Falcon
    6.5
    The Gay Falcon
    Time to Kill
    6.5
    Time to Kill
    The Falcon in Hollywood
    6.5
    The Falcon in Hollywood
    The Falcon and the Co-eds
    6.4
    The Falcon and the Co-eds
    The Brasher Doubloon
    6.5
    The Brasher Doubloon
    The Falcon Strikes Back
    6.4
    The Falcon Strikes Back
    The Falcon Out West
    6.1
    The Falcon Out West
    Grand Central Murder
    6.5
    Grand Central Murder
    The Falcon in San Francisco
    6.5
    The Falcon in San Francisco

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The third of sixteen movies for the suave detective nicknamed "The Falcon", released from 1941 to 1949, and the third of four starring George Sanders.
    • Goofs
      In a night club scene The Falcon and Diana Kenyon are sitting close together talking. There is a plant pot on a ledge behind them, partially obscured and on the table a champagne glass is in front of Diana Kenyon. In the next shot, there is a gap separating the two, the flower pot is now centrally placed between them and the champagne glass has moved position.
    • Quotes

      Diana Kenyon: May I offer you a drink?

      Gay Lawrence: Never before sundown.

      Diana Kenyon: And after that?

      Gay Lawrence: After that the deluge.

      Diana Kenyon: What about tonight?

    • Connections
      Followed by The Falcon's Brother (1942)
    • Soundtracks
      The First Time I Saw You
      (uncredited)

      Music by Nathaniel Shilkret

      Lyrics by Allie Wrubel

      Introduced in The Toast of New York (1937)

      Sung by uncredited actress in first night club scene

    User reviews32

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Maybe this might offend a few Raymond Chandler fans, but this is one of the better Falcon movies
    As I watched the opening credits, I was surprised to see that this Falcon movie was actually based on the Raymond Chandler book "Farewell, My Lovely"--which I'd seen twice before in the forms of MURDER, MY SWEET (1944) and FAREWELL, MY LOVELY (1975). What particularly surprised me about this is that was a originally Philip Marlowe story, NOT a Gay Lawrence (a.k.a. "The Falcon") film. Now Raymond Chandler purists might balk at this, but the film actually compares reasonably well to these later films--even with a leading man who is so unlike the hard-boiled detective, Marlowe. While the settings were "classed up" quite a bit compared to the novel, the overall plot is still there with only a few minor changes (such as at the very end and the disposition of "Velma"). Additionally, Allan Jenkins, Lawrence's lady friend and the cops were integrated into the original plot.

    Now if you were going to rate this film, you can't really compare this RKO B-film to the two later higher budget films. The later films are more faithful to the book, but they also have the advantage of being made AFTER Chandler became more famous--and when producers would have never considered getting rid of the Marlowe character. And, while some might be very critical of the lower budget THE FALCON TAKES OVER, if you compare it to other B-detective series films of the day (such as Boston Blackie, Charlie Chan or The Lone Wolf), it is clearly superior--mostly due to the basic foundation laid by Chandler. Plus, George Sanders is his usual affable and suave character--a guy that's hard not to like even if he isn't as jaded and tough as Marlowe.

    For lovers of the B-movie genre, this is an exceptional and engaging film--significantly better than the later Tom Conway films in the series. In fact, aside from 'the earlier THE GAY FALCON, it might just be the best in the series.
    helpful•23
    2
    • planktonrules
    • Nov 20, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 29, 1942 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Falcon Steps Out
    • Filming locations
      • Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    George Sanders and Lynn Bari in The Falcon Takes Over (1942)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Falcon Takes Over (1942) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in July
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    Hollywood Romances: Our Favorite Couples
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.