The Shadow (1994) Continuing our 1990's tour of Hollywood's 1930's superguys, we come to another colorful, entertaining entry.....maybe not as practically-perfect-in-every-way as "The Rocketeer", but still loads of fun to watch and re-watch.
(Interesting to note: that all four of the films in this line-up, 'Dick Tracy', 'The Rocketeer', 'The Shadow' and 'The Phantom' were designed, of course, to kick off a franchise 'tentpole' series. While none of them generated the kind of blockbuster box-office required for that to happen, these one-and-done single entries make for one joyful collection......a true snapshot of summer movies before the new Millenium.
'The Shadow', born out of pulp magazines and a hugely popular radio show, was Lamont Cranston,(Alec Baldwin) who learned the secrets of the Mysterious East to acquire his particular powers.....the ability to 'cloud men's minds', render himself invisible and pop up when evil-doers least expect him.
To the wonderful, thumping Jerry Goldsmith score, his backstory unfolds....drifting through the Orient as a thuggish warlord, Cranston's seized by a holy man and turned to a righteous path....but only after he's thoroughly humiliated by 'The Phurba', a magical flying dagger with a pissed-off, razor-toothed entity built into the hilt.
Then we're back in New York where Cranston lives the life of a dashing playboy while secretly tormenting gangsters as the black-hatted, hook-nosed, ever cackling Shadow.
Our hero soon finds himself up against a formidable enemy, Genghis Kahn descendent Shiwan Khan (John Lone), who's somehow resurrected himself to seek world domination. And prominent in his plans - forcing an esteemed scientist (Ian McKellan) to make him an atomic bomb.
Let the super-heroics commence.....which they do indeed with the help of a terrific supporting cast....Penelope Ann Miller as a dressed-to-the-nines socialite, Tim Curry as a slimy minion, Peter Boyle as cabby ally of The Shadow, Jonathon Winters as Cranston's disapproving uncle and police commissioner and naturally, the immortal James Hong turns up in the China prologue.
Maybe none of it quite hangs together as a cohesive story but we always have a great time coming back to it. Baldwin, still in leading man mode before he transitioned to a far more successful career as a character actor, provides the appropriate dash. His encounters with Lone, as the imperious but sometimes chatty Khan are a surprising, witty delight. (Khan: "Your mind is like an open book to me." Cranston: "Then learn how to read....")
Critics weren't too kind to 'The Shadow' when it opened and the hordes of ticket buyers the studio expected never materialized. But 30 years after it release, BQ's still likin' a lot as a perfect lighter-than-air junky summer movie.
Perfect with a cool drink and a bucket 'o hot buttered popcorn.....which you'll have to cook yourself. Remember what the Shadow intones...."the weeds of crime bear bitter fruit.." 4 stars (****).
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