The Gay Falcon Movie

The Gay Falcon
Rating:
Run Time: 67 min
MPAA Rating:
Released: 1941
Directors: Irving G. Reis
Genre/Type: Mystery
Crime
Romance
Detective Film
Crime Thriller
Producers: Howard Benedict
Plot Synopsis by Hal Erickson
When the film rights to its "Saint" series proved too expensive to renew, RKO Radio came up with a lookalike property in the form of "The Falcon", even engaging George Sanders, the best of the "Saint" impersonators, to play the studio's newest gentleman detective. The Gay Falcon opens as Gay Lawrence (Sanders) -- aka the Falcon -- is hired to guard a priceless diamond. When the owner of the gem is murdered, suspicious immediately falls upon Lawrence's ex-con chauffeur Goldie (Allen Jenkins). Two more killings occur before Lawrence is able to uncover the insurance scam behind it all. Along the way, he romance a pair of toothsome leading ladies, Helen (played by series regular Wendy Barrie) and Elinor (Anne Hunter). Hans Conried contributes a sparkling bit as a snide police sketch artist.

Back to the top Images of The Gay Falcon

Back to the top Top Questions about The Gay Falcon

The bold adventurer who's as smooth with the ladies as he's clever with crime!...Fiction's slickest super sleuth, created by Michael Arlen and portrayed by the star who thrilled you as "The Saint". more
Yes. It sounds like it's 2 first names, also, both names are actually birds.
Jonah Falcon was born on July 29th, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York, is the biological son of John Holmes and is bisexual. ChaCha On!
1 2 »

Cast

Actors Character Born
George Sanders Gay Lawrence Jul 3, 1906 in St. Petersburg, Russia
Wendy Barrie Helen Reed Apr 18, 1912 in Hong Kong
Allen Jenkins Goldy Apr 9, 1900 in Staten Island, New York City, NY
Anne Hunter Elinor
Gladys Cooper Maxine Dec 18, 1888 in Lewisham, England
Edward S. Brophy Bates Mar 27, 1895 in New York City, NY
Arthur Shields Waldeck Feb 15, 1896 in Dublin, Ireland
Damian O'Flynn Weber
Turhan Bey Retana Mar 30, 1919 in Vienna, Austria
Eddie Dunn Grimes Mar 31, 1896 in Brooklyn, NY
Lucille Gleason Mrs. Gardiner
Willie Fung Jerry Mar 3, 1896 in Canton, China
Virginia Vale May 20, 1920 in Dallas, TX
Joey Ray Orchestra Leader
Robert Smith Cop At Morgue
Jimmy Conlin Bartender Oct 14, 1884 in Camden, NJ
1 2 »

Back to the topReview

Review by Craig Butler
The Gay Falcon kicked off the Falcon series of films in fine fashion. True, it's criminally similar to the Saint detective series that preceded it, but once one gets past the similarities, Gay is quite a bit of fun. That's not the same thing as saying that it's terribly original or inventive, of course. The mystery at the basis of this plot is not as intriguing as one might wish, and the writers don't play fair with the audience by withholding some information that helps to determine the villain. But the dialogue is snappy, especially when delivered by George Sanders in his inimitable style -- a style made up of two parts vinegar to three parts vermouth, all very definitely stirred in the most delectable manner rather than shaken. Sanders floats through his role, taking the lightest of approaches, and it's absolutely what is required. He has formidable support from the wonderful Gladys Cooper, and Wendy Barrie is also on hand with her own delectable way with a quip. If Irving G. Reis' direction is only serviceable, and if the plot dangles here and there, it's still good high society detective fun.
Table of Contents
Plot
Images
Top Questions
Cast
Review