The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt (1939)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Peter Godfrey

Writers:

Jonathan Latimer (screenplay)
Louis Joseph Vance (story)

Release Date:

30 May 1939 (Denmark)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

THE LONE WOLF'S TURNED SPY-SMASHER!

Plot:

A group of "spies" is after the plans for an anti-aircraft gun, and the leader uses the opportunity to embroil the Lone Wolf in the plot...

Plot Keywords:

Gun | Safe | Spy | Robbery | Automobile Chase

Cast

Warren William	...	Michael Lanyard
Ida Lupino	...	Val Carson
Rita Hayworth	...	Karen
Virginia Weidler	...	Patricia Lanyard
Ralph Morgan	...	Spiro Gregory
Tom Dugan	...	Police Sergeant Devan
Don Beddoe	...	Police Inspector Thomas
Leonard Carey	...	Jameson
Ben Welden	...	Jenks - Henchman
Brandon Tynan	...	Senator Carson
Helen Lynd	...	Marie Templeton

Also Known As:

The Lone Wolf's Daughter (UK)

Runtime:

71 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #4927) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Although the literary source of the film was the unpublished script of Columbia's The Lone Wolf's Daughter (1929), the story was so completely changed it could hardly be considered a remake.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Gromar comes down the staircase, from the second floor, the burglar alarm goes off. He runs back upstairs to check out the alarm. As he does so, the Lone Wolf is standing on the ground outside the window watching him - even though Gromar is supposed to be on the second floor.

Movie Connections:

Followed by The Lone Wolf Strikes (1940)

Excellent escapism

I dusted this one off after nearly 10 years to see if it was really as bad as the previous reviewers stated. I'm glad to say at least I didn't waste my 67 minutes precious time watching (and then passing comment on) rubbish but imho rather a good grade B screwball comedy.

Michael Lanyard (45 year old Warren William's first of nine films as the reformed cracksman) is being framed by an arch-enemy and his inept gang as part of a plot to steal some secret government plans. For most of the picture he also has to fend off the attentions of his jealous and lively girlfriend Val (21 yo Ida Lupino) and scatty stepdaughter Pat played by the always exuberant Virginia Weidler. Rita Hayworth played baddie Ralph Morgan's sexy sidekick, but seemed out of place, and I half expected Tom Dugan as the detective to launch into some wacky routine every time he appeared; thankfully he didn't. And at the surrealist party Lanyard was standing outside the upstairs window simply by means of an elaborate balcony with plenty of climbing plants on show – so no goof there (as stated in the goofs section) from the Columbia continuity department!

To fans of this film genre, a pleasure from start to finish, to others, why bother?