Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

ActuallyGlimmer The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Lachlan Coulson This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

MartinHafer It's rather odd that the Shadow films weren't all that good. The Shadow was a very popular character on the radio and in magazines yet the film versions of the character were, for the most part, a big failure. You would have expected more films in the series as well as better films but this is not the case--they are often pretty limp mystery stories. "The Shadow Returns" is yet another attempt to re-introduce the character--and this time Kane Richmond stars as Lamont Cranston/The Shadow. Richond was the most successful of the actors who played him, but this was only for three poor to mediocre films.If you are unaware of The Shadow, Lamont Cranston supposedly learned some amazing hypnotic techniques in 'the East' that allow him to cloud the minds of people. He can either seem invisible or make people confess to their crimes. However, oddly, this incarnation of the character hides a lot and doesn't use his cool skills to get to the heart of matters. In many ways, he's not a lot different from The Saint or Charlie Chan--other than his cool voice and great wardrobe! The story is an odd one. As the mystery unravels, each time the police or The Shadow try to question a suspect, the suspect throws himself off the balcony to their death! Soon Cranston realizes that someone else has Shadow-like powers and they are making people kill themselves rather than confess. BUT, and this annoyed me, no one thought about just interviewing people on the first floor!!! Or, taking them into custody and handcuffing the suspects to the cops so they cannot jump. Or, handcuffing them to a heavy table or knocking them out first! Duh.An even bigger duh is Cranston's man-servant, Shevvie. Shevvie might just be the most annoying and stupid sidekick ever. Heck, he makes Birmingham Brown (Mantan Moreland) from the Charlie Chan flicks seem like a rocket scientist by comparison! Shevvie just talks and talks and talks and cannot seem to shut his yap and most every minute he's on the film seems to last an eternity. So, while Kane Richmond didn't do a bad job, Shevvie (as well as Cranston's fiancée) were too annoying and steal all the focus of the film.To make things worse, some of the story elements are just plain dumb--such as Mr. Yeoman (who OBVIOUSLY is wearing a disguise) and the use of the whip near the end of the picture. All in all, the film's dumb writing and bad writing make you wonder why anyone would have approved of making two more films in this incarnation!

busterggi to make a real Shadow movie this time. Burbank & Hawkeye appear although they don't actually do anything - in fact you'd think they were Lamont's buddies rather than The Shadow's agents from they way they are depicted.Don't get me wrong, its better than 'International Crime' because it does at least feature The Shadow even if he isn't depicted as well as in the earlier serial or the pulps. And it does have more action than 'The Shadow Strikes' (it could hardly have much less). It would be nice if Margot wasn't a pretty much total flake and more of an agent/assistant/non-idiot. Though she comes off looking good next to Cardona & Weston who make the Keystone Kops look and sound good (yes, I know the Kops were silent but that would be an improvement for this film).See it if you can but don't go out of your way.

disdressed12 this is the third of six movies in the Shadow series of movies,and the first of three starring Kane Richmond as Lamont Cranston/The Shadow.Cranston is played in this one as more of a flippant smart alec.he is the nemesis of the chief of police,who resents him butting in on his cases.this one has a darker tone than the firs two(The shadow Strikes,and International Crime).the story is fleshed out a bit more here,and there is more action.minor spoiler***The Shadow is actually a suspect in this mystery***.Shrevvy(Tom Dugan)Cranston's trusty cabbie and helper)has a bigger role to play in this one,and it's funny to see him mangle some of his words.this movie does have its slow spots and does seem dragged out at times,but overall,it was enjoyable.my vote for The Shadow Returns is a 5//10

dbborroughs Second attempt at turning the radio character into a movie series. This time out its Kane Richmond as Lamont Cranston and his alter ego the Shadow. Here he has no power to cloud men's minds, instead he wears a mask and a fedora. Here he is investigating the smuggling of jewels in coffins and the deaths the occur around it.Very comedic the film has almost no suspense despite its best efforts. The broad comedy simply cuts across the mystery and takes away from feeling of danger. The ploy almost works, however about two thirds of the way through the film the mashing of styles becomes too much and the back and forth nature of the plot (There are only really three locations, the commissioner's office, the dead man's house and a warehouse) interest dissipates and you get the feeling you'd really like to just jump to the end to see who the killer is.Worth trying but only on cable.