This week’s mystery movie was the 1944 RKO film “The Falcon in Hollywood,” with Tom Conway, Barbara Hale, Veda Ann Borg, John Abbott, Sheldon Leonard, Konstantin Shayne, Emory Parnell, Frank Jenks, Jean Brooks, Rita Corday, Walter Soderling, Useff Ali and Robert Clarke.
Screenplay by Gerald Geraghty, based on the character created by Michael Arlen…
Photographed by Nicholas Musuraca, special effects by Vernon L. Walker, art direction by Albert S. D’Agostino and L.O. Croxton, set decoration by Darrell Silvera and Michael Ohrenbach, recorded by Francis M. Sarver.
Musical direction by C. Bakaleinikoff, edited by Gene Milford, gowns by Renie, dialogue direction by Leslie Urbach, assistant director James Casey, re-recording by Jerry Kellum, dance staged by Theodore Rand.
Produced by Maurice Geraghty.
Directed by Gordon Douglas.
“The Falcon in Hollywood” is available on DVD in a Warner Archive boxed set from TCM. It will air on TCM on July 3.
Last week’s “The Death Kiss” stumped a lot of folks, so I thought something more familiar would be appropriate. How about another whodunit at a movie studio? And so here we are at “The Falcon in Hollywood,” one of the many “Falcon” movies made by RKO, first with George Sanders (who also did a bunch of “The Saint” movies) and then his brother, Tom Conway. I’ve been saying “poor, old Tom Conway” quite a bit this week as he came to a sad end: Dead at 63 of what newspapers called “a liver ailment” in 1967 after friends rallied to his aid in 1965, when he was facing eviction from the Charles Hotel, a $2 a night beachfront place at 23 1/2 Windward Avenue in Venice.
Conway, reportedly estranged from Sanders, viewed his circumstances as he might have reacted to an unfortunate plot turn in a film: “I have nothing to grumble about, really. It’s just a temporary setback and one has to adjust, to weather the storm for a little while.” He also told reporters about his health problems, that he had been swindled out of $15,000 and that he had no desire to act anymore. His last appearance was in a “Perry Mason” episode with his “Falcon” co-star Barbara Hale.
As Harrison Reports (Dec. 2, 1944) says, the movie has far-fetched plot. It was clearly done on the cheap (with RKO standing in for the mystery studio), lots of process shots and a few location scenes, notably at the Coliseum. (You don’t come to a “Falcon” movie for the plot, do you?)
Barbara Hale and Tom Conway – or their doubles – at the Coliseum.
What do you want to bet the New York Times hated this movie or didn’t bother to review it? I’m guessing they didn’t review it.
I’m half-right. Bosley Crowther barely reviewed it (Dec. 9, 1944):
Another mild intra-mural excursion around a movie studio is the only intriguing feature of RKO’s “The Falcon in Hollywood,” latest in the well-worn mystery series. For otherwise this obvious whodunnit about murder on a studio set is just another indifferent workout for Tom Conway as the suave, intuitive sleuth. The backgrounds of picture-making are uncommonly interesting and lead one to wonder sharply why they haven’t been used to more avail. But the story itself is as feeble and hackneyed as a prop telephone. We’ll give you a tip as to who done it: Someone who commits a lot of murder around studios, that’s who.
For Monday, we have a mystery gent.
Update: This is Useff Ali.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery woman. She does not approve of such goings-on.
Update: This is Chili Williams.
Also for Tuesday, we have these mystery gents.
Update: This is Emory Parnell (last seen in “Confidentially Connie”) and Frank Jenks.
Brain Trust roll call: Megan and Thom (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest) and Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest).
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have this extremely calm mysterious fellow.
Update: This fellow is as yet unidentified. He plays Ted Miles.
Our mystery security guard has a mysterious cat, which could be the great-great grandfather (or grandmother) of Close-Up.
Update: This is Walter Soderling. You may remember him as the pushy real estate agent in “The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry.”
And finally, we have a mystery chap in a double-breasted suit with resplendent lapels. His companion has been cropped out due to insufficient mysteriousness and will appear Friday.
Update: For Friday, here’s our mysterious leading man, victim of the mad cropper, hiding behind his binoculars.
Update: This is Sheldon Leonard and Tom Conway. In a variation of the old saying, when the plot bogs down, have a man come through a window with a gun. That would be Sheldon Leonard.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Tucson Barbara (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Floyd Thursby (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery detectives), Jenny M. (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Funky PhD (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery guest and Tuesday’s mysterious detective No. 2), David Inman (Tuesday’s mysterious Detective No. 2), B.J. Merholz (Tuesday’s mysterious detective No. 2), Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s mystery guests), Meghan and Thom (Tuesday’s mystery guests), Sheila (Tuesday’s mysterious detective No. 2), L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast), Patrick (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery guest and Tuesday’s mystery detectives), Gary (Tuesday’s mysterious detective No. 1) and Blackwing Jenny (Tuesday’s mysterious detective No. 1).
Such a big cast – so many potential mystery guests. Let’s see how many I can cram in for “Aha Thursday.” First, we have an array of mysterious gents….
Update: This is, from left, Emory Parnell, Konstantin Shayne, Frank Jenks and John Abbott.
…we also have this mystery woman….
Update: This is Jean Brooks.
… and we have this mystery woman …
Update: This is Rita Corday.
… and we have this mystery woman. Her companion has been cropped out due to insufficient mysteriousness and will appear Friday.
Update: And our mysterious leading man emerges from the crop of doom.
Update: This is Tom Conway and Veda Ann Borg.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s mysterious security guard and lapel guy), Tucson Barbara (Wednesday’s mysterious security guard and lapel guy), David Inman (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mysterious lapel guy), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mysterious security guard and lapel guy), Earl Boebert (Wednesday’s mysterious lapel guy), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie), Allie Oop (Wednesday’s mysterious lapel guy), Alexa Foreman (mystery movie), Gary (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mysterious detective No. 2, Wednesday’s mysterious security guard and lapel guy), Sheila (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mysterious detective No. 1, Wednesday’s mysterious security guard and lapel guy), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mysterious security guard and lapel guy), Megan and Thom (Wednesday’s mysterious security guard and lapel guy), Beach Gal (mystery movie, Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests, and Wednesday’s mystery security guard and lapel guy), Sylvia E. (mystery movie, Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests, Wednesday’s mysterious security guard and lapel guy, plus the character’s name for Wednesday’s mystery dead guy), Sue Slutzky (mystery movie, Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests, Wednesday’s mysterious security guard and lapel guy, plus the character’s name for Wednesday’s mysterious dead guy).
Note to Sylvia: Yes, that’s the idea.
And for Friday, we have our mysterious leading lady and leading man.
Update: This is Barbara Hale and Tom Conway.
Brain Trust roll call: Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s lapel guy), Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guests and victim of the mad cropper), Beach Gal (Thursday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests and victim of the mad cropper), Megan and Thom (Thursday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests), Gary (Thursday’s mysterious cabdriver and an interesting anecdote), Sue Slutzky (Thursday’s mystery guests, Friday’s mystery guests and a nice story about one of Thursday’s mystery gents), Sylvia E. (Thursday’s mystery guests, Friday’s mystery guests and the victim of the mad cropper), Suzanne A. Stone (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mysterious detective No. 2 and Wednesday’s lapel guy) and Tucson Barbara (Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Today’s guest is Useff Ali in “The Falcon in Hollywood”.
LikeLike
Useff Ali in THE FALCON IN HOLLYWOOD.
LikeLike
John Roland Redd (AKA) Korla Pandit?
LikeLike
An excellent guess! But alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
THE FALCON IN HOLLYWOOD. Useff Ali Monday, Chili Williams, Emory Parnell and Frank Jenks (yay!) today.
LikeLike
“The Falcon in Hollywood”
Mon – Useff Ali
Tues – Chili Williams, Emory Parnell, Frank Jenks
LikeLike
For Tuesday we have Emory Parnell and Frank Jenks. The movie is “The Falcon in Hollywood.”
LikeLike
Chilli Williams, Emory Parnell and Frank Jenks in The Falcon in Hollywood
LikeLike
The Falcon in Hollywood (1944)
Monday: Useff Ali
Tuesday: Chili Williams; Emory Parnell, Frank Jenks
LikeLike
Tuesday’s mystery gent on the right is Frank Jenks.
LikeLike
Frank Jenks as one of today’s gents.
LikeLike
Got it. Monday’s mystery gent is Useff Ali. Movie is The Falcon in Hollywood
LikeLike
Frank Jenks
LikeLike
Paula Corday, Emory Parnell and Frank Jenks.
LikeLike
Today the guest is Chili Williams. She is follow in the next shot with Emory Parnell and Frank Jenks.
LikeLike
Frank Jenks on Tuesday?
LikeLike
The Falcon in Hollywood (1944) w/Tom Conway, Barbara Hale, Veda Ann Borg, Emory Parnell, Frank Jenks, Jean Brooks, Rita Corday, Useff Ali…
LikeLike
Useff Ali, Marion Gray, Emory Parnell and Frank Jenks in The Falcon in Hollywood from 1944.
LikeLike
Emory Parnell and…
LikeLike
Why, it’s my uncle-Emory Parnell! Actually cousin, but I called him uncle.
LikeLike
Robert Clarke, Walter Soldering STerling Leeonard, and Barara Hale cut yout.
LikeLike
Konstantin Shayne as the first mystery guy today.
LikeLike
Bryant Washburn (I think); Walter Soderling, Sheldon Leonard
LikeLike
Sheldon Leonard today, making this “The Falcon in Hollywood.”
LikeLike
Robert Clarke; Walter Soderling; Sheldon Leonard.
LikeLike
Sheldon Leonard with the lapels on Wed.?
LikeLike
I’m going with The Falcon in Hollywood.
LikeLike
Sheldon Leonard?
LikeLike
The Falcon in Hollywood!!
LikeLike
Add Sheldon, Frank, and Walter to Emory and I think we have Whatshis name in Hollywood.
LikeLike
Emory Parnell, Walter Soderling, Sheldon Leonard, ‘The Falcon in Hollywood’?
LikeLike
Walter Soderling and Sheldon Leonard.
LikeLike
We don’t know who the guest corpse was today, but the guest in the second scene is Walter Soderling and in the third scene is Sheldon Leonard.
LikeLike
Tues Chili Williams. Movie is The Falcon In Hollywood.
Mon might be Useff Ali
Wed security guard is Walter Soderling
Wed Mr. Lapels is Sheldon Leonard
LikeLike
Tues detectives are Emory Parnell and Frank Jenks
LikeLike
Might Wed calm (and dead) gent be Herman Hack?
LikeLike
Seated next to Sheldon Leonard but cropped until later this week would be Barbara Hale.
LikeLike
Ha! Sensed that you were continuing a theme from last week when I saw the movie camera equipment and what looks like a reflector behind our guy at the pool. Didn’t get the picture title until seeing Mr. Leonard today.
The Falcon in Hollywood 1944
Monday – Useff Ali with the sandwich (crusts all nice and trimmed – per craft services I guess)
Tuesday – Chili Williams in the lovely hat. Emory Parnell and Frank Jenks in image 2
Wednesday – Thought I recognized our victim in the chair, but he’s not listed in the cast. His character’s name is Ted (or Tim) Miles and he was to star in our movie within the movie. Image 2 is Walter Soderling and the studio cat (this cat has a LOT of screen time.) Image 3 – Sheldon Leonard and ‘cropped for lack of mysteriousness’ is Tom Conway.
LikeLike
The Falcon in Hollywood
Monday: Useff Ali
Tuesday: Chili Williams, Emory Parnell, Frank Jenks
Wednesday: I can’t find the actor’s name anywhere. His dead character’s name is Ted Miles, the security guard is Walter Soderling and then Sheldon Leonard
LikeLike
I hope that’s Sheldon Leonard rocking the lapels … people looking so familiar but I’m unable to summon names.
LikeLike
Emory Parnett, Konstantin Shayne, Frank Jenks, John Abbott, Jean Brooks, Rita Corday, Tom Canyon uct out of frame, and Veda Ann Borg today.
LikeLike
Thurs Array of actors, our 2 detectives, Emory Parnell, Frank Jenks with Konstaintin Shayne with John Abbott. Cabbie is Veda Ann Borg. Thurs first mystery woman is Jean Brooks. Second Thurs mystery woman is Rita Corday.
LikeLike
Emory Parnell, Konstantin Shayne, Frank Jenks, John Abbott; Jean Brooks; Rita Corday; Tom Conway, Veda Ann Borg.
LikeLike
Today’s male guests from left to right are Emory Parnell, Konstantin Shayne, Frank Jenks and John Abbott. The three female guests in order of appearance are Jean Brooks, Rita Corday and Veda Ann Borg.
LikeLike
Emory Parnell, Konstantine Shayne, Frank Jenks, John Abbott, Jean Brooks, Virginia Belmont, Veda Ann Borg.
LikeLike
When I was a moviegoing kid back in the 40’s and 50’s I was so fond of Veda Ann Borg that if she wasn’t in a film I was disappointed but much more surprised. Wow. 142 credits on IMDB.
LikeLike
Thursday’s new mystery guests: Konstantin Shayne and my old friend, John Abbott (I knew John in the early 1990s. He was a talented artist and he liked to make up limericks. He gave me some but I can’t locate them or I would have shared a couple here.) The next guests: Jean Brooks, Rita Corday and Veda Ann Borg.
Friday will be Barbara Hale and Tom Conway.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thurs – our Tuesday guys (Parnell and Jenks) joined by Konstantin Shayne and John Abbott;. Jean Brooks; Rita Corday; Veda Ann Borg and (due on Friday) Tom Conway, once again ‘cropped for lack of mysteriousness’. That leaves Barbara Hale for Friday along with Mr Conway in full form. Looking forward to the Saturday breakdown.
LikeLike
I see Frank Jenks and Sheldon Leonard….”The Falcon in Hollywood.”
LikeLike
Emory Parnell, Konstatin Shayne, Frank Jenks, John Abbott, Jean Brooks, Rita Corday, Veda Ann Borg.
LikeLike
Barbara Hale and Tom Conway.
LikeLike
Barbara Hale and Tom Conway
LikeLike
Fri, we added in our lead gent next to the cabbie, Tom Conway. Fri we have our lead lady with lead gent, Barbara Hale and Tom Conway.
LikeLike
Barbara Hale, Tom Conway.
LikeLike
Tom Conway in The Falcon in Hollywood, RKO 1944
LikeLike
Barbara Hale and Tom Conway.
LikeLike
Tom Conway today, Mischa Auer earlier.
LikeLike
Could our dead Ted Miles be Tom Conway with a little makeup?
LikeLike