The Falcon Mystery Movie Collection: Volume 1

The first seven RKO programmers featuring Michael Arlen's gentleman detective are collected on three discs. "The Gay Falcon" (1941) introduces George Sanders as Gay Lawrence, who tackles an insurance scam by jewel thieves and their supposed victims. Next, the saboteurs who kidnapped the scientist behind a synthetic diamond-making process have "A Date with the Falcon" (1941). Lawrence comes to the aid of a wrestler on the hunt for his ex-girlfriend in the first screen rendition of "Farewell, My Lovely," "The Falcon Takes Over" (1942). Audiences were introduced to "The Falcon's Brother" (1942) when Gay's brother Tom (Sanders' real-life sib Tom Conway) joins him on a fateful South American mission. Conway inherited the mantle in "The Falcon Strikes Back" (1943), as Tom Lawrence is framed for a banker's murder by war bond racketeers. When two businessmen and their $100,000 vanish during an airplane flight, Tom gets on the case in "The Falcon in Danger" (1943). Lastly, Lawrence has to deal with a professor's murder in "The Falcon and the Co-Eds" (1943). 9 1/4 hrs. total on three discs. Standard; Soundtrack: English.