Season 3 PREMIERE - The Shadow (1994) Film!

 

 

"I saved your life, Roy Tam... it now belongs to me."

—The Shadow
(The Shadow [1994] - Universal Pictures)

 

The theme of season 3 of The Shadowcast is "The Shadow on Film",
to some outward appearances, perhaps not the richest vein of
source material, but as eagle-eyed agents of the Shadowcast are
well aware, The Shadow was fortunate enough to be the subject
of no fewer than six feature films—and one film serial—by the time
Universal at last produced the 1994 film, starring Alec Baldwin. 

 

Alec Baldwin as Lamont Cranston 

 

In today's episode, we review this cult film in detail, from the plot to
the cinematography to the costumes, and discuss the troubled circumstances
of its star-crossed birth. In retrospect, it's something of a miracle the film was
released at all. Yet for its multifarious flaws, The Shadow (1994) remains the

introductory media for many a longtime Shadow fan (your intrepid host included).

 

 

The Shadow (Movie Adaptation) artwork by Mike Kaluta 

 

Yet perhaps the most fascinating peculiarity of The Shadow (1994)'s release
are the many and varied versions of its script (as will tend to occur, when a movie
takes over a decade to produce!) none rendered more beautifully than Dark Horse
Comics' 1994 film adaptation, written and illustrated by longtime Shadow luminary,
Michael W.M. Kaluta!

How does it differ from the final product?
Is there a proper pulp film adaptation of The Shadow hiding in plain sight all these years?
Listen and learn, fellow agents!

Report!

Season 2 FINALE - HANDS IN THE DARK

The Shadowcast · The Shadowcast 18 - HANDS IN THE DARK

Season 2 of The Shadowcast comes to its long-awaited conclusion,

as we wrap up the inaugural 10 entries of the pulp series with its

final volume: The atmospheric crime mystery HANDS IN THE DARK!

This is a fascinating story of kidnapped wealthy heirs, criminal conspiracies,

and for the first time in The Shadow series: Corrupt police officers!

It has everything: A damsel in distress, The Shadow in various disguises,

moving unknown through the ranks of crimedom, and of course, 

ubiquitous Chinatown deathtraps! 

The Shadowcast has had what can only be described as a blast tearing through the

first 10 Shadow stories and—hopefully—introducing an entirely new audience to

some of them as well.

We shall return in Season 3: THE CINEMATIC AVENGER!

Report!

Season 2, Episode 9 - MOBSMEN ON THE SPOT

 

"Like yourself," came the low voice, "I am a man whose name has been

forgotten. We shall speak no more of years gone by.

You are now Clifford Marsland. I am"—the voice halted impressively—

"The Shadow!"

-'Mobsmen on the Spot' 

(Walter B. Gibson, 1932)

Artwork by Tom Lovell

Racketeers—ruthless, relentless—make a great metropolis

their blood-soaked battleground to suit evil purpose!

Artwork by George Rozen

The Shadow wages war with racketeers and corrupt unions

in another tale torn from the headlines, in 1932's timely

crimeland epic: "Mobsmen On The Spot!" To do so, he recruits

a new agent, Cliff Marsland! An ex-con who reveals fascinating

insights into the past of the man behind The Shadow! 

We're getting mighty close to the conclusion of this

season of The Shadowcast! As you know, 'The Pulp Avenger' is the

theme of season 2, and as such, we're covering the first 10 Shadow

stories in order. "Mobsmen On The Spot", as such, represents the

penultimate edition of season 2's trip down Pulp Junction. 

Be sure to tune in next time for the climactic conclusion!

REPORT!

Season 2, Episode 8 - THE BLACK MASTER and SÉANCE OF DEATH

 

"The secret of The Shadow," came the monotonous voice. 

"At last it is understood! The man of many faces—with no face of his own!"

-The Black Master (1932)

Agents of the Shadowcast, Report!

Cover art by George Rozen

The Shadow tests his mind and mettle against his first proper supervillain, 

in 1932's underrated and seminal pulp adventure, 'THE BLACK MASTER'!

"Not since Sherlock Holmes locked wits with Professor Moriarty have there been

such formidable opponents on the battlefield of crime!", raves the back cover

of the Pyramid reprint of this classic story. 

The Shadowcast enthusiastically agrees.

Cover art by Jim Steranko

Then, The Shadow and Margot Lane investigate the curious case of a crooked spiritualist

and a demented psychiatrist, plundering patients, and ultimately murdering them

in the recently-recovered 1947 Radio episode 'Séance of Death!'

Bret Morrison as The Shadow

REPORT!

Season 2, Episode 7 - THE SILENT SEVEN (With Author/Historian WILL MURRAY!)

 

"We are the Silent Seven," said the central figure, in a low-pitched voice. 
Every word was audible; some peculiar acoustic condition of the room gave the tone an awe-inspiring sound.

"The Silent Seven," repeated the others, in a whisper.

"We command the Faithful Fifty," was the whispering echo.

"Our identities are unknown," declared the speaker, "Each of us was appointed by the founder of our order—he who first was Number One. 
Should new members be needed, I shall appoint them. Their names will be known to me alone. That is my oath."

"You have declared the oath of Number One," was the response.

-'The Silent Seven' (1932)

Art by Tom Lovell

The Shadowcast is joined by venerated pulp historian WILL MURRAY, author of the recent Shadow bookumentary 'Master of Mystery: The Rise of The Shadow'.

Art by Joe DeVito

Then, we continue our reviews of classic pulps when The Shadow tackles a secret society of prominent criminal conspirators in THE SILENT SEVEN!

Art by Jerome Rozen

REPORT!

Buy 'Master of Mystery: The Rise of The Shadow' Pick up more of Will Murray's Shadow/Spider/Doc Savage books here!

Season 2, Episode 6 - 'THE DEATH TOWER' and 'WALTER B. GIBSON and THE SHADOW'

 "Burke, I have paid you well because I wanted intelligent cooperation. You have done your part. This is only the second time that you have met me. I want your honest opinion. Do you trust me? Would you work for me, faithfully, without question? Keeping all our dealings confidential. Then I can tell you my real purpose in setting you up in business. Burke, I am a criminologist. I have my own way of dealing with crime. Those who work for me must always obey me implicitly -- even though they may not understand my motives. Even though they may face danger!"

-'The Death Tower' (1932)

Artwork by Tom Lovell

The deadly duology of 'The Silent Seven' saga begins with the pulp classic "THE DEATH TOWER" 
as The Shadowcats continues our ongoing analysis of the early years of The Shadow Magazine in order!

Then, we review a rarity in literary circles: A full biography of The Shadow's mysterious creator: Author, journalist and famed magician Walter Gibson in 'WALTER B. GIBSON and THE SHADOW' by Thomas Shimeld! The book contains diary entries and previously undocumented stories of the life of this oft-overlooked pop culture icon, so you'll definitely want to give this week's Shadowcast a listen. 

REPORT!

Purchase Walter B. Gibson and The Shadow here

Season 2, Episode 5 - James Patterson's THE SHADOW Reboot!

"Lamont usually wore a tux," said Margo. "Ivory of Bakelite buttons. No zipper. Custom tailored."

"So what about all those pictures of The Shadow with a cape and scarf?" I ask.

"Ridiculous," says Lamont. "Way too much fabric. That's all some crazy artist's imagination."

-"The Shadow" (James Patterson/Brian Sitts, 2021)

James Patterson, slowly transmogrifying into a bloodhound

On today's Shadowcast, I finally review James Patterson's prose reboot of THE SHADOW!

Short synopsis: It, uh... doesn't go well. 

But then, with covers like this: 

...what were we really expecting.

Purchase James Patterson's 'The Shadow' (if you must) here