@@kerry-j4m 'The Phantom' gets a lot of hate BUT it's a fun throwback to pulp heroes we grew up with on radio- truth be told, he predates Batman! I thought it was a fun romp where everyone was in on the cheesiness and fun, and didn't try to take itself to srsly, it was bright and colorful the way a good superhero movie should be.
@@eclipsehorse8693 I still LOVE the Phantom film,all the pulp heroes predate Batman,Zorro,the Shadow,etc,etc,..most of what makes Batman is taken from Zorro and other pulp heroes. If it wasn't for the pulp heroes there wouldn't be a Batman.
@@DavidMcMahon-b3othey went under after everyone switched to gas or electric after WW2. According to Google there are still about 130,000 homes that still use coal which is surprising but it's probably getting harder and harder to find suppliers to deliver it.
Original Sin is a favorite of mine since seeing the movie. In fact; I owned both versions of the song. The film version and Taylor Dame's version. Yes, there was a slight difference
That era of hero films, from about 1990 to 1995 is very underrated. The Rocketeer, the Shadow, etc. I even have a soft spot for the 1990 version of Captain America. Despite their issues, they are fun movies, as as minty pointed out, no cgi overload.
The biggest problem with the 90s Captain America movie, other than an Italian Red Skull, so that they could release the movie in Germany, was that Cap LOST EVERY FIGHT HE WAS IN!!!!! That includes the very last fight, where he was saved by the President and the girl love interest. Yeah, he finally beat the Red Skull but only after the other two saved his bacon a few times.
@@DavidMcMahon-b3o Well, it wasn't nearly as good as The Shadow, The Phantom and The Rocketeer, but, overall, it showed promise. It had its moments. It's main problem, I thought, was a distinct lack of superhero action and a too short run time to tell its story.
Yes, I have The Shadow, The Phantom and The Rocketeer on blu-ray. They are excellent films all, and Skky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is good too. I was taken aback by all the CGI at first, until I slowly came to realize that almost everything in the movie was computer generated around actors performing on a mostly blank stage. That was pretty mind blowing back then.
Bonus Fact: The model used for NYC was created for the Coen Brothers film, “The Hudsucker Proxy.” The filmmakers for The Shadow had to add to the model though as it had no roofs. In Hudsucker you see the buildings from the ground up whereas in The Shadow you’re flying over them.
And interestingly enough the screenplay was written by the Coens AND Sam Raimi, which was a little shocking to me! I love the script. It has a wonderful poetic quality to it that just feels perfect for the surreal world the film takes place in.
I had a subscription to Entertainment Weekly back in the 90s. I remember one of their main movie critics had the worst, outdated taste. He seemed to hate fun. I wonder if he's the one who rated it as one of 20 worst superhero movies.
I have been reminded (By this Video) Of a really weird comic book character called "The Phantom Stranger". He was a bit like this, but with more Otherworldliness. His head was always hooded, but there were stars and galaxies instead of a face. Once some villain tried to punch him in this face, thinking it was some kind of mask, and hs hand was frozen as it went right inside the hood. Can't remember much more about this character, but it seemed really cool to my 10 year old mind back then.
Absolutely love this movie. I always find myself returning to watch this movie from time to time and just get so absorbed into it. Thank you for this video!
I loved this movie since seeing it in theaters. Had cassettes of the old radio shows too. This movie had really cool toys as well. I had quite a few of them. I actually liked the packaging as a kid and also had some of the t shirts with the logo and character on it.Super underrated. Maybe Ian McKellan’s first comic book role too.
Watched this over and over again as a kid in the 90s. Underrated gem. Fun and stylish. My grandma would often jokingly quote in a deep voice, "who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men", since she was familiar with the radio show.
I didn’t get to see the Shadow in the theater but when I finally did see it on dvd it made my favorites list, I’ve watched this many times and never gets old just a fun beautiful looking movie
that was one the Shadow's origins originally, his real identity is unknown, and Kent Allard & Lamont Cranston are only 2 of his many aliases "I know you better than you know yourself"
He was originally a very famous WW1 flying ace. Went by the name The Black Ace or something like that. He saved the lives of a number of Russian royal family early in the war and received his red ring from them as a reward. And they died just a few years later with the start of the Russian Revolution and he was not around to save them. Kent Allard was revealed to be his "real name" in the late 30s. He used the name of Lamont Cranston as his main disguise when the real Lamont Cranston was out of the country. The two of them actually teamed up in a few of the pulp stories. Gibson's gave hints later on that Kent Allard might not even be the Shadow's "real identity".
@@DavidMcMahon-b3o He was named 'The Black Eagle' because of his preference for flying his fighter plane during the night. On one mission he crashed his plane behind enemy lines and established a spy ring, where he met Cliff Marsland, a future agent of his.
I was such a fan of this movie. I had listened to the radio show, I had read the books and the comics. When the movie came out I sat in the front row with my date. I even bought the Phurba and have it on my desk at work! I have desperately wanted Lamont Cranston to be at a board meeting in a Batman movie where he says something interesting leading Bruce to say "Who Knows..." and the camera focuses on Lamont who smiles back. I LOVE THE SHADOW and wish they would make a modern version of him.
Two fiercely intelligent vigilantes, one with a huge assortment of gadgets and the other with the ability to prevent people from seeing him even when talking to them? But more in line with much of the radio program Shadow has few other superhuman abilities. Could be interesting. Could be very interesting indeed.
My uncle had a bunch of old Shadow cassettes, and I used to love those on road trips. When he movie came out, I was so excited. Probably the only 12 year old who wanted to go see it so badly. Lol
I was with you, my friend. That was my age at the time and because my dad grew up with the radio serials I had a loose familiarity and I LOVE this film. I had all the figures and even the junior novelization from a book fair. Ah...book fairs. LoL
I was 10 in 1994. Alec Baldwin as Lamont Cranston was literally my first on screen crush. I've always been a sucker for a man in a vintage suit. I was never aware that anyone thought it was a bad movie. I've always loved it. I'm mildly offended you called it a "B" movie! lol
The Shadow is one of my faves of all time. I was first introduced to him by my high school English teacher. For a couple months we listened & studied old radio shows. Those were great classes.
I liked this movie, but it's been SO long since I last watched it, I actually allowed myself to forget that Tim Curry was in it!! I'm glad to hear that it's gained popularity over time...
"The Shadow" is one of my favourite movie, since I was a teenager, watching it five times during the summer of 1994. All times in a nearly empty cinema.
It's the second part of what I call the 1930's superhero period piece trilogy of the 1990's (That's a mouthful🤣) including "The Rocketeer" (1991) and "The Phantom" (1996).
So happy to see you cover this movie, Minty! This along the The Phantom scratch that nostalgic unconventional comic book hero itch for me. They're such underrated classics! I'm glad people are wising up and giving them the attention they deserve!
This movie, as well as The Rockteteer and The Phantom, are great movies that go together. As a kid, I always wanted these 3 movies to do a cross over. Heck, Throw in Dick Tracy for more fun.
"Razorback" is EPIC! I remember taking a gamble on it at Blockbuster (or similar) and was very pleasantly surprised. As for "The Shadow", I remember being pretty underwhelmed, especially compared to Burton's "Batman" movies. Perhaps I should rewatch it with more of an open mind....
The Shadow pinball machine is amazing. The ball swoops around a corner like The Shadow disappearing, fun ramps that you can divert, and there's a mini playfield where you break the hall of mirrors (it's like a game of Arkanoid). Brian Eddy's first game!
Some time in 1994 or 95 (can't remember when exactly) I went through a phase where I liked watching the ads on the "Pay-Per-View" channel. I never ordered, but just liked watching them. One of the movies advertised was... The Shadow. It stood out so much it was the only ad I can actually remember. I asked my parents about it, and they said he was an older character. So, the following weekend, we went to the local Video Store and rented it. It became one of my favorite movies. I wouldn't place it in my top 5, but it is in the top 15. I like the fact that people are starting to like it.
I must admit that i haven't been here in quite some time so to see that you're still uploading new material is awesome. It's great to have you still with us Minty :)
Back then I had not even heard of the movie until I found it while searching for a movie to watch at my local VHS rental store. The store was called Bigelow Video, I miss that kind of experience. I remember enjoying the movie, but I didn't think it was something I needed to see again. I might give it a rewatch today, though. Thanks for sharing.
I love this film! It's an excellent blending of several versions of the character from comics, radio, and comics. The cast and production design are fabulous, and the music is perfect. A sleeper of a movie!
One of my guilty pleasures! Nitpick - the movie at least was set with true psychic powers as a story point NOT hypnosis or illusions. Unless you count forced hallucinations as illusions that is. “Psychically, I’m very well endowed.” - Cranston
And far to varied. Like I mentioned in my own comment, sticking to situational invisibility is a limit that forces the hero (and the film makers) to work for it. Throwing things with your brain is all well and good, but if you are smart and can keep people from seeing you (though if you pick something up while "invisible" they can see _that_ move) but that's just about it the win feels so much better.
FINALLY!! I'm not the only one! This one is STILL remembered as a cult-classic by my generation, and the beginning of an awesome trend in the 90s! (and this one in particular because I actually grew up listening to cassette-tapes of the OG radio show! Yes, I'm a natural-born nerd.) Fellow Farmer-philes UNITE!! Wuld-Newton FOREVER!!! =D
Oddly I played the pinball machine in an arcade in Llandudno, North Wales having never heard of the film. It was only after playing the pinball that I tracked down a copy of the film and watched it. I enjoyed it, it was a fun, a little campy in parts but well balanced with dark parts.
Thanks for posting this! I grew up a Shadow fan. A local radio station replayed the radio series during the 1970s, and I read library books related to the character. In the 1990s, I started collecting comics related to heroes from that era, and The Shadow topped the list. I was over-the-moon when the movie came out. While I feel it missed the target on several key spots (most notably revealing a complete backstory for the Shadow, something that should have been left shrouded in mystery and red herrings) it really did feel like the captured the essence of the character. I really do hope for a return to the franchise someday, and hey, I'd be all down for a MCU-like crossover arrangement involving the pulp heroes of that 1920s-1940s era: Doc Savage, the Phantom, Green Hornet & Kato, the Spider, the Avenger, Mandrake, etc.
I didn't like it at first, but it grew on me over time. Now I think it's a pretty solid retro-noir superhero movie. Which sounds terribly specific, now that I think about it...
As for the action figures, I had lighting draw shadow as it’s probably the most screen accurate. I got him again a few years back and still have him. Love that figure
Agreed it's an all around gorgeous movie. The sets including the cars, the costumes, the cast, cinematography. Whenever I watch I wonder why Miller wasn't a bigger star. And this is probably Baldwin at his best looking.
I really don't remember this movie so thank you for bringing this to our attention, yet another well-scripted show from you so another thank you for that. All the very best from Scotland.
I friggin LOVE tis movie. It 100% takes you to another world, has great music, has a dark story, has Tim Curry, and Baldwin does good with the character. I have no idea why it was never bigger and why we have never seen another Shadow movie. This is one of those movies that always relaxes me and takes me back.
In Argentina there was a WRESTLER called "Norton, la Sombra", and he was one of the hero characters, even winning some tourneys. He was VERY CLEARLY "inspired" by The Shadow, but didn't use guns or the famous laughter
Thank you for answering my request for this video Minty. As always awesome review. I really loved this movie, I only seen it a couple of months or so ago for the first time.
I've always loved this movie, and he's honestly probably my favorite superhero. Most old time radio apps have the OG show on them, for anyone interested. Dynamite Comics has also done a good job with him, especially their Year One.
I used to rent cassettes from the library with the shadow radio show on them because my dad had me late in life and was born in 38. This hit the nostalgia feels hard
My dad grew up in the 40’s listening to The Shadow on the radio. He was so excited to introduce him to me when this came out. We saw it on premier day. One of my favorite heroes ever since. Precursor to Batman detective, my all time favorite character.
Russell Mulcahy made some great stuff. Razorback and Highlander are stone classics. Love The Shadow too. Last thing I watched by him was Give 'Em Hell Malone, which was fun. Will have to see what he's done since...
The year that Orson Welles voiced The Shadow (1937-38), with Agnes Moorehead playing Margot Lane, produced some really great stories. It was the year before he became famous for the “War of the Worlds” broadcast. Supposedly he was so busy that he couldn’t rehearse with the rest of the cast, so he would show up at the studio and perform the script cold. During one episode’s commercial break, he’s supposed to have said, “Say, this is a really good one; how does it end?”
Agnes Moorehead (Endora in Bewitched) was the first actress to play Margot Lane on the radio with Orson Welles in the 1937/8 radio season. There was another failed Shadow pilot in 1954 featuring Tom Helmore as Lamont Cranston/The Shadow who only appeared as a disembodied voice as The Shadow.
