The Lone Wolf in London

Last updated
The Lone Wolf in London
The Lone Wolf in London.jpg
Directed by Leslie Goodwins
Written by
Screenplay by
Based on Lone Wolf
by Louis Joseph Vance
Produced by Robert Cohn
Ted Richmond
Starring Gerald Mohr
Nancy Saunders
Eric Blore
Evelyn Ankers
Cinematography Henry Freulich
Edited by Henry Batista
Music by Mischa Bakaleinikoff
Production
company
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • November 13, 1947 (1947-11-13)
Running time
68 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Lone Wolf in London is a 1947 American mystery crime film directed by Leslie Goodwins and starring Gerald Mohr, Nancy Saunders and Eric Blore. [1] The picture features the fictional Scotland Yard detective the Lone Wolf who travels to London, and solves the mystery of some missing jewels. It was the penultimate Lone Wolf film, followed by The Lone Wolf and His Lady in 1949, and the last for Mohr in the lead role. [2]

Contents

Plot

In 1947, Inspector Garvey of Scotland Yard suspects Michael Lanyard, the reformed jewel thief known as the "Lone Wolf," is behind the theft of the priceless diamonds called the "Eyes of the Nile". Lanyard denies any involvement claiming that he is in London with his butler, Claudius Jamison to write a book on the jewels and was in New York when they were stolen.

Lanyard and Jamison are short of funds and when Ann Kelmscott, the daughter of wealthy gem collector Sir John Kelmscott, invites them to the family estate, they agree. Sir John confides that he is in desperate need of money and asks Lanyard to arrange a confidential loan with part of his jewel collection as collateral. Jamison tells his master that Lily, the maid, told him the butler, Henry Robards, is heartbroken because his former wife, actress Iris Chatham, has run off with Monty Beresford who financed the lavish stage production that launched Iris to stardom.

Back at his hotel, Lanyard receives a call from Iris, inviting him to the theater that night where she asks him to stay away from the Kelmscotts. At her apartment, Robards begs her for a reconciliation, but she demands something first. Lanyard decides to accept Kelmscott's offer and arranges to meet Bruce Tang, a gem dealer the next morning. Kelmscott gives Robards a packet of jewels to deliver to Lanyard but he steals the Eyes of the Nile for Iris. David Woolerton, Ann's fiancé, asks him for a ride because he wants to spy on Lanyard. At Tang's shop, Inspector Garvey has followed Lanyard. When Robards' car rolls to a stop, the butler is dead behind the wheel, the jewels still in his possession but the Eyes of the Nile are gone. Woolerton claims Robards pushed him out of the car on the outskirts, and said he suspects Lanyard was the murderer.

Lanyard thinks Kelmscott was being blackmailed by the thief who sold him the diamonds, and flees the police and proceeds to Iris' apartment. She has just persuaded Monty to get the diamonds from Lanyard. Lanyard and Monty struggle with Monty being subdued and told that Iris was about to flee with the famous Lone Wolf. At the theater, Lanyard discovers the diamonds are sewn into her mink coat but before he can leave her dressing room, Iris enters and admits that Robards had given her the diamonds. While Lanyard phones Jamison, Iris sneaks out an open window and heads to the airport to catch a flight out of the country.

At the airport, Lanyard confronts Iris and turns her over to the waiting Garvey but Monty arrives, wielding a gun and declaring Iris planned the entire robbery and then killed Robards for the diamonds. When Jamison brings Lily and Iris' mink, Lanyard extracts the Eyes of the Nile from the coat's linings, proving that Iris was the thief and murderer.

Cast

Production

The Lone Wolf in London was directed by Leslie Goodwins [3] and was written by Brenda Weisberg and Arthur E. Orloff [4] Gerald Mohr was signed by Columbia Pictures to play the lead character in three films in the popular series: The Notorious Lone Wolf (1946) and The Lone Wolf in Mexico (1947), as well as The Lone Wolf in London. [5] The Lone Wolf in London marked the last Lone Wolf film in which Mohr starred as the title character. The film was followed up with The Lone Wolf and His Lady (1949) with a new lead actor, Ron Randell, after which Columbia decided to bring an end to the film series. [3] Principal photography commenced on May 19, 1946, and finished on May 29, 1947, taking place in studio settings at Columbia Pictures Corporation. [6] [4]

Reception

The Lone Wolf in London was theatrically released in the United States on November 13, 1947. The film was predictable B-movie fare at the box office but mainly relegated to the second feature in a double bill. Film critic Bosley Crowther did not even review the film, merely mentioning it in passing as appearing at the same time as The Lost Moment (1947). [7] [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerald Mohr</span> American actor (1914–1968)

Gerald Mohr was an American radio, film, and television character actor and frequent leading man, who appeared in more than 500 radio plays, 73 films, and over 100 television shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lone Wolf (character)</span>

The Lone Wolf is the nickname of the fictional character Michael Lanyard, a jewel thief turned private detective in a series of novels written by Louis Joseph Vance (1879–1933). Many films based on and inspired by the books have been made. The character also appeared briefly on radio and television.

<i>The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt</i> 1939 film by Peter Godfrey

The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt is a 1939 American adventure film directed by Peter Godfrey and written by Jonathan Latimer. The film stars Warren William and Ida Lupino. The film was released by Columbia Pictures on January 27, 1939.

<i>The Lone Wolfs Daughter</i> (1919 film) 1919 silent film directed by William P.S. Earle

The Lone Wolf's Daughter is a surviving 1919 American silent era crime/drama/thriller motion picture starring Bertram Grassby, Louise Glaum, and Thomas Holding.

<i>Secrets of the Lone Wolf</i> 1941 film

Secrets of the Lone Wolf is a 1941 American mystery crime film directed by Edward Dmytryk and starring Warren William, Ruth Ford and Roger Clark. It is part of the series of Lone Wolf films released by Columbia Pictures. His next film was Counter-Espionage, released in 1942.

Counter-Espionage is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Edward Dmytryk. Counter-Espionage was the ninth film in Columbia's Lone Wolf series, based on characters created by Louis Joseph Vance. It is also known as The Lone Wolf in Scotland Yard. The film was followed by One Dangerous Night, released in 1943.

<i>The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady</i> 1940 film by Sidney Salkow

The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady is a 1940 American drama directed by Sidney Salkow, starring Warren William, Eric Blore and Jean Muir.

<i>Passport to Suez</i> 1943 film by André de Toth

Passport to Suez is the 20th film featuring the Lone Wolf character. It was the eleventh of fifteen in the Columbia Pictures series, and the last to star Warren William as the lead character, a jewel thief turned private detective. The Lone Wolf battles Nazi spies in Egypt in World War II. The character's next film was The Notorious Lone Wolf.

<i>The Lone Wolf in Mexico</i> 1947 film by D. Ross Lederman

The Lone Wolf in Mexico is a 1947 American black-and-white mystery-adventure film directed by D. Ross Lederman for Columbia Pictures. It features Gerald Mohr as the title character, detective Lone Wolf. Chronologically the third-to-last Lone Wolf film in Columbia's theatrical series, it was followed by The Lone Wolf in London later in 1947 and The Lone Wolf and His Lady in 1949.

<i>One Dangerous Night</i> 1943 film by Michael Gordon

One Dangerous Night (1943) is the tenth Lone Wolf film produced by Columbia Pictures. It features Warren William in his seventh and second-to-last performance as the protagonist jewel thief turned detective the Lone Wolf, and Warren Ashe as Sidney Shaw, the film's antagonist. The film was directed by Michael Gordon and written by Arnold Phillips, Max Nosseck, and Donald Davis.

<i>The Notorious Lone Wolf</i> 1946 film by D. Ross Lederman

The Notorious Lone Wolf is a 1946 American mystery film directed by D. Ross Lederman and starring Gerald Mohr, Janis Carter and Eric Blore. It is the twelfth Lone Wolf film produced by Columbia Pictures. The picture features Mohr in his inaugural performance as the protagonist detective Lone Wolf alongside Janis Carter and Ian Wolfe as Adam Wainwright, the film's antagonist. The screenplay was written by Martin Berkeley, Edward Dein, and William J. Bowers.

<i>The Lone Wolf and His Lady</i> 1949 film by John Hoffman

The Lone Wolf and His Lady is a 1949 American mystery film directed by John Hoffman and starring Ron Randell, June Vincent and Alan Mowbray. It is the 15th and final Lone Wolf film produced by Columbia Pictures, and was written by Edward Dein and Michael Stuart Boylan.

<i>The Lone Wolf Keeps a Date</i> 1940 film by Sidney Salkow

The Lone Wolf Keeps a Date is a 1940 American mystery crime film directed by Sidney Salkow and starring Warren William, Frances Robinson, Bruce Bennett and Eric Blore. It is the sixth Lone Wolf film produced by Columbia Pictures. It features William in his fourth appearance as the title character and Edward Gargan, Lester Matthews and Don Beddoe as the film's antagonists. The screenplay was written by Salkow and Earl Felton.

<i>The Lone Wolf</i> (1917 film) 1917 film by Herbert Brenon

The Lone Wolf is a 1917 American silent drama film based on the 1914 novel The Lone Wolf by Louis Joseph Vance. Starring Bert Lytell and Hazel Dawn, it was adapted for the screen by George Edwardes-Hall and produced and directed by Herbert Brenon. No prints of the film are known to survive, so it is currently classified as lost.

Charles Clague (1890–1962) was a British-born art director who worked in Hollywood films. He was employed by Columbia Pictures, during the 1940s and early 1950s.

<i>Cheaters at Play</i> 1932 film

Cheaters at Play is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Hamilton MacFadden and written by Malcolm Stuart Boylan. The film stars Thomas Meighan, Charlotte Greenwood, William Bakewell, Ralph Morgan, Barbara Weeks and Linda Watkins. The film was released on January 27, 1932, by Fox Film Corporation. The film was based on the Lone Wolf character, who appeared in many films produced by Columbia Pictures.

<i>The Lone Wolf Returns</i> (1926 film) 1926 film by Ralph Ince

The Lone Wolf Returns is a 1926 American silent mystery film directed by Ralph Ince and starring Bert Lytell, Billie Dove, and Freeman Wood. It is the first of Columbia Pictures' long-running series of Lone Wolf films.

<i>The Lone Wolf Strikes</i> 1940 film directed by Sidney Salkow

The Lone Wolf Strikes is a 1940 crime drama film directed by Sidney Salkow starring Warren William, Joan Perry, and Eric Blore.

<i>The Lone Wolf Takes a Chance</i> 1941 film directed by Sidney Salkow

The Lone Wolf Takes a Chance is a 1941 American mystery film directed by Sidney Salkow and starring Warren William, June Storey and Henry Wilcoxon. Salkow also wrote the original screenplay, along with Earl Felton, and the film was released on March 6, 1941. It is the sixth Lone Wolf film produced by Columbia Pictures, and the fourth appearance of William as the title character Lone Wolf. His next film was Secrets of the Lone Wolf, released later that year.

<i>The Lone Wolf Returns</i> (1935 film) 1935 film by Roy William Neill

The Lone Wolf Returns is a 1935 American mystery crime film directed by Roy William Neill and starring Melvyn Douglas, Gail Patrick and Tala Birell. Douglas plays jewel thief Michael Lanyard, aka the Lone Wolf. Retired, the Lone Wolf is forced back into crime, but turns the tables on his enemies. It is based on the 1923 Louis Joseph Vance novel The Lone Wolf Returns, which had previously been made into a 1926 film of the same name.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ In Passport to Suez (1943), Jamison's first name was Llewellyn.

Citations

  1. ↑ "The Lone Wolf in London (1947)." BFI. Retrieved: May 14, 2016.
  2. ↑ Blottner, Gene (2011). "The Lone Wolf". Columbia Pictures Movie Series, 1926–1955: The Harry Cohn Years. McFarland. ISBN   9780786486724.
  3. 1 2 Maltin et al. 2010, p. 385.
  4. 1 2 Blottner 2012, pp. 251–252.
  5. 1 2 Mayer 2012, p. 256.
  6. ↑ Dunkleberger et al. 1971, p. 914.
  7. ↑ Crowther, Bosley, The Screen: 'Lone Wolf in London' feature at Rialto." The New York Times , November 22, 1947.

Bibliography

  • Blottner, Gene. Columbia Pictures Movie Series, 1926-1955: The Harry Cohn Years. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2012. ISBN   978-0-7864-3353-7.
  • Dunkleberger, Amy, Patricia K. Hanson and Bill Ivey, eds. AFI Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States. Oakland, California: University of California Press, 1999, first edition 1971. ISBN   978-0-520-21521-4.
  • Maltin, Leonard, Spencer Green and Rob Edelman. Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide: From the Silent Era Through 1965. New York: Plume, 2010. ISBN   978-0-452-29577-3.
  • Mayer, Geoff. Historical Dictionary of Crime Films. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 2012. ISBN   978-0-8108-6769-7.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.