The Shadow
A masked criminologist battles an invisible mastermind whose sabotage campaign threatens an entire city in Columbia’s exuberant pulp serial.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- pulpish
- campy
- mysterious
- classic serial marathon
- retro adventure night
What critics said
Critics are divided over the serial’s adaptation of The Shadow, with some finding its bright presentation and contrived plotting weak while others enjoy its masked mystery and pure serial adventure.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Lamont Cranston secretly adopts The Shadow persona while police suspect the masked hero and masked villain are the same figure.
The 285-minute Columbia serial repeatedly places The Shadow in danger through attacks, explosions, and apparent cliffhanger defeats.
The Black Tiger targets railroads, airplanes, industrial plants, and ultimately seeks control over everything.
Critical commentary specifically notes that the brightly lit environments weaken the character’s mystery while retaining overt serial action.
Films like The Shadow, and why
The Green Hornet
masked pulp crime hero, episodic cliffhangers, and elaborate criminal conspiracy
The Lone Ranger Rides Again
1930s-era masked vigilante adventure with crime-fighting action and serial structure
The Adventures of Captain Marvel
comic-book mystery, costumed heroics, and recurring jeopardy in a classic movie serial
Movie Details
- Director
- James W. Horne
- Release Date
- 1940-01-05
- Runtime
- 285 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (7)
Cast
- Victor Jory
- Veda Ann Borg
- Roger Moore
- Robert Fiske
- John Paul Jones
- Chuck Hamilton
- Edward Peil Sr.
- Frank LaRue
- Philip Ahn
- Griff Barnett
Common questions
- What is The Shadow about?
- A masked criminologist battles an invisible mastermind whose sabotage campaign threatens an entire city in Columbia’s exuberant pulp serial.
- What is The Shadow like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Shadow as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Shadow violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Shadow as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Shadow?
- Critics are divided over the serial’s adaptation of The Shadow, with some finding its bright presentation and contrived plotting weak while others enjoy its masked mystery and pure serial adventure.
- Which films are like The Shadow?
- Films with a similar feel include The Green Hornet, The Lone Ranger Rides Again, and The Adventures of Captain Marvel.
- How long is The Shadow?
- The Shadow runs 285 minutes.
