Bizarrely, the first on-screen incantation of Farewell My Lovely was in a Falcon movie. But it results in one of the most satisfactory entries in that series, even if Chandler fans might be annoyed. It is a bit contrived that Sanders wants to investigate a murder committed by Moose Molloy (Ward Bond, excellent) – his motive is he just wants to do it for fun, because his mate Allen Jenkins is forced to drive Molloy’s getaway car. But it gets more logical when someone actually hires Sanders to do a job.
Occasionally this drags, especially when there’s too much wacky character acting from Jenkins and James Gleason. But Irving Reis directs well, the story is decent and there are some very strong support performances from Bond, Anne Revere, Helen Gilbert, and Lyn Bari.
Like Wendy Barrie in the first film, Bari sets her cap at the Falcon even though he’s engaged to someone else (presumably Barrie’s character – we never see her). Falcon not only pashes Bari he also pashes hot blonde Gilbert (the latter is a funny moment – he does it after just meeting her).
Turhan Bey pops up again in his second Falcon, again in a sinister role.
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