Well-disguised whodunit

This is the first of the three low-budget Falcon mysteries after RKO had ditched the character. Here he comes in a different guise played by the career magician John Calvert. He's got a cute dog called Brains Trust as a sidekick. The funniest Brains Trust moment is when this docile dog gets tied to a chair by an intruder to the Falcon's apartment.

The mystery begins when Delgado visits the Falcon for help to get him off on a crime of passion crime-alleviation deal with the police. He says he's killed a man for fooling with his wife. But is he being straight? The plot becomes more involved. Suspicion passes from one character to another in this well-disguised whodunit.

There is a skull that chatters and foils a gunman's attempt on the Falcon's life. The Falcon has a habit of leaving all doors unlocked so anybody can walk right in and chat to him while he's taking a bath.

A twist at the end saves the Falcon's life and reveals the murderer. RKO Falcon fans may gripe at the change in the character and the cheapness of the production. But I reckon it's an entertaining Poverty Row effort worthy of a 6/10 rating. And an attractive piece of film poster art to draw people to it.