Invisible Avenger

1958 film by James Wong Howe

James Wong Howe
Ben Parker
John Sledge

Written by

George Bellak (writer)
Walter B. Gibson^{[citation needed]} (uncredited)
Ruth Jeffries

Produced byEmanuel Demby (producer)
Eric Sayers (producer)Starring

Richard Derr
Mark Daniels

Cinematography

Joseph Wheeler
Willis Winford

Edited byJohn Hemel

Production
company

Republic Pictures

Distributed byRepublic Pictures

Release date

December 2, 1958 (1958-12-02) (United States)

Running time

60 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

Invisible Avenger is a 1958 American film noir crime film directed by James Wong Howe, Ben Parker and John Sledge. The film was a compilation of two television pilot episodes of a 1957 Republic Pictures^[1] TV show called The Shadow. When the show failed to sell, the episodes (one of which was directed by cinematographer James Wong Howe) were edited together and released as a theatrical feature called Invisible Avenger.^[2]

The film was re-released in 1962 under the title Bourbon Street Shadows by the Louisiana-based MPA films.^[3] The episodes were shot on location in New Orleans.^[4]

Plot summary

Pablo Ramirez is an expatriate from the Caribbean nation of Santa Cruz that is under control of a military dictator called the Generalissimo. From New Orleans, Ramirez plots a revolution and his return to Santa Cruz. To assist in this and to protect him from the Santa Cruz secret police who are in New Orleans he seeks the help of Lamont Cranston through a mutual friend, jazz trumpeter Tony Alcade. In the midst of a telephone call to Cranston, Tony is murdered by the secret police. Cranston and his metaphysical mentor Jogendra come to New Orleans to bring Tony's murderers to justice and freedom to Santa Cruz.

Though no one knows the identity of the crime fighting trouble shooter The Shadow who has telepathic powers, everyone knows that he can be contacted for help through Lamont Cranston. As Cranston protects Pablo from secret police assassination and kidnapping attempts, the Generalissimo broadcasts the execution of Pablo's twin brother that is shown on television in the United States in a scheme to draw Pablo into the open.

Cast

Richard Derr as Lamont Cranston/The Shadow
Mark Daniels as Jogendra
Helen Westcott as Tara O'Neill
Jack Donner as Billy Sanchez
Jeanne Neher as Felicia Ramirez
Steve Dano as Tony Alcalde
Dan Mullin as Pablo Ramirez / Victor Ramirez
Leo Bruno as Ramon "Rocco" Martinez
Lee Edwards as The Colonel
Sam Page as Charlie, airport thug

Notes

^ p. 128 Radio Daily-Television Daily Volume 78
^ Shimeld, Thomas J. (2003). Walter B. Gibson and the Shadow. McFarland & Co. p. 86.
^ p. 93 Martin, Len. D. The Republic Pictures Checklist: Features, Serials, Cartoons, Short Subjects and Training Films of Republic Pictures Corporation, 1935-1959 McFarland; 2nd edition 5 May 2006
^ p. 304 Senn, Bryan Fantastic Cinema Subject Guide: A Topical Index to 2500 Horror, Science Fiction, and Fantasy Films McFarland 1 November 1992