Customer Reviews

The Shadow (Full Screen)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

While I am a widescreen lover. It should be noted that The Shadow was originally filmed in FULL FRAME. The intended Aspect ratio for theater was 1:85.1 the full image was matted for theaterical release. So your not really losing any image like you normally would. This was also done with the Batman films.
While widescreen will always rule wether you lose picture or not ( Due to the fact that theaterical/Directors presentation is what matters more) it's important to let people know who would like to own this film on DVD that the issue is not that bad.
1. It's Full Frame not Pan Scaned ( Your not missing any image)
If you must have the widescreen image make your own 1:85.1 mats.
2. It probably won't be re-released by Universal any time soon.
Poor Box office and Vhs/Dvd sales are to blame. Although it would be nice to see an Universal ULTIMIT EDITION 2 disc set featuring box Matted and Full Frame versions with extras.
3. This edition is almost out of print.

"The Shadow" was a popular radio program (before television sets were made for the home). It began on the Dectective Story Hour on July 31, 1930 as a character in the story. James La Curto was the voice 1930-31 and then Frank Readick Jr (1931-37), Orson Welles (1937-38), Bill Johnstone (1938-43), Bret Morrison in 1943, John Archer in 1944 and Bret Morrison again in 1945-54. The last radio program of "The Shadow" was broadcast December 26, 1954.
Two motion picutres were made with Rod La Rocque as "Lamont Cranston"/"The Shadow", THE SHADOW STRIKES (1937), INTERNATIONAL CRIME (1938). They also made a movie serial in 1940. In 1958, Richard Derr played the role in INVISIBLE AVENGER (1958).
In 1994, they tried to resurrect the character of "Lamont Cranston" with Alec Baldwin in "THE SHADOW" (1994). Imagine the Invisible Man and Kung Fu in the land of film noir. And oh yes, the rainy mist and full moon. While on a case searching for the chinese and there taste for opium, Lamont is captured by the "emperor". He is spared and taught mystical powers. he is now able to continue finding and fighting the crooks and keeping his own identity a secret.
Also in the cast: Johnathan Winters, John Lone, Penelope Ann Miller, Ian McKellen and Tim Curry.
No extras, no bonuses on this DVD.

i thought his was a great movie all around.Alec Baldwin was a great
choice to play the The Shadow/Lamont Cranston.Penelope Ann Miller is
also good as his sometimes sidekick Margo Lane.and Peter Boyle is
hilarious as Moe Shrevnitz,the Shadow's personal taxi driver. the movie
moves along at a good pace and i never found it boring.i'm not sure,but
i think it sticks pretty close to its source material.Russel
Mulcahy(Resident Evil:Extinction)directed the movie.for me,this movie
is just all around fun from start to finish.but i also liked the look
of the film.i think they put a lot of effort into recreating the 1930's
look and atmosphere,and for the life of me,i can't figure out why it
wasn't very well received.anyway,for me The Shadow is a strong 4/5.

Let's say the movie deserves 4 stars at least. It's beautiful and the plot stays true to the original characters. Whatever you may think of Alec Baldwin's acting ability it's still a good movie. But the DVD is an old style, barebones, FULL SCREEN version. It's crap. The only reason you should buy this is that you can't wait to see it one more time and it's cheap...otherwise get the even cheaper serials like the Invisible Avenger and wait for the Special Edition.

A film of grandiose design with a camera that can't capture it. From beginning to end, we're constantly (and painfully) aware of the great film it might have been had it been directed with more patience and a better sense of rhythm. As it is, the film simply has no drive, no forward charge to it; it's as if it's standing still throughout the entire running time. Alec Baldwin, in the title role, is as bland as he's ever been, though it's not as if the script gives him anything real to work with. There's nothing plot-like here, and things are not helped by groan-inducing attempts at humor. It's not an utter loss: the production design is marvelous, and the scene where Tim Curry confronts the Shadow in an abandoned hotel has a genuine intensity that you'll wish had been present throughout the film entire. Also featuring Penelope Ann Miller, Ian McKellen (who's largely wasted), Jonathan Winters, and Peter Boyle.

Other movie sites panned this movie, but in my opion
it's great. The art deco look of this film is fantastic!
along with the score, the acting is first rate also.
Two thumbs from me!

Along with "The Phantom", "The Shadow" is a lavish showcase of Art Deco settings and opulent epoch recreation. Penelope Ann Miller's wardrobe is spiffy, Jerry Goldsmith's music is fantastic and the settings are plush in that quirky thirties fashion. John Lone excels in his feature of the evil Gengis Khan descendant and Alec Baldwin fleshes out a feisty and craggy Shadow. The plot is simple but provides the perfect backdrop for a film where special effects and a soigné production come uppermost. At the end of the World WarI, Lamont Cranston spends several years as an opium dealer and mobster of sorts in the Tibet. A decadent character, his life takes on a new course when a tulku teaches him how to control the evil that lurks in his heart and Cranston goes back to New York as the Shadow, a do-gooding superhero that strives to weed out evil. As said, the plot is effective but the general esthetic of the film is simply a feast for the senses.

This is a truly fun film. I'm NOT an Alec Baldwin fan but for a change I found him engaging and enjoyable in this film. Not to mention he really does make an excellent Shadow. I'm not sure where one reviewer got the idea that it is not Alec when he changes into the Shadow..it most certainly is..with a false nose and make-up for goodness sakes! LOL, talk about not paying attention.
I love Penelope in this film I'd never seen her before this and I thought she was just fabulous not to mention had the best damn dresses I've ever seen!
Tim Curry was fabulous as a great scene chewing bad guy and Ian McKellon was delightful.
My favorite has to be John Lone though, a very differnt character than his tragic role as the Last Emperor..very creepy and quite entrancing always the perfect kind of bad guy. To get what they want there is always a seductiveness about them that just is so engrossing and he played this to the hilt! Fabulous.
Now if only the DVD was a decent release not some piece of junk full screen edition....

Im a long time fan of the Shadow and I am very pleased with this film. As with all super hero films there have been changes made, but this film combines elements from the Shadow pupls, comics, and radio programs brilliantly. Excellent!

WTF? How could you take a cool movie like the Shadow, with all the flair and style that Baldwin brings to it, along with John Lone, and make it pan-and-scan?!?! GOD but I hate fullscreen. This movie gets five stars, but the damn publishers get zero. Anyone in their right mind these days buys widescreen, only old people or those who don't go to movie theatres... EVER, buy crappy Fullscreen crap. YYAAARGGGHH!