Invisible Avenger

This article is about the 1958 film. For the 1954 film, see The Invisible Avenger.

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]

Invisible Avenger
Original American film poster
Directed by	James Wong Howe Ben Parker John Sledge
Written by	George Bellak (writer) Walter B. Gibson[citation needed] (uncredited) Ruth Jeffries
Produced by	Emanuel Demby Eric Sayers
Starring	Richard Derr Mark Daniels
Cinematography	Joseph Wheeler Willis Winford
Edited by	John Hemel
Production company	Republic Pictures
Distributed by	Republic Pictures
Release date	December 2, 1958 (1958-12-02) (United States)
Running time	60 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

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 his goal and to protect him from the Santa Cruz secret police who are in New Orleans, Ramirez 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

Reception

Leonard Maltin said: "[...] [M]ildly interesting, but no feather in the cap of great cinematographer Howe. Derr is quite good.^[5]