RUSSELL MULCAHY

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BB.5. 

USA, 1994.  Universal Pictures, Bregman/Baer Productions.  Screenplay by David Koepp, based on the character from stories by Walter B. Gibson.  Cinematography by Stephen H. Burum.  Produced by Martin Bregman, Michael Bregman, Willi Bar.  Music by Jerry Goldsmith.  Production Design by Joseph C. Nemec III.  Costume Design by Bob Ringwood.  Film Editing by Beth Jochem Besterveld, Peter Honess.  

Alec Baldwin plays the lead character, a superhero originally born on a famous radio program decades ago. The Shadow is a former druglord in the Far East who reforms, thanks to the help of an Asian shaman, then comes to New York to keep evildoers in line. Forming a network of support from various workers in the city, from bakers to cabdrivers, he soon enlists help from all of them when he is required to fight the evil presence of Genghis Khan (John Lone), a villain intent on (what else?) world domination.  Penelope Ann Miller is as equally unmemorable in the role of the ingenue as is this entire production, directed by Russell Mulcahy with very little panache and certainly no sense of fun. Baldwin is perfect for the part, but everything going on around him is so dull and forgettable.