Margo Lane
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| Margo Lane | |
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 Margo in The Shadow movie, 1994 |
Margo Lane is a fictional character in The Shadow stories. Her first appearance was in The Thunder King, a story in the April 1941 issue of The Shadow Magazine. Margo is a friend and companion to Lamont Cranston, and spies for his alter ego, The Shadow, in the wealthy set.
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[edit] Origins
Margo was created for the radio version of The Shadow in 1937, because it was felt that having Harry Vincent as The Shadow's chief aid, and thus two male voices, would not provide sufficient "vocal contrast". Margo was based on socialite Brenda Frazier and You Can't Take it With You star Margot Stevenson[1]. The relationship between Lamont and Margot was modelled on the Thin Man film series[1]. During World War II, Walter B. Gibson felt he could no longer write stories about spy rings, since they had now become a reality. Instead he focused on whodunits, which suited the Cranston persona of the Shadow. Thus the character of Margo came to a fore, and eventually a permanent fixture in the stories, finally being promoted to a full agent.[1]
[edit] Character
Whereas on radio Margo is The Shadow's confidante, in the novels Margo is depicted as a somewhat helpful nuisance who for years suspects but cannot prove the true identity of the Shadow, until finally in later years she becomes a full agent for the masked crimefighter.
[edit] Portrayal
She was initially portrayed on radio by Agnes Moorehead, who was followed by Margot Stevenson. Other actresses who portrayed Margo on the radio included; Marjorie Anderson, Lesley Woods, Grace Matthews and Gertrude Warner.
In an unaired 1954 TV pilot, Paula Raymond played Margo Lane opposite to Tom Helmore as The Shadow.
On film, Vela Ann Borg matched wits with Victor Jory's Shadow in 1940; Barbara Reed portrayed her three times in the mid-1940s with Kane Richmond; and Penelope Ann Miller was Margo opposite to Alec Baldwin in 1994's The Shadow.
[edit] Controversy
Margo's introduction to the novels created a storm of controversy reflected in the magazine's letters page. Older fans resented her intrusion, whereas newer readers, perhaps more familiar with the radio show and the comic book, accepted her readily[1].
[edit] Differences between the radio and novel version
- In the novels her name is "Margo" and on radio it's "Margot"
- In the novels she didn't know Lamont was the Shadow, on radio she did.
[edit] Margo in comic books
In the DC comic the Shadow strikes it was revealed that Margot was the daughter of a wealthy Southern land owner and a black prostitute. She is portrayed as one of the Shadow's chief agents and is shown to be not only beautiful but capable and brilliant.
[edit] Margo in the 1994 film
In the 1994 film, The Shadow, Margo is a principal character. In the movie Margo (Penelope Ann Miller) has had psychic powers her whole life. Her father, Dr. Reinhardt Lane (Ian McKellen), is a scientist who has developed a new type of power souce called a beryllium sphere, which the villainous Shiwan Khan (John Lone) tries to turn into a weapon. The Shadow (Alec Baldwin) and Margo first meet at the Cobalt Club, where they find they have an instant attraction. After they go out to dinner together Lamont realises that Margo has psychic powers and fears that she may uncover his secret identity if they spend more time together, so he vows never to see her again. However when Khan begins controlling her father's mind, Margo appraoches Lamont and Inspector Wainwright (Jonathan Winters) for help. Shiwan Khan hypnotises Margo and orders her to kill the Shadow. She proceeds immediately to Lamont's mansion and unsuccessfully attempts to shoot Lamont, who breaks the trance. Upon waking from her trace she realises that Lamont is the Shadow and voulenteers to help him defeat Shiwan Khan and rescue her father. Together they investigate the last known sighting of Khan, a mysterious empty lot that once was the site of a large building, Margo goes to the library to investigate this building, while Lamont confronts Farley Claymore (Tim Curry), who they suspect is in league with Khan. Claymore traps the Shadow in a water-filled room, so he uses his psychic powers to communicate with Margo and she rescues him. In the climax of the movie Margo helps her father defuse the beryllium sphere that has now become a deadly bomb, and thus saves the day.
[edit] Trivia
- In the Wold Newton family Margo and Lois Lane are sisters.[1][2]
