Margo Lane

Margo Lane
Penelope Ann Miller in The Shadow.
Publication information
Publisher	Street & Smith Condé Nast
First appearance	"The Shadow" (1937 - Radio) "The Shadow Magazine" (1941 - Print)
In-story information
Supporting character of	The Shadow

Margo Lane is a fictional character in The Shadow stories. Margo is a friend and companion to Lamont Cranston, and spies for his alter ego, The Shadow, in the wealthy set. Her first appearance was in 1937 in the Shadow radio drama. Her first appearance in a print story was in The Thunder King, a story in the April 1941 issue of The Shadow Magazine.

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 the fore, and eventually became a permanent fixture in the stories, finally being promoted to a full agent. Margo appears in at least fifty-five of the Shadow novels.^[1]

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.

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 un-aired 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.

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 than the pulp novel, accepted her readily.^[1]

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.

In comic books

In the DC comic book series 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.^{[citation needed]}

In the 1994 film

Main article: The Shadow (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 working to develop a new type of power source, using an implosive device to be contained within 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 realizes 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 approaches Lamont and Police Commissioner Wainwright Barth (Jonathan Winters) for help. Shiwan Khan hypnotizes 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 the trance, she realizes that Lamont is the Shadow and volunteers to help him defeat Shiwan Khan and rescue her father. Together they investigate the last known sighting of Khan, a mysterious empty lot that every one in the city - Lamont included - believes was once the site of the hotel Monolith. Margo goes to the library to investigate the building, while Lamont confronts Farley Claymore (Tim Curry), who they suspect is also being mind-controlled by Khan. Claymore reveals that he is in league with Shiwan and traps the Shadow in a pressure-testing tank, causing it to fill with water. Using his psychic powers, the Shadow attempts to contact Margo and she comes to rescue him. In the climax of the movie, the Shadow confronts Shiwan Khan, while Margo helps her father defuse the detonation device, within the beryllium sphere (that has now become a deadly bomb), helping to save the day.

In the Wold Newton universe

• As part of the Wold Newton family, Philip José Farmer has suggested that Margo and Lois Lane are sisters.^[1][2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Murray, Will (2007). "Introducing Margo Lane". The Shadow Duet Series, #4 (The Murder Master/The Hydra) (Nostalgia Ventures): pp. 127. 
2. ^ Win Scott Eckert's Wold Newton Universe website. Accessed January 18, 2008