The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady 1940

Comedy

Mystery

Runtime

71 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Sidney Salkow

Made by

Columbia Pictures

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The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady (1940). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

At the Penyon mansion, Warren Hull as Bob Penyon presents his fiancée, Jean Muir as Joan Bradley, with a priceless diamond necklace, a family heirloom. Marla Shelton as Rose Waverly phones Beaudine to say the couple has just left with the necklace. Peter Rennick, the husband Joan believed dead, would rather blackmail his wife, but Victor Jory as Clay Beaudine wants the necklace for himself. Rennick confronts Joan and forcibly takes the necklace, but is shot and killed by an unseen murderer, who takes the jewelry. Panicking, Joan flees her apartment. Waiting outside, Beaudine is puzzled.

A speeding Eric Blore as Jamison nearly runs Joan down. A motorcycle policeman arrests her, Jamison, and Warren William as Michael Lanyard, the happily retired gentleman criminal the “Lone Wolf.” However, Joan blurts out that she is involved in a murder, so Warren William as Michael Lanyard gives the policeman the slip. He takes Joan back to her apartment, examines it and the body for clues, and provides her with a cover story. As Lanyard and Jamison are leaving, they are spotted and overheard by Beaudine.

When the police arrive, Thurston Hall as Inspector Crane believes Joan, until he learns that the door was not forced and a key found on the dead man fits the lock. He decides to take her in for further questioning, but lets her get properly dressed first. She escapes, as Crane had hoped, as he has arranged to have her followed. She finds Lanyard’s address in the telephone directory and heads there.

Beaudine gets there first, convinced that Lanyard and Joan are working together to steal the necklace. Then Joan arrives. After Jamison takes Beaudine into the next room at gunpoint, Lanyard learns about the incriminating key and that Joan got away so easily. When Crane shows up, as Lanyard had expected, Lanyard hides Joan in a secret compartment. After the police and Beaudine leave, Lanyard and Joan go to see Nick, George McKay as Nick, a fence, to ask him to find out if anybody is trying to sell the necklace.

Beaudine comes to Lanyard’s place while he is out, but Joan is present. He then recognizes the person who fled the apartment where Rennick was killed from a newspaper photo of the people who were present when Joan received the necklace. After locking Joan and Jamison up, he telephones the person and demands the necklace be brought to his place in 15 minutes. Jamison has, however, turned on a recording device. Bob Penyon and Lanyard arrive just after Beaudine leaves. Lanyard receives a call from Nick, who informs him the necklace had been broken up and sold piecemeal a year before. The recording proves helpful, and Lanyard and Penyon race away. They get Rennick’s address from his dry cleaner, who then calls Crane. They find Beaudine dead. From a clue, Lanyard thinks he has solved the case, but Inspector Crane and his men arrive and arrest him. Fortunately for Lanyard, Bob produces a gun. Lanyard telephones Joan and has her inform the suspects that he has figured out who the murderer is and the location of the necklace, in the river beside Joan’s apartment. While Bob holds the others prisoner, Lanyard takes Crane to Joan’s place. First Peter Van Wyck, then Arthur Trent, and finally Bob’s mother drive up. Robert Emmett Keane as Peter Van Wyck, William Forrest as Arthur Trent, and Georgia Caine as Mrs. Penyon drive up. Lanyard eventually identifies Van Wyck as the killer.

The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady (1940) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Penyon gifts the necklace

At the Penyon mansion, Bob Penyon gives his fiancée Joan Bradley a valuable diamond necklace, a cherished family heirloom. Rose Waverly phones Clay Beaudine to report that the couple has just left with the jewel. The gift sets the stage for a chain of schemes and motives centered on the necklace.

Evening Penyon mansion

Rennick's theft and murder

Peter Rennick confronts Joan and forcibly takes the necklace. An unseen murderer shoots Rennick and steals the jewelry, leaving Joan terrified and on the run. The crime kicks off the central mystery that drives the rest of the plot.

Shortly after the theft Joan's apartment

A near-miss on the street

A speeding Jamison nearly runs Joan down on the street as she flees. A motorcycle policeman arrests Joan, Jamison, and Jamison's employer, Michael Lanyard, the famed jewel thief known as the Lone Wolf. Joan blurts out her involvement in a murder, prompting Lanyard to step in with a plan.

Moments after the escape Street near Joan's apartment

Lanyard and the cover story

Lanyard escorts Joan back to her apartment, examines the scene for clues, and provides her with a confident cover story for the police. He uses his wits and charm to keep the arrest from sticking to Joan. The uneasy alliance between them begins to form.

Soon after the initial arrest Joan's apartment

Beaudine close on their trail

Beaudine waits outside and spots Lanyard and Joan leaving, convinced they are colluding to steal the necklace. He closes in, ready to confront them and demand answers. The pursuit heightens the tension between the rival players.

Shortly after the cover story Outside Joan's apartment

Crane intervenes but lets her dress

Inspector Crane arrives and initially believes Joan's story. He discovers the door wasn't forced and a key matches the dead man's lock, which makes him hesitate. He intends to question her, but allows her time to dress and to be followed instead of jailed immediately.

Evening Joan's apartment

Joan seeks Lanyard's address

Joan looks up Lanyard's address in the telephone directory and heads there to seek help and more information. The move signals her deepening reliance on the Lone Wolf, whether she likes it or not. The pursuit grows more personal as she tries to outsmart the police.

Shortly after escape Lanyard's place

Beaudine arrives at Lanyard's

Beaudine reaches Lanyard's place first and confronts him, convinced that he and Joan are working together to pawn the necklace. Joan arrives soon after, and Jamison restrains Beaudine at gunpoint. Lanyard learns about the incriminating key and that Joan escaped with ease.

Soon after Joan's arrival Lanyard's place

Crane arrives; Joan is hidden

When Crane shows up, Lanyard hides Joan in a secret compartment, keeping her out of sight. After the police and Beaudine depart, Lanyard and Joan go to see Nick, a fence, to learn whether the necklace is being sold on the market.

After Crane's arrival Lanyard's place, then Nick the fence's location

Beaudine's photo trap

Beaudine returns to Lanyard's place while Lanyard is away and recognizes the people in a newspaper photo of those present when Joan received the necklace. He locks Joan and Jamison up and demands the necklace be brought within 15 minutes, while Jamison's recording device secretly captures the exchange.

Beaudine's arrival Lanyard's place

Evidence from Nick and the race

Bob Penyon and Lanyard arrive after Beaudine leaves. Nick informs Lanyard that the necklace had been broken up and sold piecemeal a year earlier. The recording confirms new clues, and they race away to pursue the truth.

Shortly after Lanyard's place; Nick's location

Rennick's address leads to Beaudine's death

The duo obtain Peter Rennick's address from his dry cleaner, who then calls Inspector Crane. They locate Beaudine's dead body, confirming the case's murders are linked to the necklace. The clue pushes them toward locating the killer.

Soon after Rennick's dry cleaner; Beaudine's body

Lanyard's arrest and the setup

Crane and his men close in and arrest Lanyard on the suspicion of the murder, though his cleverness makes the case tricky. Lanyard remains defiant, using wit to stay in the game while keeping the real killer at large. The stake is raised as the detectives close in.

Moment after the Dry Cleaner clue Police station

River clue and necklace location

Bob Penyon pulls a gun to force a confession, and Lanyard uses a phone to alert Joan that the murderer is identified and that the necklace lies in the river beside her apartment. The river clue becomes the revelatory centerpiece as the suspects are drawn toward the waterfront.

During the interrogation Joan's apartment; river

Final reveal at Joan's place

Beating the others to the reveal, Lanyard leads Crane to Joan's place where van Wyke, Arthur Trent, and Bob's mother drive up. Lanyard declares van Wyke as the killer, resolving the mystery and exposing the necklace's plan. The truth brings a tense climax to the pursuit.

Climax Joan's apartment

The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady Characters

Explore all characters from The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady (1940). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Clay Beaudine (Victor Jory)

A determined private investigator who is drawn into the necklace plot and pursues the truth assertively. He suspects treachery around Joan and Lanyard, and his pursuit intensifies as the clues narrow in on the killer. Ultimately, he becomes a casualty of the case, meeting a fatal end before the truth is fully revealed.

🕵️‍♂️ Determined 🧠 Sharp 🗝️ Unyielding

Joan Bradley (Jean Muir)

A socialite entangled in the murder and necklace intrigue, she escapes custody and navigates later suspicions with care. She provides and withholds information to protect herself and others, playing a pivotal role in shifting suspicion and revealing key details. Her actions drive the narrative toward the final confrontation.

🎭 Socialite 🗝️ Cautious 🧩 Resourceful

Michael Lanyard (The Lone Wolf) (Warren William)

A retired gentleman thief who aids Joan by offering a cover story and strategic insight. He hides his own motives behind charm and calm demeanor, using a hidden tactic (a recording device) to gain the upper hand. His actions pivot the investigation toward the killer and help uncover the truth.

🕶️ Suave 🧠 Calculated 🗝️ Cunning

Peter Rennick (Roger Pryor)

The husband Joan believes to be dead, who resurfaces as a blackmailer threat before being killed in her presence. His role catalyzes the conflict and intensifies the pressure on Joan. His murder is a key turning point that pushes the investigation toward the true culprit.

🗡️ Blackmailer 🕵️‍♂️ Suspicious 🧭 Reactive

Nick (George McKay)

A fence who knows about jewelry markets and helps move information about the necklace. He provides crucial advice and warnings that steer Lanyard toward the final solution. His street-smart perspective highlights the criminal underworld surrounding the case.

💼 Fence 🧩 Street-smart 🧭 Knowledgeable

Bob Penyon (Warren Hull)

Joan's fiancé and the owner of the Penyon mansion where the necklace is presented. His relationship with Joan and his status as a potential benefactor or suspect add personal stakes to the crime. His actions and loyalties are tested as the truth comes to light.

💍 Fiancé 🕵️‍♂️ Complicated 🏛️ Aristocratic

Inspector Crane (Thurston Hall)

A methodical police inspector who evaluates evidence and questions suspects. He balances skepticism with the need to protect Joan, gradually narrowing the field of suspects as the case unfolds. His presence anchors the procedural aspect of the plot.

🧭 Methodical 🧊 Cool-headed 🛡️ Authority

Arthur Trent (William Forrest)

A principal suspect among the affluent set, whose motives intertwine with the necklace’s provenance. He embodies the social circle's potential duplicity and adds pressure to Lanyard and Crane to unravel the truth. His involvement complicates the chain of evidence.

🎭 Suspect 🕵️‍♂️ Calculating 🧩 Calculated

Peter Van Wyck (Robert Emmett Keane)

The killer identified by the climax, whose actions connect the necklace, the murder, and the chain of misdirection. His reveal resolves the central mystery and confirms the method by which the crime was executed. He represents the culmination of deception and motive.

🗝️ Culprit 🧠 Calculating 🧭 Final

The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady Settings

Learn where and when The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady (1940) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

1930s

The events unfold in a pre-World War II urban America setting, with sharp dialogue and classic crime-caper pacing. Fashion, cars, and social mores reflect a 1930s sensibility, where wealth and danger mingle in stylish interiors and public streets. The narrative relies on timely intrigue—hidden compartments, recording devices, and quick wit—as investigators close in on the truth. The tempo is brisk, driven by chases, disguises, and clever plan reversals typical of the era.

Location

Penyon Mansion, Joan's Apartment, Michael Lanyard's Place, Nick's Fence/Shop, River by Joan's Apartment, Dry Cleaner, Police Station

The Penyon Mansion is the central setting where the necklace is first presented and tension begins to mount. Joan's apartment becomes a key location for crime, escape, and clues as the investigation unfolds. Michael Lanyard's place serves as a discreet hub for scheming, alibis, and testing the loyalty of the people around him. The story also shifts to the river by Joan's apartment, a quiet backdrop that hides crucial evidence as the case edges toward its reveal.

🏛️ Mansion 🏙️ City Streets 🕰️ Period Interiors

The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady Themes

Discover the main themes in The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady (1940). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🕵️‍♂️

Deception

A necklace acts as the catalyst for layered deceptions, dragging multiple characters into a web of lies. Clues are hidden in plain sight—a key, a secret compartment, and a misleading alibi—that keep the audience guessing who truly committed the crime. The unseen murderer uses misdirection to frame others, while trust is repeatedly betrayed. The plot hinges on uncovering who is honestly innocent as the truth is gradually unearthed.

🔎

Dual Identity

The Lone Wolf embodies a dual identity as both a refined thief and a reluctant ally to the innocent. Characters adopt disguises, cover stories, and shifting loyalties to navigate the murder plot and the necklace’s fate. Trust is tested as everyone claims a different motive, while the truth hides behind calculated personas. The tension comes from distinguishing who is genuinely pursuing justice versus personal gain.

⚖️

Truth Revealed

The investigation moves toward a definitive uncovering of the killer and the necklace’s whereabouts. A recording, a detective’s vigilance, and the discovery of the final clue break the case open. The arrest of the true culprit shows how evidence, deductions, and timing determine justice. The climax hinges on turning multiple threads into a single, undeniable truth.

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The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady (1940). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the opulent world of the Penyon estate, a diligent secretary named Joan Bradley works under the exacting eye of a powerful matriarch. Surrounded by the trappings of wealth and the constant hum of high‑society expectations, Joan moves through elegant rooms and polished corridors, her competence and quiet resolve keeping the household’s daily rhythm in balance. The atmosphere crackles with propriety, yet underneath the polished surface there is a restless current of ambition and hidden desire.

Everything shifts when the matriarch arranges an unexpected engagement between Joan and her charismatic son, Bob Penyon. The sudden elevation from trusted employee to prospective heir‑apparent throws Joan into a new sphere of social intrigue, where whispered conversations and lavish gatherings become the backdrop for her uneasy ascent. While the prospect of a brighter future beckons, the sudden change also places her squarely in the glare of attention she never anticipated.

Soon after the announcement, the calm veneer of the Penyon world begins to fray. Law enforcement descends on Joan, treating her as a prime suspect in a murder she insists she did not commit, and a relentless police manhunt forces her to flee the very halls she once tended. As she navigates this sudden peril, a parade of determined men—each eager to claim her trust or her affection—surrounds her, adding layers of both danger and bewilderment to her plight.

Amid the chaos, Joan encounters the enigmatic Michael Lanyard, a retired gentleman criminal famed as “the Lone Wolf.” His reputation for clever, off‑the‑grid problem solving offers a tantalizing glimpse of an unconventional ally. Together, they tread a delicate line between danger and daring, set against a backdrop of elegant suspense that blends sly humor with the tension of a mystery still waiting to unfold.

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