The Lone Wolf Strikes 1940
Directed by
Sidney Salkow
Made by
Columbia Pictures
The Lone Wolf Strikes Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for The Lone Wolf Strikes (1940). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Wealthy banker Phillip Jordan, Roy Gordon, is taken in by Binnie Weldon, a younger woman. He graciously offers her the use of a very valuable pearl necklace for her birthday celebration. She has no trouble swapping it for a good imitation and giving the real one to her boyfriend, Jim Ryder, Alan Baxter. However, Jordan breaks the necklace, and the jeweler he takes them to detects the forgery. Jordan telephones Weldon that he will be coming to collect the real necklace. However, Ryder arranges a fatal car crash instead.
Stanley Young, Addison Richards, Jordan’s partner, asks his friend Michael Lanyard, Warren William the Lone Wolf, for help. Lanyard has given up his shady activities but owes Young a big favor, so he accepts the challenge, much to the delight of his bored valet Jamison, Eric Blore. Meanwhile, Delia Jordan, Joan Perry, Phillip Jordan’s daughter, has met Ralph Bolton, Robert Wilcox on a sea voyage and likes him very much, not suspecting that the man is a crook. He reports to his boss Alberts, Harland Tucker that Lanyard is now involved. Despite Lanyard’s reputation, Alberts is unworried; in fact, he plans to let Lanyard retrieve the necklace and then take it from him.
Lanyard manages to learn that the fence Ryder plans to sell the pearls to is his old friend Emil Gorlick, Montagu Love. Delia follows Lanyard to Gorlick’s hotel. Lanyard confirms Gorlick is to see Weldon and Ryder that night (and that they have never met), then ties up Gorlick and takes his place. Delia, unconvinced by Lanyard’s explanation, peeps through the keyhole of Gorlick’s room. However, she is spotted by the hotel detective, Robert Emmett O’Connor, who unties Gorlick. Delia flees in a taxi, but Gorlick joins her and produces a pistol. However, Lanyard is able to take the necklace before Gorlick arrives. He gives it to Young, who gifts him the fake as a memento.
Young makes the mistake of informing Bolton of the recovery of the pearls. Meanwhile, Ryder telephones Lanyard and demands the necklace for Delia. Lanyard gives the thieves the fake. Lanyard explains the situation to Delia, and they go to Young’s place, but find him dead and the pearls gone.
Lanyard takes the fake necklace from Ryder at gunpoint and locks him and Weldon in a closet. He then has the story spread that the second set of crooks got the fake, and that the real pearls were returned to Delia. Alberts’ gang goes to the Jordan mansion. Lanyard appears, convinces them he has the pearls, and leads them on a car chase to a ferry. Jamison, at Lanyard’s instruction, drives aboard too, with the police trailing him, looking for the man they think murdered Young. When the ferry sails, the crooks have nowhere to run.
The Lone Wolf Strikes Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of The Lone Wolf Strikes (1940) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Weldon's birthday gift leads to forgery
Phillip Jordan offers Weldon the use of his valuable pearl necklace for her birthday. Weldon swaps it for a convincing imitation and gives the real necklace to her boyfriend, Jim Ryder. When Jordan breaks the necklace, a jeweler detects the forgery and trouble begins.
Ryder schemes to recover the real necklace
Jordan telephones Weldon to say he will come to collect the real necklace. Ryder instead arranges a fatal car crash to cover the theft and to claim the piece for himself.
Lone Wolf recruited to recover the necklace
Stanley Young asks his friend Michael Lanyard, the Lone Wolf, to help recover the necklace. Lanyard owes Young a big favor and agrees to take the case, while his bored valet Jamison looks on with interest.
Delia falls for Bolton; Alberts notes Lanyard's involvement
Delia, Phillip Jordan's daughter, meets Ralph Bolton on a sea voyage and is charmed by him. Bolton is a crook who reports to his boss Alberts that Lanyard is involved, while Alberts remains confident that Lanyard will retrieve the necklace before taking it himself.
Lanyard uncovers Ryder's plan to sell to Gorlick
Lanyard learns that Ryder plans to sell the pearls to his old friend Emil Gorlick. Delia tails Lanyard to Gorlick's hotel and watches as he confirms Gorlick will see Weldon and Ryder that night.
Lanyard ties up Gorlick and assumes his role
Lanyard incapacitates Gorlick and takes his place in the hotel room, moving to intercept the planned meeting between Gorlick, Weldon, and Ryder.
Delia peeps, detective intervenes, pursuit ensues
Delia peeps through a keyhole to glimpse Lanyard's plan. The hotel detective unmasks her, frees Gorlick, and Delia flees in a taxi as Gorlick joins the chase with a pistol.
Lanyard recovers the necklace and gets a fake from Young
Lanyard succeeds in taking the real necklace before Gorlick arrives and hands it to Stanley Young, who, as a joke, gifts him the fake as a memento.
Young informs Bolton of the recovery
Young makes the mistake of informing Bolton that the pearls have been recovered, prompting Bolton to report to Alberts and reassess the situation.
Ryder demands the necklace; Lanyard hands over the fake
Ryder calls Lanyard demanding the necklace for Delia. To keep things moving, Lanyard gives the thieves the fake and keeps the real pearls out of sight.
Delia and Lanyard learn the fake remains; Young is dead
Lanyard explains the situation to Delia and they go to Young's place, only to find him dead and the pearls missing. The mystery deepens as the real treasure seems to have slipped away again.
Alberts' gang converges on Jordan mansion; ferry pursuit begins
Alberts' gang goes to the Jordan mansion. Lanyard appears, pretends to have the pearls, and leads them on a car chase to a ferry, with Jamison driving aboard as police close in.
Ferry finale: crooks cornered as the boat sails
The ferry sails with the police in pursuit and the crooks trapped. Lanyard's ruse seals their fate as the pearls remain out of reach for the criminals.
The Lone Wolf Strikes Characters
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Michael Lanyard (Warren William)
The famed Lone Wolf who has given up shady work but owes a favor to Stanley Young. He steps back into danger with cool self-control, using wit and strategic misdirection to navigate a maze of crooks and cops. His leadership keeps the plan on track even as trust frays among allies and rivals alike.
Delia Jordan (Joan Perry)
Phillip Jordan's daughter, attracted to danger and romance, but cautious enough to doubt Lanyard's explanations. She shadows the intrigue with a mix of vulnerability and resolve, leaning on instinct when the truth remains evasive. Her presence heightens the stakes for everyone involved.
Jim Ryder (Alan Baxter)
Delia's boyfriend who is entangled in the necklace scheme and its eventual fallout. He can be charmful yet calculating, stepping into plans with a readiness to hazard risk for personal gain. His alliance with other players shifts as loyalties tighten and threaten exposure.
Binnie Weldon (Astrid Allwyn)
A younger, savvy woman who handles the necklace and its transformations. She plays her cards close to the vest, mixing flirtation with practical aims. Her actions reveal a readiness to switch sides for a favorable outcome when the opportunity arises.
Emil Gorlick (Montagu Love)
The fence in the scheme, guarding the sale of the pearls and mediating pressures from rivals. He reads people well and uses leverage to stay ahead, making him a dangerous gatekeeper in the necklace game. His moves force others to adapt quickly or risk being outmaneuvered.
Stanley Young (Addison Richards)
Philip Jordan's partner who ropes Lanyard into the caper, then warns the others when plans shift. He thrives on control and manipulation, using information as ammunition. His actions set off a chain of consequences that ripple through every participant.
Phillip Jordan (Roy Gordon)
A wealthy banker whose possession of the real pearl necklace triggers the entire plot. His status makes the theft more than a crime—it becomes a battle for prestige and security. He remains a focal point whose interests drive the actions of all players.
Jamison (Eric Blore)
Lanyard's loyal valet who provides quiet support and occasional comic relief while executing the plan’s practical steps. He handles the logistics, from transport to timing, contributing to the execution with steadiness and wit. His demeanor helps stabilize a world of shifting loyalties.
The Lone Wolf Strikes Settings
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Location
Jordan Mansion, Gorlick's Hotel, Ferry, Sea voyage
The core locations rotate around an upscale urban setting: the Jordan Mansion serves as the initial backdrop for wealth and leverage, while Gorlick's Hotel becomes a hub for meetings and confrontations. The story shifts to a tense ferry crossing where lines blur between criminals and allies. A sea voyage then provides a moving stage for the final pursuit and standoffs, blending confinement with open water danger.
The Lone Wolf Strikes Themes
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Mystery
A web of deceit surrounds the pearl necklace, with each character offering a clue that leads to another false trail. Secrets about loyalties and past sins surface as the plan to recover the real necklace unfolds. The plot relies on misdirection, double-crosses, and the tension of not knowing who to trust.
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Heist
The pearls are the prized bait driving every move, attracting thieves, fences, and schemers. The fake vs real necklace motif fuels the stakes, as each side attempts to outmaneuver the other. The goal is clear, but the path to it is fraught with clever disguises and risky gambits.
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Pursuit
Chases unfold across city streets and onto the water, culminating in a tense ferry pursuit that tests wits and nerve. The pursuit blends action with tactical feints, where characters try to outflank their opponents. Resolution arrives only when the mastermind pieces align and the danger finally recedes.
The Lone Wolf Strikes Spoiler-Free Summary
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In the glittering world of high society, tragedy strikes the Jordan family when a murder shatters their legacy and a priceless piece of jewelry disappears. Grief‑ridden yet determined, Delia Jordan turns to the city’s most enigmatic problem‑solver, a gentleman of daring reputation known only as the Lone Wolf. She hopes his notorious reputation for turning peril into performance will restore what was lost and protect the fragile peace of her remaining life.
The Lone Wolf, Michael Lanyard, is a figure who moves through crowds like a stage act—top hat tipping, cane flashing, and a razor‑sharp wit that cuts through the pretence of the privileged. Though he has stepped away from his shadowy past, his reputation lingers, and his methods blend elegance with a daring that feels almost theatrical. He is accompanied by his ever‑patient valet Jamison, whose quiet competence keeps the Wolf’s plans humming under the surface.
Behind the polished façades, allies and acquaintances circle the case. Stanley Young, a trusted partner of the late patriarch, offers his resources and loyalty, while Ralph Bolton, a charismatic traveler Delia meets aboard a sea voyage, adds a touch of romance that complicates the already tangled emotions. The circle also includes a network of friends and former contacts, each with their own motives, hinting at a world where wealth and intrigue walk hand‑in‑hand.
The film settles into a tone that balances sly humor with the tension of a ticking clock, inviting the audience to watch a dance of clever deceptions and daring rescues. As the Lone Wolf steps back into the game, the story promises a sumptuous blend of style, suspense, and the endless allure of a mystery waiting to be solved.
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