Motos last warning is in the public domain and has been available for years on dozens of dvd release. Wong movies were an obvious ripoff of foxs longrunning oriental detective franchise, it is interesting to note that karloff had costarred with warner orland in. He previously worked as a butler for bing crosby and often mourns him. When three businessmen trading in toxic chemicals are murdered, the suspects are many. When the life of industrialist simon dayton john hamilton is threatened, he makes an appointment with the one man who might be able to help him, the oxfordeducated oriental sleuth mr. Karloff made a series of 5 films and there were a total of only six made. It features the adventures of a chinese american butler for a wealthy socialite wasp named miss pam. The sixth and final film in the series phantom of chinatown was issued in 1940 and actually starred keye luke who replaced karloff as a younger mr. Detective tries to solve the murder of antiques collector who was in possession of a famous jewel known as the eye of the daugther of the moon. Wong, detective dvd 1938 i would recommend this to a friend. Its a fairly standard crime drama b movie from the late 1930s, resembling the charlie chan and mr. Here, we are introduced to the oxfordeducated detective played by boris karloff and his unique crimesolving skills.
She actually does prove useful, more at times than myrna loy was to william powell. One more film was made with an actual person of oriental descent playing wong and that was keye luke. Detective james lee wong is on the scene as archaeologist dr. Moto was created by james marquand in 1935 and came to film in 1937 with peter lorre playing the role for eight films. Reynolds is in the snoop and scoop lois lane school of journalism. They were based on a series of short stories published in colliers magazine. Wong detective series page 2 classic horror film board. Wong, detective the film detective restored version. A terrific supporting cast makes this a worthwhile introduction to the character with the standout for me being john hamilton who is the unfortunate first victim. Wong, two series starring caucasian actors playing asian detectives. The world of suzie wong, a 1957 novel by richard mason the world of suzie wong, a. Between 1938 and 1940, monogram pictures produced a series of detective films that stand among the b.
I recommend this series, it is well worth watching. Wong, detective is a 1938 american crime film directed by william nigh and starring boris. Wong, detective wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Mr wong detective the complete collection, stars boris karloff as mr wong a kind of chinese sherlock holmes. Asian detectives in 1930s hollywood brian camps film. Wong series 2 private detective 2 racial stereotype 2 smuggling 2 stock footage 2 tong secret societies 2 archaeological expedition 1 archeologist 1 automobile accident 1 aviator 1 business competition 1 china 1 chinese american 1 chinese princess 1 cigarette smoking 1 confession of crime 1 curse 1 dagger 1 desert 1 dumb.
James lee wong is a fictional chineseamerican detective created by hugh wiley 18841968 who appeared in a series of stories in colliers magazine from 1934 to 1938 and a. James lee wong is a fictional chineseamerican detective created by hugh wiley 18841968 who appeared in a series of stories in colliers magazine from 1934 to 1938 and a series of films from 1938 to 1940. Wong, detective, boris karloff, william nigh, 1938. Wong, except for the last film, where he was played by keye luke. Wong film not to star karloff, deserves more discussion because of the way the dynamics of racial interaction shift when the lead character, mr. The second film in the mystery series about a chinese sleuth, this one concerns the theft of the eye of the daughter of the moon, the largest star sapphire in the world, which is stolen from china and turns up in the possession of an unscrupulous gem collector, who receives a death threat containing clues to the potential murderers identity and calls in mr.
The sixth and final film in the series, phantom of chinatown, was issued in 1940 and actually starred keye luke who replaced karloff as a younger mr. When business magnate simon dayton is found dead inside his locked office moments after police detective sam street saw him at the window, renowned private. Wong detective 1938 if you enjoy this movie please click like and subscribe to the channel. Wong is an internet television series which debuted in 2000 and lasted episodes an unaired 14th episode was made available for the dvd release citation needed. The pearl of death 1944 full movie basil rathbone, sherlock film series duration. Wong, with five of them starring boris karloff in an unconvincing role as the oriental titular character. All the films costarred grant withers as wongs friend, police captain street. As for the movies themselves, the first five all have boris karloff as mr. Boris karloff, although not convincing as a chinese detective, is a graceful performer as always. Wong detective 1938 classic mystery movie, boris karloff. When business magnate simon dayton is found dead inside his locked office moments after police detective sam street saw him at the window, renowned private detective. Wong, detective is a 1938 american crime film directed by william nigh and starring boris karloff in his first appearance as mr. This is the first in a series of six films based on the fictional detective mr.
Wong series 2 private detective 2 racial stereotype 2 smuggling 2 stock footage 2 tong secret societies 2 archaeological expedition 1 archeologist 1 automobile accident 1 aviator 1 business competition 1 china 1 chinese american 1 chinese princess 1 cigarette smoking 1 confession of crime 1 curse 1 dagger 1 desert 1 dumb detective 1 emperor 1. The solution to this one is kind of obvious about halfway through so i was shouting at the screen for the last half, though that didnt help wong and street solve it faster. Wong, detective is a film well worth the time a fan of 1930s mysteries should devote to watching it. When a chemical manufacturer is killed after asking detective james wong to help him, wong investigates this and two subsequent murders.
Wong was their answer to charlie chan, then well into a successful series of detective films by twentieth century fox. Wong, detective 1938 frank bruno and lucien prival in mr. When a chemical manufacturer is killed after asking detective james wong to help. Wong is on the trail of killers in the best film of the monogram series. Wong mysteries that were based on the work of author hugh wiley. When business magnate simon dayton is found dead inside his locked office moments after police detective sam street saw him at the window renowned private detective james. Monogram pictures, once a film studio that specialized in low budget b movies. Moto was that these two clever detectives were constantly speaking in fortune cookie aphorisms which led to stereotyping of oriental characters. When a chemical manufacturer is killed after asking detective james wong to help him, wong. This is a list of all of the movies starring both mr. Wong in chinatown marks the first appearance of marjorie reynolds in this series as witherss pesky reporter girl friend. When investigating the death of a chemical manufacturer, detective james wong boris karloff uncovers an international spy ring. A chemical manufacturer asks detective wong to help him get to the bottom of a crime. Wong, detective, a 1938 american crime film the mystery of mr.
His character is very much modeled on sherlock holmes. Wong and a girl reporter investigate a shipping magnates murder. Wong, detective 1938 directed by william nigh as are all of the entries in the series. Oh, yeah, when comparing your movie series featuring western actors as eastern detectives, ya got 1 chan 2 moto 3 wong boris karloff mr. Wong, is played by an asian actor keye luke and portrayed as much younger than the supporting white characters.
Mr wong, detective 1938 crime film with boris karloff as the inscrutable james lee wong. Notable exceptions included a 12part jungle jim movie serial 1937, starring withers and released by universal pictures and the recurring role of the brash police captain bill street in the monogram pictures series mr. The first five starred boris karloff and were directed by william nigh. Wong detective presented boris karloff as pulp writer hugh wileys oxfordeducated oriental sleuth. In the first of a popular movie franchise from monogram pictures, director william nigh unfurls an intriguing mystery headlined by a cast that includes grant withers, maxine jennings, and evelyn brant. Wong, detective dvd, 2011 at the best online prices at ebay. I couldnt care less if an old movie like this uses a real asian in the role or notwarner oland was pretty brilliant as charlie chan, after all. Wong character was featured in a series of films for monogram pictures. One thing this series needs is a little personality. Wong is a san francisco detective who works free lance with the police. Moto films have been released in two four movie box sets, though one film, mr. Wong, detective dvd, 2002 at the best online prices at ebay. Wong, detective wikimili, the free encyclopedia wikimili, the free encyclopedia. Wong features starring boris karloff finds wealthy gemcollector brandon edwards gaining possession of the largest star sapphire in the world, the eye of the daughter of the moon, after it has been stolen in china.
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