The weakest Moto movies with Peter Lorre were the last two. This was actually filmed last but released before Mr Moto Takes a Vacation. Its based on a non-Moto novel, and has a serviceable plot but feels tired.
Its set on Puerto Rico, which would normally be a plus but its depiction here isn't very evocative - I get the feeling Fox were starting to trim the budgets, and production values were normally a big appeal. There is a pretty cool swamp and caves.
The support cast is strong - Amanda Duff is sweet (she married Philip Dunne), and there's Douglas Dumbrille, Leon Ames and Jean Herscholt. The story is quite clever and I didn't mind the comic relief wrestler. The romantic male lead is particularly wet. I did like Herscholt being revealed as the baddy.
It was just all a bit undercooked for me. Maybe it was because it was directed by Herbert Leeds instead of Norman Foster.
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