Sunday, December 06, 2020

Movie review - Wong#2 - "The Mystery of Mr Wong" (1939) ** (warning: spoilers)

 This entry starts off energetically but director William Nigh runs out of puff again resulting in the leaden treatment of the first one, which is a shame because it's a solid story. I mean, a B picture for Monogram solid, but that is still solid - it moves along, has suspects and action and all that stuff.

The first Mr Wong had one Chinese actor in the cast, this one has four, I think. Maybe POC a more comprehensive designation than Chinese: Chester Gan, Bruce Wong, Lee Tung Fu and Lotus Long. Of course there is Boris Karloff in yellowface in the lead but one takes what one can.

Karloff brings his A level charisma - there character is a little more Chinese this time, he's investigating the return of a Chinese artifact, which at the end he decides to return to China.

Just wish it had a better director!

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