Chinatown After Dark (1931)

The female head of a criminal gang in Chinatown is after a valuable jewel, and lets nothing stand in her way of finding it.

Director:

Stuart Paton

Writer:

Betty Burbridge (story)

Stars:

Carmel Myers, Rex Lease, Barbara Kent

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Carmel Myers	...	Madame Ying Su
Rex Lease	...	Jim Bonner
Barbara Kent	...	Lotus
Edmund Breese	...	Le Fong
Frank Mayo	...	Ralph Bonner
Billy Gilbert	...	Dooley
Michael Visaroff	...	Mr. Varonoff
Laska Winters	...	Ming Fu (as Laska Winter)

Storyline

The female head of a criminal gang in Chinatown is after a valuable jewel, and lets nothing stand in her way of finding it.

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Plot Keywords:

chinatown | jewel | chinese | jewel thief

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Taglines:

See what happens in the underworld dens after dark!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 October 1931 (USA)

Also Known As:

To katirameno diamanti

Filming Locations:

International Film Studios - 1339 Gordon Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ralph M. Like Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

59 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Love and Curses (1938)

User Reviews

Low Budget Ancient Chinese Secret

This is just another one of the incompetently acted and written C-grade films put out by gone-and-forgotten Action Pictures (one of many early-sound era independent feature film companies that came and went by the mid-thirties). At least there are a few Chinese actors and extras used to add ethnic authenticity, but you still have the woefully inept Carmel Myers as Madame Ying Su and Barbara Kent as Lotus. Billy Gilbert is the comedy relief as a flustered cop named Dooley. He's also the only decent actor in the bunch; the rest fumbling with their dialogue, including hero Rex Lease. It's all in an effort to tell the cliché story of the murderous desire for an oriental dagger that contains a valuable ring inside it. Rex Lease jumps into the case to help out his brother. Gilbert is cop hot on Lease's trail, thinking he's a killer. Most of Gilbert's "comedy" is sneezing loudly whenever he's in contact with a flower. Like Gilbert's allergy, this dull thriller should be kept out of contact from viewers.