The Fatal Hour (1940)

It is not Dan O'Grady. It is Dan Grady. I have seen a few references now in other film sites citing "O'Grady", probably due to the IMDB summary (some have even cited IMDB). I have this film... See full summary »

Director:

William Nigh

Writers:

Scott Darling (screenplay), George Waggner (adaptation),

Stars:

Boris Karloff, Marjorie Reynolds, Grant Withers

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Boris Karloff	...	James Lee Wong
Marjorie Reynolds	...	Roberta 'Bobbie' Logan
Grant Withers	...	Capt. Bill Street
Charles Trowbridge	...	John T. Forbes
Frank Puglia	...	Harry 'Hardway' Lockett
Craig Reynolds	...	Frank Belden, Jr.
Lita Chevret	...	Tanya Serova
Harry Strang	...	Det. Ballard
Hooper Atchley	...	Frank Belden Sr.
Jason Robards Sr.	...	Griswold (as Jason Robards)
Richard Loo	...	Jeweler
Jack Kennedy	...	Mike, Police Sergeant

Storyline

It is not Dan O'Grady. It is Dan Grady. I have seen a few references now in other film sites citing "O'Grady", probably due to the IMDB summary (some have even cited IMDB). I have this film on DVD and watch it frequently. So please just make it Dan Grady. To quote Karloff as Mr. Wong "Dan Grady was my friend, too."

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Plot Keywords:

smuggling | murder | mr wong | detective | sequel | 

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 January 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Hora Fatal

Company Credits

Production Co:

Monogram Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

68 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filming began November 28 1939, the fourth of the 6-film series, which Boris Karloff quickly followed with "Black Friday."

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Quotes

Capt. Bill Street: I'll see you later.
Roberta 'Bobbie' Logan: Not me, flatfoot. Get one of the nurses out of the receiving hospital. They don't mind a pain in the neck.

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Connections

Follows Mr. Wong in Chinatown (1939)

User Reviews

A Slow Start, But Interesting Once It Picks Up

This film was including in a horror box set, and the Internet Movie Database considers it to be in the genre of horror, but I will tell you right now: there is no horror in this. None. It is a straight detective story. Yes, Boris Karloff is in it, but that does not make it horror.

What happens is a series of murders, and two detectives (Boris Karloff and Grant Withers) try to solve the case. Karloff plays the smart cop (like a Sherlock Holmes), while Grant Withers is more like Russell Crowe in "LA Confidential" (violent).

I was confused by the casting of Karloff as the Chinese Mr. Wong. He plays Wong in six films, but as far as I can tell Karloff is not Chinese and does not look or sound even vaguely Chinese. So why wouldn't they cast someone else or change the nationality of Karloff's character? I really enjoyed Marjorie Reynolds as the pushy reporter, who was possibly Grant Withers' girlfriend (it is never made clear). She seems to show up at all the critical moments, adding a humorous element to the otherwise straight film. The other great character is Frank Puglia as "Hardway", the career criminal who hangs out around the police station. He was the most interesting character, providing a great red herring (actually this film is full of red herrings).

If you like mysteries and old films, this is one you'll want to give a fair chance to. If old movies bore you, never mind... you'll fall asleep. But I liked it.