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Phantom of Chinatown

  • 19401940
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 2m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
702
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Lotus Long, Keye Luke, and Grant Withers in Phantom of Chinatown (1940)
  • Mystery
Detective James Lee Wong is on the scene as archaeologist Dr. John Benton, recently returned from an expedition in China where a valuable ancient scroll was recovered, is murdered while givi... Read allDetective James Lee Wong is on the scene as archaeologist Dr. John Benton, recently returned from an expedition in China where a valuable ancient scroll was recovered, is murdered while giving a lecture on the expedition.Detective James Lee Wong is on the scene as archaeologist Dr. John Benton, recently returned from an expedition in China where a valuable ancient scroll was recovered, is murdered while giving a lecture on the expedition.
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
702
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Phil Rosen
  • Writers
    • George Waggner(screenplay)
    • Ralph Gilbert Bettison(original story)
    • Hugh Wiley(characters from "James Lee Wong" series in Collier's Magazine)
  • Stars
    • Keye Luke
    • Lotus Long
    • Grant Withers
Top credits
  • Director
    • Phil Rosen
  • Writers
    • George Waggner(screenplay)
    • Ralph Gilbert Bettison(original story)
    • Hugh Wiley(characters from "James Lee Wong" series in Collier's Magazine)
  • Stars
    • Keye Luke
    • Lotus Long
    • Grant Withers
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 28User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos15

    Lotus Long in Phantom of Chinatown (1940)
    Lotus Long in Phantom of Chinatown (1940)
    Robert Kellard and Keye Luke in Phantom of Chinatown (1940)
    Phantom of Chinatown (1940)
    John Dilson, Lotus Long, Keye Luke, and Grant Withers in Phantom of Chinatown (1940)
    Keye Luke in Phantom of Chinatown (1940)
    Lotus Long, Paul McVey, and Grant Withers in Phantom of Chinatown (1940)
    John Dilson and John Holland in Phantom of Chinatown (1940)
    Lotus Long, Paul McVey, and Grant Withers in Phantom of Chinatown (1940)
    Lotus Long and Keye Luke in Phantom of Chinatown (1940)
    Robert Kellard, Lotus Long, Keye Luke, and Grant Withers in Phantom of Chinatown (1940)
    Huntley Gordon, Robert Kellard, Lotus Long, Keye Luke, and Grant Withers in Phantom of Chinatown (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Keye Luke
    Keye Luke
    • James Lee 'Jimmy' Wongas James Lee 'Jimmy' Wong
    Lotus Long
    Lotus Long
    • Win Lenas Win Len
    Grant Withers
    Grant Withers
    • Police Captain Streetas Police Captain Street
    Charles Miller
    • Dr. John Bentonas Dr. John Benton
    Huntley Gordon
    Huntley Gordon
    • Dr. Norman Wilkesas Dr. Norman Wilkes
    Virginia Carpenter
    • Louise Bentonas Louise Benton
    John Dilson
    John Dilson
    • Charlie Frasieras Charlie Frasier
    • (as John H. Dilson)
    Paul McVey
    Paul McVey
    • Detective Gradyas Detective Grady
    John Holland
    John Holland
    • Masonas Mason
    Richard Terry
    • Torenoas Toreno
    • (as Dick Terry)
    Robert Kellard
    Robert Kellard
    • Tommy Deanas Tommy Dean
    Willy Castello
    Willy Castello
    • Jonasas Jonas
    • (as William Castello)
    Lee Tong Foo
    • Fooas Foo
    • (as Lee Tung Foo)
    Lynton Brent
    Lynton Brent
    • Radio News Broadcasteras Radio News Broadcaster
    • (uncredited)
    Morgan Brown
    Morgan Brown
    • Lecture Guestas Lecture Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Cheatham
    Jack Cheatham
    • Hospital Stakeout Copas Hospital Stakeout Cop
    • (uncredited)
    Heinie Conklin
    Heinie Conklin
    • Detective in Refrigeratoras Detective in Refrigerator
    • (uncredited)
    William Gould
    William Gould
    • Hospital Stakeout Copas Hospital Stakeout Cop
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Phil Rosen
    • Writers
      • George Waggner(screenplay)
      • Ralph Gilbert Bettison(original story)
      • Hugh Wiley(characters from "James Lee Wong" series in Collier's Magazine)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Possibly the very first instance where Hollywood produced a 'prequel,' because this last entry in the series depicts the first meeting between Mr. Wong and Capt. Street.
    • Goofs
      When Captain Street and James Lee Wong notice a secret compartment in Charlie's restaurant leading to a hidden room; they break open the door by shooting off the lock. But on the following cut when Captain Street returns to that same hidden room after the two criminals escape in a motorboat; the previously broken door and the lock are now intact enabling Charlie to lock Captain Street in the room.
    • Quotes

      James Lee Wong: Greetings. Only the eyebrows of youth would have the temerity to call the beard of age at such an hour.

    • Connections
      Edited into Who Dunit Theater: Phantom of Chinatown (2015)

    User reviews28

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Danger! Water!
    Pretty good who-dunnit thriller about the death of an archaeologist. After he returns from the Orient. The archaeologist presents a lecture about his findings, a hidden tomb. Funny thing, is that he points out certain people in the room that went with him during the expedition, so right then and there you know that the archaeologist is toast and the people he just introduced are suspects ha ha. Mr Wong, smoothly played by Keye Luke, gets to the bottom of things. I really like how he solved this, using calm logical ways instead of having obvious clues thrown at us. I also liked the clueless homicide detective who sort of played a foil to Wong's character who essentially just followed Wong while he went on his crime-solving ways. Nifty little movie here.
    helpful•16
    2
    • Spuzzlightyear
    • Apr 16, 2006

    FAQ2

    • What is notable about this film?
    • Is this available on DVD?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 18, 1940 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El Fantasma de Chinatown
    • Production company
      • Monogram Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 2 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Lotus Long, Keye Luke, and Grant Withers in Phantom of Chinatown (1940)
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