Phantom of Chinatown (1940)

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.

Director:

Phil Rosen

Writers:

George Waggner (screenplay) (as Joseph West), Ralph Gilbert Bettison (original story) (as Ralph Bettinson)

Stars:

Keye Luke, Lotus Long, Grant Withers

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Keye Luke	...	James Lee 'Jimmy' Wong
Lotus Long	...	Win Len
Grant Withers	...	Capt. Street
Charles Miller	...	Dr. John Benton (as Charles Miller)
Huntley Gordon	...	Dr. Norman Wilkes
Virginia Carpenter	...	Louise Benton
John Dilson	...	Charlie Frasier (as John H. Dilson)
Paul McVey	...	Detective Grady
John Holland	...	Mason
Richard Terry	...	Toreno (as Dick Terry)
Robert Kellard	...	Tommy Dean
Willy Castello	...	Jonas (as William Castello)
Lee Tung Foo	...	Foo

Storyline

In the middle of a pictorial lecture on his recent expedition to the Mongolian Desert, Dr. John Benton the famous explorer, drinks from the water bottle on his lecture table, collapses and dies. His last words "Eternal Fire" are the only clue Chinese detective Jimmy Wong and Captain Street of the police department have to work on. Win Lee, Benton's secretary, reveals the doctor's dying words refer to a scroll which tells the location of rich oil deposits. Wong and Street then begin the search for the killer among Benton's associates.

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Plot Keywords:

windstorm | lecture | expedition | scroll | detective | 

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Taglines:

A thousand suspects... 20 fingerprints... a Chinese temple... Mr. Wong solves a murder!

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 November 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

El Fantasma de Chinatown

Company Credits

Production Co:

Monogram Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

62 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The boat escape fro m the dock below a "chop suey parparl" re-uses footage seen in one of the previous Mr. Wong movies.

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Quotes

Charlie Frasier: You're very clever, Mr. Wong, but you still don't have the scroll - and you'll never get it!

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Connections

Follows The Mystery of Mr. Wong (1939)

User Reviews

Run of the mill mystery is of interest mainly because Keye Luke has a rare lead role

Final film in the Mr Wong series loses Boris Karloff and in its place has Keye Luke as James Wong detective. Luke best known as Charlie Chan's number one son was forever in support so its nice to see him in a lead role. It also gives mystery, and especially Charlie Chan fans a glimpse at how Luke might have played the classic detective.

The mystery here is rather bland. During a lecture about an expedition to China the professor giving the talk is killed right in front of everyone. The question is how was it done and by who. You'll have to see the film to find out the why and who, I will tell you why, and thats because of the information that is contained on a scroll that was found in a tomb that will lead to great riches. Its a been there done that sort of affair that reminded me of one of the Mr Moto movies. Its not bad, certainly the cast is game, however the script just doesn't have any real life in it. It just doesn't have any life in it.

Still, I have to say that bland or no its an okay time passer best left for a late night or rainy day movie marathon when these kind of movies seem oh so much better.