Considering its age (almost 65 years old), this movie has held up reasonably well. Granted, it is a bit slow and dull (it runs only 69 minutes but it feels MUCH longer), and Boris Karloff is not convincing, of course, as an Oriental. However, he does capture the Oriental philosophy of his character, and the plotting itself (particularly the killing method) is ingenious, worthy of a fine crime novel. (**1/2)
45 Reviews
The first of six Wong moves by Monogram Pictures
planktonrules17 January 2009
Throughout the 1930s, Fox Studios made a ton of very successful Charlie Chan films. It isn't surprising that this led to knock-off characters like Mr. Moto (also from Fox) and Mr. Wong (from poverty row giant, Monogram Studios). Frankly, while the Moto and Wong films are pleasant enough B-movies, they are too similar to the Chan films but lack their charm and wit. In the case of Wong and Chan the similarity was even greater as both were of Chinese descent, traveled the world and were "do-gooders" who often helped the helpless when conventional police work failed.
In the early 1940s after Monogram completed six not particularly distinguished films AND Fox decided to discontinue the Chan series, an opportunity arose for Monogram to bring Sidney Toler to the studio and make their own Chan films. As a result, Wong was expendable and since four years had passed since the last film in this series, the studio heads decided they wanted no more Wongs. Besides, if they had Chan AND Wong, the resulting films would be like having two Wongs--and that's just not right.
MR. WONG, DETECTIVE is the first Wong film and there's nothing particularly wong, I mean WRONG about the film. It was entertaining and had a nice mystery. However, it's also an awful lot like several other Monogram films--and is most like their next Wong film, THE MYSTERY OF MR. WONG. It's also a lot like the Chan films, MURDER OVER NEW YORK, THE JADE MASK and DOCKS OF NEW ORLEANS. In other words, many plot elements were repeated and after a while the films started to be indistinguishable from each other--something that was NOT a problem with the Fox films.
Overall, it's worth seeing and is possibly the best film of the series--though this isn't saying a lot.
In the early 1940s after Monogram completed six not particularly distinguished films AND Fox decided to discontinue the Chan series, an opportunity arose for Monogram to bring Sidney Toler to the studio and make their own Chan films. As a result, Wong was expendable and since four years had passed since the last film in this series, the studio heads decided they wanted no more Wongs. Besides, if they had Chan AND Wong, the resulting films would be like having two Wongs--and that's just not right.
MR. WONG, DETECTIVE is the first Wong film and there's nothing particularly wong, I mean WRONG about the film. It was entertaining and had a nice mystery. However, it's also an awful lot like several other Monogram films--and is most like their next Wong film, THE MYSTERY OF MR. WONG. It's also a lot like the Chan films, MURDER OVER NEW YORK, THE JADE MASK and DOCKS OF NEW ORLEANS. In other words, many plot elements were repeated and after a while the films started to be indistinguishable from each other--something that was NOT a problem with the Fox films.
Overall, it's worth seeing and is possibly the best film of the series--though this isn't saying a lot.
Really Charlie Chan disguised as Mr Wong disguised as Karloff
jcholguin9 May 2001
Having been a fan of Charlie Chan I was not familiar with Mr Wong but to my surprise the story itself was worthy of a Charlie Chan. Over look Boris Karloff as an oriental will allow you to enjoy this film. Film opens fast with a frighten man seeking help from Mr Wong. His murder is a mind bender in the tradition of Chan films as no one can figure out how a man in a locked room is killed with the police right outside of the door. Many suspects and more of the mysterious murders makes this a film "most enjoyable" for the "detective" in each of us.
Plain-Looking But Interesting Mystery Feature With a Good Performance From Karloff
Snow Leopard13 June 2005
Although most of the production is pretty plain, the basic mystery story in "Mr. Wong, Detective" is rather interesting, and Boris Karloff's good performance as the detective also makes it worth seeing. Karloff brought a human touch to every role that he played, and even though this is an atypical part for him, he is a believable Mr. Wong. Most of the other characters are somewhat nondescript, except for Grant Withers's abrasive police officer, and aside from Karloff the cast is nothing special, but the story itself is enough to hold your interest.
In the story, the detective must patiently solve a mystery from the slightest of clues. Some of the developments strain credibility, but if you can accept the premise, it's an interesting idea and it makes decent use of the details. There are several places where it could have been written better or edited more effectively, but the pacing is pretty good, and as it proceeds, it often gives you what you need to know in order to try to anticipate what happens next.
The climactic sequence is one of the better ones that you'll see in this kind of B-movie. The production values are lower than a Karloff feature deserves, but with a solid story and Karloff in the lead, it's definitely worth seeing.
In the story, the detective must patiently solve a mystery from the slightest of clues. Some of the developments strain credibility, but if you can accept the premise, it's an interesting idea and it makes decent use of the details. There are several places where it could have been written better or edited more effectively, but the pacing is pretty good, and as it proceeds, it often gives you what you need to know in order to try to anticipate what happens next.
The climactic sequence is one of the better ones that you'll see in this kind of B-movie. The production values are lower than a Karloff feature deserves, but with a solid story and Karloff in the lead, it's definitely worth seeing.
This movie is a campy hoot!
javajule13 December 2002
I have the Mr. Wong series on DVD and find it quite enjoyable. You must immerse yourself in the ambience of sitting in a darkened movie theater circa 1939 watching a double bill of "B" movies to enjoy. By modern detective story standards it is creaky, but you don't watch it for the plot. I agree the sheer political incorrectness of the very British Boris Karloff playing a Chinese detective takes some getting used to, but he lends the role an air of dignity that a less talented actor would not be capable of expressing. Grant Withers is most famous for eloping with a seventeen year old Loretta Young before her rise to stardom. The later films in the series feature a cheeky Marjorie Reynolds and gives her ample room to display her comedic talents. All in all, suspend your modern frame of reference and enjoy!
Boris Karloff is Chinese!!!
psychoren20024 August 2006
In the great tradition of Chinese detectives as Charlie Chan and Mr. Moto, Boris Karloff's Mr. Wong was a solid addition to that venerable kind of films. Is really difficult to think in Karloff as a Chinese person, but the British actor delivers a solid performance, if you can dig his weird accent. The plot is simple, the strange murders are against logic, but Mr. Wong's patience and intelligence can solve the mystery. The other actors are far below Karloff, but the overall fell of the movie is candid and likable. Another completely different Mr. Wong was played before by Bela Lugosi, a villain, but this detective deserves your interest if you are a fan of the genre.
See It For Karloff
utgard146 March 2014
Mr. Wong (Boris Karloff) investigates the death of the president of a chemical manufacturing company and finds the trail leads to foreign agents. Asian detectives were all the rage in the '30s, with Charlie Chan and Mr. Moto both successful franchises at Fox. Poverty Row studio Monogram throws their hat into the ring with the Mr. Wong series starring Boris Karloff.
Karloff's screen presence is the movie's primary selling point. Grant Withers plays the clichéd police detective who spends the whole movie barking at everybody and being annoying. Weaselly Lucien Prival plays one of the bad guys. There's something about this actor that always creeped me out. Poor production values and an unimpressive supporting cast puts this one well below the standards of the Chan and Moto series. But Boris Karloff and a decent mystery make it worth checking out.
Karloff's screen presence is the movie's primary selling point. Grant Withers plays the clichéd police detective who spends the whole movie barking at everybody and being annoying. Weaselly Lucien Prival plays one of the bad guys. There's something about this actor that always creeped me out. Poor production values and an unimpressive supporting cast puts this one well below the standards of the Chan and Moto series. But Boris Karloff and a decent mystery make it worth checking out.
Worth watching for Karloff
dj455k11 May 2006
Mr. Wong, Detective, is a standard fare B-movie that is delightful owing to the work of Boris Karloff. One does have to stretch one's sense of disbelief to see Karloff as an oriental but what dominates is Karloff's urbane humanity. It has been widely commented that in private life Karloff was gentle and engaging. It's my guess that Karloff here is mostly acting as himself, slightly stooped, charming, and witty. As such it is a testament to his ability as an actor that he could appear in so many villainous roles. As Mr. Wong one see Karloff as one's cultured uncle, full of good cheer, common sense, and abundant with decency. I only wish that it had been Karloff's better fortune to have acted in more diverse roles giving his range and appeal a wider audience. As he was much beloved in the Hollywood community perhaps Karloff didn't do so badly after all.
As for the movie itself one requires a rather open sense of credulity. A series of partners in a chemical company are being murdered with poison gas and the police are at wit's end trying to determine the how, why, and who of the matter. Mr. Wong is called in early in the game and begins to pick out the pieces, literally, to the solution of the mystery. Grant Withers is the detective captain, Street, on the case and he lends the movie it's deepest dead spots. He is a loud, blustery, nincompoop of a detective, and in way over his head. If he is meant to lend comic relief, or to provide a dopey foil to the brilliance of Mr. Wong, I would have preferred a characterization not quite so annoying. There are other nefarious characters skulking about, providing red-herring dead ends, and a few twists a turns of the plot. In the end Mr. Wong identifies the killer and Street hauls him annoyingly away.
Mr. Wong, Detective is a nice addition for film buffs and a fine example of the film work of Boris Karloff.
As for the movie itself one requires a rather open sense of credulity. A series of partners in a chemical company are being murdered with poison gas and the police are at wit's end trying to determine the how, why, and who of the matter. Mr. Wong is called in early in the game and begins to pick out the pieces, literally, to the solution of the mystery. Grant Withers is the detective captain, Street, on the case and he lends the movie it's deepest dead spots. He is a loud, blustery, nincompoop of a detective, and in way over his head. If he is meant to lend comic relief, or to provide a dopey foil to the brilliance of Mr. Wong, I would have preferred a characterization not quite so annoying. There are other nefarious characters skulking about, providing red-herring dead ends, and a few twists a turns of the plot. In the end Mr. Wong identifies the killer and Street hauls him annoyingly away.
Mr. Wong, Detective is a nice addition for film buffs and a fine example of the film work of Boris Karloff.
Slow 30s potboiler
djensen113 March 2005
Boris Karloff is private detective James L Wong in this slow-moving potboiler. None of the characters outside of Karloff's are the least bit interesting, and the dialog and acting are sub-par, but the mystery is quite clever and almost worth the wait.
Unlike Lugosi's Wong character in The Mysterious Mr. Wong, this fake Asian is a good guy and not demeaned in the portrayal. Still, Karloff is the wrong man for the part, and the whole production suffers. The character was made popular in a series of Collier's Magazine stories, and it's understandable why. Wong is a sort of Chinese-American Sherlock Holmes, with a calm, thoughtful manner that encourages confidence in him. This is not the aphorism-spewing Charlie Chan, but a smart detective who happens to be Asian. That doesn't make up for the dragging plot or the weak supporting characters, but it does make this a mildly interesting entry in the old-time mystery genre.
Unlike Lugosi's Wong character in The Mysterious Mr. Wong, this fake Asian is a good guy and not demeaned in the portrayal. Still, Karloff is the wrong man for the part, and the whole production suffers. The character was made popular in a series of Collier's Magazine stories, and it's understandable why. Wong is a sort of Chinese-American Sherlock Holmes, with a calm, thoughtful manner that encourages confidence in him. This is not the aphorism-spewing Charlie Chan, but a smart detective who happens to be Asian. That doesn't make up for the dragging plot or the weak supporting characters, but it does make this a mildly interesting entry in the old-time mystery genre.
Boris Karloff: The Debut of Mr Wong
TheLittleSongbird22 November 2013
From memory the Mr Wong films were fun if not mind-blowingly great, though they most likely weren't trying to be. Any film that has Boris Karloff in is worth a shot, and Mr Wong, Detective is not an exception. Some scenes are poorly lit and with unfocused editing, the film does have some dull stretches that could have benefited from tighter scripting and while mostly entertaining and with a character that is nicely contrasted to the character of Mr Wong Grant Withers can go overboard with the shouting. The sets are good though and match the atmosphere and mystery well, while the script on the most part is snappy and the story is diverting and fun with a clever killing method and a particularly gripping final 10-15 minutes. The direction isn't award-worthy but it was decent, and the acting likewise. Boris Karloff is one of those actors who always did his best with what he had regardless of the quality(and he did have films, especially in the later years, that were beneath him material-wise)- Vincent Price and Tim Curry are other examples of this. He is served well, and while not exactly convincing as Chinese he commands the screen brilliantly, carrying the film with no trouble. Overall, not great but not bad at all. Not a must-see but it is worth the look and for more than curiosity value. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Mr. Wong, Detective (1938) **
JoeKarlosi28 April 2008
This was the first of a modest series of Monogram films to star horror heavyweight Boris Karloff as an Asian sleuth, most likely to try and capitalize off the highly successful Charlie Chan saga from Fox. As a Karloff fan myself, he was my sole reason to take the plunge with this series and this film is pretty much an average affair. The British Boris doesn't seem authentic at playing a Chinese detective, and I had a difficult time buying into him as such with his blackened, slicked-back hair-comb. The plot itself is intriguing enough, with Mr. Wong trying to find out how a poison gas is killing people, and who's the mastermind behind it. I've read that MR. WONG, DETECTIVE is the "best" of this bunch, which leaves me concerned as to what may lie ahead. ** out of ****
A delightful surprise for film buffs: Boris Karloff is Mr. Wong, Detective
marxsarx6 April 2003
This obscure little movie is a delightful surprise for film buffs. The surprise is Boris Karloff in the role of the well mannered oriental detective. Yes, this is the same Boris Karloff who was Frankenstein the monster! He manages the role as if it were a well worn and comfortable pair of houseshoes, and it becomes unimportant, quickly forgotten and insignificant that a nonoriental is Mr. Wong.
A business man gets involved with a deal involving poison gas. When he is inexplicably found dead in his office under suspicious circumstances, Detective Street (Grant Withers) is called in on the case. The sharp tongued detective Street looks for the blatant and obvious clues, while he often misses what is going on beneath the surface in this mysterious case. Mr. Wong, a well known detective who was acquainted with the victim, begins to notice clues that Detective Street overlooks. The body count begins to mount as the partners of the dead business man also begin to die under strange circumstances. Mr. Wong must keep his mind open in this thriller when the obvious suspect first seems guilty, then innocent as other suspects turn up including a sinister Baron and a Countess. Maxine Jennings is great as Detective Streets lady friend, Myra. Snappy dialogue and good actors move the story along at a good clip. There are a couple of scenes that are shot in poor lighting, but they don't hinder this very good entry in the 1930's detective genre of movies.
This will be an entertaining movie for film buffs. I give it an 8/10.
A business man gets involved with a deal involving poison gas. When he is inexplicably found dead in his office under suspicious circumstances, Detective Street (Grant Withers) is called in on the case. The sharp tongued detective Street looks for the blatant and obvious clues, while he often misses what is going on beneath the surface in this mysterious case. Mr. Wong, a well known detective who was acquainted with the victim, begins to notice clues that Detective Street overlooks. The body count begins to mount as the partners of the dead business man also begin to die under strange circumstances. Mr. Wong must keep his mind open in this thriller when the obvious suspect first seems guilty, then innocent as other suspects turn up including a sinister Baron and a Countess. Maxine Jennings is great as Detective Streets lady friend, Myra. Snappy dialogue and good actors move the story along at a good clip. There are a couple of scenes that are shot in poor lighting, but they don't hinder this very good entry in the 1930's detective genre of movies.
This will be an entertaining movie for film buffs. I give it an 8/10.
A really original method of murder
bkoganbing4 January 2012
Boris Karloff made his debut as Chinese shamus James Wong in Mr. Wong Detective for Monogram in 1938. It was a popular, but short lived series of films, the last one starring not Karloff but Keye Luke an actual Oriental as the Oxford educated detective. Unlike his fellow oriental sleuths Charlie Chan and Mr. Moto, Karloff spoke in perfect Oxford educated English and not fortune cookie aphorisms.
Mr. Wong Detective has Boris Karloff hired by John Hamilton who is one of three partners in an industrial firm. He has the feeling that someone is trailing him and his life in danger. When he dies alone in the proverbial locked room with no gunshot, stab wound, or anything indicating foul play, it's a mystery beyond the comprehension of the cops in the person of Grant Withers. It sure puzzles Wong for the length of the film.
One of the reasons I rate this film so high even though it's a B film from Monogram without a whole lot of production values is the absolutely original method of murder the writers thought up for the script. There's also a nice really big red herring in the plot as well. I guarantee you will not be able to figure out exactly how the crime was committed even when you have a couple of the clues.
The other Wong films were OK, but not near as original as this one.
Mr. Wong Detective has Boris Karloff hired by John Hamilton who is one of three partners in an industrial firm. He has the feeling that someone is trailing him and his life in danger. When he dies alone in the proverbial locked room with no gunshot, stab wound, or anything indicating foul play, it's a mystery beyond the comprehension of the cops in the person of Grant Withers. It sure puzzles Wong for the length of the film.
One of the reasons I rate this film so high even though it's a B film from Monogram without a whole lot of production values is the absolutely original method of murder the writers thought up for the script. There's also a nice really big red herring in the plot as well. I guarantee you will not be able to figure out exactly how the crime was committed even when you have a couple of the clues.
The other Wong films were OK, but not near as original as this one.
Mr. Wong, Accessory to Murder
Athanatos29 December 2008
Warning: Spoilers
The basic gimmick to this movie is clever. Mr Wong, on the other hand, either isn't clever or is a sort of passive-aggressive fiend, who delights in murder.
Before the second murder has occurred, Wong has the gist of how the first murder was effected. And, as the second murder is about to be committed, Mr Wong is positioned to know what the triggering mechanism is. So I'm shouting "Kick the door! Kick the door! Kick the door!" But Wong is just standing there. Perhaps he's not figured it out.
After the second murder, Wong is positioned to know exactly what the trigger is. But Wong allows a third murder to happen.
Well, I submit that Mr Wong does know; that, as the third murder is committed, the buzzard is sitting next to Street, giggling inside, as Street unwittingly kills the third fellow.
Wong doesn't bother to expose the murderer until the murderer has little cause to kill again. Unfortunately for the killer, Wong figures that he can get one more death out of the situation, by sending the killer to the gallows.
Wait! Why was Street sending people to the gallows in 1938? California switched to gas for people convicted after 27 August 1937. (Lethal injection was introduced in the '90s.)
Before the second murder has occurred, Wong has the gist of how the first murder was effected. And, as the second murder is about to be committed, Mr Wong is positioned to know what the triggering mechanism is. So I'm shouting "Kick the door! Kick the door! Kick the door!" But Wong is just standing there. Perhaps he's not figured it out.
After the second murder, Wong is positioned to know exactly what the trigger is. But Wong allows a third murder to happen.
Well, I submit that Mr Wong does know; that, as the third murder is committed, the buzzard is sitting next to Street, giggling inside, as Street unwittingly kills the third fellow.
Wong doesn't bother to expose the murderer until the murderer has little cause to kill again. Unfortunately for the killer, Wong figures that he can get one more death out of the situation, by sending the killer to the gallows.
Wait! Why was Street sending people to the gallows in 1938? California switched to gas for people convicted after 27 August 1937. (Lethal injection was introduced in the '90s.)
Ancient Chinese Secret
BaronBl00d13 June 2001
Mr. Wong comes to the aid of a man who says his life is in danger. He was right, as he dies the morning Mr. Wong was to visit him. Boris Karloff makes his first appearance as the Collier's Magazine Oriental detective(in the same vein of Charlie Chan or Mr. Moto). Karloff is quite good in the role, and brings to it a good deal of class. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast does not play on his level, but everyone is adequate. Grant Withers as a hard-headed policeman easily gives the worst performance. The mystery in the film is(at least for me) somewhat easy to figure out, but the fun comes from Karloff's performance as the cunning Chinaman. Oriental prejudices abound, but this was the 30's. All in all, I found the film to be quite entertaining, although not on the same level of a good Chan or Moto film.
The first Boris Karloff 'Mr. Wong' film
robert-temple-120 March 2011
This is the first of the series of Mr. Wong films based upon the series of stories entitled 'James Lee Wong' written by Hugh Wiley (1884-1968), which appeared in Colliers Magazine. Colliers was a very prominent illustrated national magazine in America which paid good money for popular fiction. It did not pay as much as the Saturday Evening Post, which contained higher quality fiction and provided F. Scott Fitzgerald with most of his income, but it was lucrative. It was not uncommon for Colliers pulp fiction to be sold on to Hollywood to provide the stories for B films. Six of these Mr. Wong stories were filmed between 1938 and 1940. The first five of these starred Boris Karloff as the Chinese detective Mr. James Lee Wong, who lives in San Francisco's Chinatown, and the sixth and final one (PHANTOM OF CHINATOWN, 1940) starred the much younger Keye Luke as Mr. Wong. However, before this series began, Bela Lugosi had starred in a film entitled THE MYSTERIOUS MR. WONG (1934) which was directed by William Nigh, the same man who later directed the entire Karloff series. (He did not direct the final film in the series starring Keye Luke in 1940.) But the Lugosi film had no connection whatever with the Karloff series, since the Mr. Wong in that story is not a detective but an evil schemer who wishes to achieve world domination by collecting 'the twelve coins of Confucius'. (That was based on a short story by someone else about Confucius giving twelve coins to twelve disciples just before his death and predicting that when they all came back into one ownership again in the future, the possessor of all 12 coins would be a powerful ruler.) Earlier still, Edward G. Robinson had played another Mr. Wong in THE HONOURABLE MR. WONG (1932), based upon a play written by David Belasco and Achmed Abdullah, which was the pen name of Alexander Romanoff, son of the Grand Duke Nicholas Romanoff of Russia. The Chinese surname Wong is spelled Wang in Mandarin but Wong in Cantonese. It means 'King'. It is one of the commonest surnames in China, hence it is not surprising that various Wongs have appeared in Hollywood films, as there are tens of millions of people called Mr. Wong or Mr. Wang in China itself. This first Karloff film has an ingenious plot. People are murdered by poison glass contained in thin glass spheres, but no one can figure out how the spheres are broken. The first murder takes place between the time of the arrival of the police outside a chemical factory and the entrance of the police into the murdered man's office, a very brief space of time. How did he die in that short period? Mr. Wong finally figures it out, but I shall not reveal the ingenious secret. Karloff plays Wong in a very genteel way as a kind of English gentleman who just happens to be Chinese. In fact, in the story it is mentioned that he has even studied at Oxford. Karloff utters assorted Confucian-style proverbs from time to time, such as: 'A request from a friend is virtually a command.' It is all very mannered and stylized. The film is ruined by the oafish performance of one of the worst actors in the history of the cinema, Grant Withers, as Sam the police detective. He is so ludicrous and offensive, and shouts so much and is so rude to everyone including his fiancée, that the film's impact is gutted by it and made to appear wholly ridiculous. That is a pity, because the film otherwise had an eerie B picture air of mystery about it which Karloff's quiet detective greatly enhanced. What the Chinese would think of these films today can easily be imagined, since Karloff, especially in profile, is very much what the Chinese call 'a big nose', and could only elicit a laugh (especially as there are no Confucian gentlemen left today anyway). Certainly there was a great improvement in Hollywood when the highly engaging young Keye Luke was allowed to play Chinese characters, as he was genuinely Chinese, however Americanized he may have been in his manners and speech. But Hollywood always fell back on Hollywood stars to play Chinese, Japanese, Arabs, Turks, American Indians, Greek peasants (Anthony Quinn as Zorba), and all manner of Europeans, without even a blush. The tradition of Westerners pretending to be Orientals continued with a British actor portraying Mahatma Gandhi in GANDHI (1982). But one must presumably not look for authenticity in a world of mass illusion.
An introduction to Mr Wong
greenbudgie14 March 2021
The boss of Dayton's Chemical Company approaches Mr Wong because he feels his life is in danger. This threat seems to be confirmed when Dayton's chauffer is knocked out and his car is stolen outside Wong's house. The next morning Dayton dies mysteriously in his locked office just after he has signed a clause in his contract agreement with his two business partners. The two partners benefit from his death through this new clause. Also Dayton has just been held at gunpoint from Carl Roemer who is disgruntled because Dayton has held onto Roemer's scientific formula.
There are also some villains who are anxious to divert Dayton's chemical exports to their own country's advantage. While Carl Roemer is being detained by the police Mr Wong gets to see Roemer's experimental workroom. Wong has to find the triggering point of how some invisible gas becomes lethal. The plot also includes intrigue about some exotic bark used in specially made cigarettes and how letters are being smuggled out of prison.
This is the first of five films with Boris Karloff as Mr Wong (1938-1940) for Monogram. Mr Wong is a cultured and educated detective residing in San Francisco. I enjoy Boris Karloff's interpretation of the Mr Wong character and I wish the series had been longer. I suspect that Karloff's fee per film demand got a bit too much for Monogram. This first Karloff Wong is not the best of the five but it is a re-watchable introduction to his character and his "humble home" as he calls it.
There are also some villains who are anxious to divert Dayton's chemical exports to their own country's advantage. While Carl Roemer is being detained by the police Mr Wong gets to see Roemer's experimental workroom. Wong has to find the triggering point of how some invisible gas becomes lethal. The plot also includes intrigue about some exotic bark used in specially made cigarettes and how letters are being smuggled out of prison.
This is the first of five films with Boris Karloff as Mr Wong (1938-1940) for Monogram. Mr Wong is a cultured and educated detective residing in San Francisco. I enjoy Boris Karloff's interpretation of the Mr Wong character and I wish the series had been longer. I suspect that Karloff's fee per film demand got a bit too much for Monogram. This first Karloff Wong is not the best of the five but it is a re-watchable introduction to his character and his "humble home" as he calls it.
An International Spy Ring
StrictlyConfidential14 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
"Mr. Wong, Detective" was originally released back in 1938.
Anyway - As the story goes - Mr. Wong is called in to investigate the case of a vengeful inventor who has been accused of killing the businessmen who duped him. The only clue to be found is a shard of glass found nearby the bodies of the victims. But what does it mean and where did it come from?
Anyway - As the story goes - Mr. Wong is called in to investigate the case of a vengeful inventor who has been accused of killing the businessmen who duped him. The only clue to be found is a shard of glass found nearby the bodies of the victims. But what does it mean and where did it come from?
Chinaman Sleuth
lugonian20 February 2023
MR. WONG, DETECTIVE (Monogram, 1938), directed by William Nigh, became the studio's answer to the popular trend of 20th Century-Fox's Oriental detective series, "Charlie Chan" starring Warner Oland and later Sidney Toler that started in 1931. Boris Karloff of horror movie fame for Universal Pictures assumes the title role of the Oriental sleuth, James Lee Wong, a character created by Hugh Wiley. As much as this first of six installments (five starring Karloff alone) is regarded the best, it's also one of those movies that to some, once seen today, becomes just a faded memory tomorrow.
Set in San Francisco (hence the first viewing of the Golden Gate Bridge), the prologue opens with a shipment of chemical boxes placed on board a ship, as observed on dock by Lascari (Frank Bruno) and Anton Mohl (Lionel Prival), a couple of spies after its poison gas formula. The story next shifts to Simon Dayton (John Hamilton), a chemical manufacturer of Dayton Chemical Works, who fears for his life after receiving anonymous death threats. At the advise of his friend, Phil Davis, Dayton is driven to the residence of famed detective, James Lee Wong (Boris Karloff), for assistance, leading to a follow-up meeting to take place at Dayton's office the following day at 10 a.m. Before the meeting is to take place, Dayton is nearly kidnapped by a strange driver seated in his limousine after his chauffeur has been abducted and tied up; a visit at his office by partners, Christian Wilk (Hooper Atchley) and Theodore Meisle (William Gould) wanting to obtain Dayton's signature on their partnership agreement clause if ever a demise on any of the partners should take place; and the forced entry at gunpoint by Carl Roemer (John St, Polis) accusing Dayton of stealing his formula on a false promise of becoming his partner. As Myra Ross (Maxine Jennings), Dayton's secretary, and Russell (Wilbur Mack) escort Roemer to the reception area to be calmed down, Dayton locks his door and telephones Captain Sam Street (Grant Withers) of the San Francisco Police Department (and Myra's romantic interest), to have Roemer removed. With Wong's arrival, Myra unlocks the office door to find Dayton murdered. As Wong joins forces with Street to investigate, two similar murders follow before Wong's search for small clues leads to big results. Co-starring Evelyn Brent (Olga Petrov, alias Countess DuBois); George Lloyd (Devlin, Street's Assistant); Grace Wood (Margaret Roemer); and Lee Tung Foo and Hooper Atchley in supporting cast.
Largely forgotten today, the sole interest in watching MR. WONG, DETECTIVE and its sequels is the unlikely presence of Boris Karloff, sporting slant eyes, combed back dark hair, mustache and glasses, speaking naturally in soft spoken voice with no traditional Chinese lingo. The cast support, mostly by former lead actors whose careers have passed their prime (Grant Withers and Evelyn Brent) or by unknown character actors whose names mean nothing to contemporary viewers (John St. Polis, Lucien Prival, etc), there's John Hamilton, however, best known for baby boomers as Perry Mason in "The Adventures of Superman" TV series (1951-1959) in one of his few times playing something other than a policeman.
Though Karloff's relaxed performance makes himself convincing as Mr. Wong, he no way takes away the commanding performances by either the aforementioned Oland and Toler from the long running "Charlie Chan" series (1931-1949), nor Peter Lorre during his two year stint (1937-1939) as Japanese detective, "Mr. Moto." Story reworked by Monogram as DOCKS OF NEW ORLEANS (1948) starring Roland Winters as Charlie Chan. Monogram production values simply cannot compare to those by major studios as 20th Century-Fox, yet, aside from leisure pacing and no standard underscoring during its story portions, the well-staged climax fixture makes up for these losses.
Having played on broadcast television during its early years of the 1950s, MR. WONG, DETECTIVE was resurrected on television again in the 1980s, the decade where it was distributed on home video, shown in revival movie houses, followed by DVD distribution and cable television broadcasts such as Turner Classic Movies as early as 1996. Had this been a first-rate production from a major movie studio as Warner Brothers for example, this might have been a whole lot better and faster. Sequel: THE MYSTERY OF MR. WONG (1939) (***)
Set in San Francisco (hence the first viewing of the Golden Gate Bridge), the prologue opens with a shipment of chemical boxes placed on board a ship, as observed on dock by Lascari (Frank Bruno) and Anton Mohl (Lionel Prival), a couple of spies after its poison gas formula. The story next shifts to Simon Dayton (John Hamilton), a chemical manufacturer of Dayton Chemical Works, who fears for his life after receiving anonymous death threats. At the advise of his friend, Phil Davis, Dayton is driven to the residence of famed detective, James Lee Wong (Boris Karloff), for assistance, leading to a follow-up meeting to take place at Dayton's office the following day at 10 a.m. Before the meeting is to take place, Dayton is nearly kidnapped by a strange driver seated in his limousine after his chauffeur has been abducted and tied up; a visit at his office by partners, Christian Wilk (Hooper Atchley) and Theodore Meisle (William Gould) wanting to obtain Dayton's signature on their partnership agreement clause if ever a demise on any of the partners should take place; and the forced entry at gunpoint by Carl Roemer (John St, Polis) accusing Dayton of stealing his formula on a false promise of becoming his partner. As Myra Ross (Maxine Jennings), Dayton's secretary, and Russell (Wilbur Mack) escort Roemer to the reception area to be calmed down, Dayton locks his door and telephones Captain Sam Street (Grant Withers) of the San Francisco Police Department (and Myra's romantic interest), to have Roemer removed. With Wong's arrival, Myra unlocks the office door to find Dayton murdered. As Wong joins forces with Street to investigate, two similar murders follow before Wong's search for small clues leads to big results. Co-starring Evelyn Brent (Olga Petrov, alias Countess DuBois); George Lloyd (Devlin, Street's Assistant); Grace Wood (Margaret Roemer); and Lee Tung Foo and Hooper Atchley in supporting cast.
Largely forgotten today, the sole interest in watching MR. WONG, DETECTIVE and its sequels is the unlikely presence of Boris Karloff, sporting slant eyes, combed back dark hair, mustache and glasses, speaking naturally in soft spoken voice with no traditional Chinese lingo. The cast support, mostly by former lead actors whose careers have passed their prime (Grant Withers and Evelyn Brent) or by unknown character actors whose names mean nothing to contemporary viewers (John St. Polis, Lucien Prival, etc), there's John Hamilton, however, best known for baby boomers as Perry Mason in "The Adventures of Superman" TV series (1951-1959) in one of his few times playing something other than a policeman.
Though Karloff's relaxed performance makes himself convincing as Mr. Wong, he no way takes away the commanding performances by either the aforementioned Oland and Toler from the long running "Charlie Chan" series (1931-1949), nor Peter Lorre during his two year stint (1937-1939) as Japanese detective, "Mr. Moto." Story reworked by Monogram as DOCKS OF NEW ORLEANS (1948) starring Roland Winters as Charlie Chan. Monogram production values simply cannot compare to those by major studios as 20th Century-Fox, yet, aside from leisure pacing and no standard underscoring during its story portions, the well-staged climax fixture makes up for these losses.
Having played on broadcast television during its early years of the 1950s, MR. WONG, DETECTIVE was resurrected on television again in the 1980s, the decade where it was distributed on home video, shown in revival movie houses, followed by DVD distribution and cable television broadcasts such as Turner Classic Movies as early as 1996. Had this been a first-rate production from a major movie studio as Warner Brothers for example, this might have been a whole lot better and faster. Sequel: THE MYSTERY OF MR. WONG (1939) (***)
I can't detect too much quality here
hte-trasme4 September 2009
Boris Karloff's performance as James Lee Wong is probably the best thing about this film. It's subtle and effective, and doesn't fall back on the Chinese stereotypes that many would have. Monogram was about the least respected studio around at this time, but Boris Karloff probably couldn't resist the offer to star in his own detective series, and his enjoyment shows.
The others actors, however, are almost universally horrible. The performances tend towards either the wooden or the constantly-shouting. Grant Withers even seems to forget his lines at one point, and nobody thinks to do another take.
The direction and design are both flat and dull. There is some cleverness to the film's mystery plot, but it is developed mainly with long, clumsily-written passages of exposition. Karloff fans will want to see him as Mr. Wong, but otherwise there's not much reason to bother with this sloppy B-picture.
The others actors, however, are almost universally horrible. The performances tend towards either the wooden or the constantly-shouting. Grant Withers even seems to forget his lines at one point, and nobody thinks to do another take.
The direction and design are both flat and dull. There is some cleverness to the film's mystery plot, but it is developed mainly with long, clumsily-written passages of exposition. Karloff fans will want to see him as Mr. Wong, but otherwise there's not much reason to bother with this sloppy B-picture.
More Polished than the Others
Hitchcoc4 October 2006
Having seen the others of the Wong canon earlier, and this being the first, I believe it to be superior to those. Karloff appeared to take the role seriously. The plot to use the poison gas is clever. The potential for a terrorist act is always there. There are also lots of dynamics at work. Wong is so under control. He bides his time and lets the young police detective make a fool of himself, using heavy handed tactics on those he is interrogating. What's interesting is that Wong seems to have respect for this guy who knows nothing and acts so irrationally. Wong eventually moves in and gets the information he needs in a gentle manner. While much of this strains the limits of believability, it shows Karloff to be a pretty good actor. These series things are really throwaways and yet he seems to care how his character comes across. Whenever there is a closeup, it's hard to imagine him being Asian, but there was a lot of that going around in those days.
Suffers from poor direction
reader42 March 2001
I found "Mr. Wong" extremely hard to follow. The director obviously had no idea of the meaning of the words, "continuity" and "transition." The story has several parallel threads, and Branch jumps from one to the other without warning or explanation.
Many of the scenes are of people silently doing rather unrecognizable things in unlighted rooms. I found myself constantly asking, "Who is this person? What are they doing? And why are they doing it?" Unfortunately, satisfactory answers were rarely forthcoming.
I found myself hitting the rewind button quite a lot, and still not really understanding why a particular scene was being enacted or exactly why I should care. The style is documentary, and the dialog attempts to be realistic, so much so that there are no clues in it as to why the characters are in a particular setting, how they got there, or where they are going. Some narration or interspersed titles would have helped this movie a lot.
Karloff is his usual low-key, lovable self, and the last ten minutes of the film are gripping and well done, so it wasn't a total waste of time. But if this was Monogram Pictures's answer to Charlie Chan, I have to ask, "what was the question, again?"
Many of the scenes are of people silently doing rather unrecognizable things in unlighted rooms. I found myself constantly asking, "Who is this person? What are they doing? And why are they doing it?" Unfortunately, satisfactory answers were rarely forthcoming.
I found myself hitting the rewind button quite a lot, and still not really understanding why a particular scene was being enacted or exactly why I should care. The style is documentary, and the dialog attempts to be realistic, so much so that there are no clues in it as to why the characters are in a particular setting, how they got there, or where they are going. Some narration or interspersed titles would have helped this movie a lot.
Karloff is his usual low-key, lovable self, and the last ten minutes of the film are gripping and well done, so it wasn't a total waste of time. But if this was Monogram Pictures's answer to Charlie Chan, I have to ask, "what was the question, again?"
A good B/C movie with excellent sets.
NativeTexan31 May 2002
As a fan, even connoisseur, of B and C movies, I think this one is very well done. The sets are especially impressive, and the detail -- especially the interiors -- are pretty amazing. Good story, good plot, even though the death weapon is a duplicate of "Charlie Chan in Egypt." Boris is enjoyable as Mr. Moto. The makeup artist is far less talented than the set designer; Boris' hair looks like it is lacquered to his skull. Still, you like him, and that's what counts. Grant Withers is too loud (vocally, that is) but gives an honest performance as a crabby, dim-witted police detective. John St.Polis is a standout as Roemer. Fun to watch and worth the time.
series review (certainly applies to this first very entertaining film)
winner5529 May 2013
Karloff's Wong compares quite favorably to the various screen interpretations of Charlie Chan. He doesn't play a stereotypical Chinese according to Hollywood formula (and neither does Keye Luke in a later film in the series). Karloff brings a wit and a quiet air of command to the character, he is always moving steadily toward a solution to the crime at hand. He presents Wong as quite the most intelligent character in every film. The mysteries themselves are about average for the period. In most of the Wong films the clues are there for the audience if they care to look for them. Also, one must remark the important part Grant Withers plays, as the earnest, tough, but slightly dimwitted police Captain Bill Street, and the occasional appearance by Marjorie Reynolds as the sassy reporter Bobbie Logan who dates Street off-hours, only to interfere when at work. They bring a pleasing air of continuing romantic interest as well as comic relief to the series.
Oriental detective cheapie from Monogram
Leofwine_draca29 August 2016
Warning: Spoilers
At first glance, Boris Karloff may seem an odd choice for the screen role of James Lee Wong, a fictional detective who was popular in Collier's Magazine in the early part of the 20th century. An Englishman playing a Chinaman, without much attempt at an accent? However, film fans may remember that earlier in the 1930s, Karloff starred as the insidious Dr. Fu Manchu in THE MASK OF FU MANCHU, so he already had some experience of playing a Chinese character in Hollywood. It comes as little surprise that Karloff's presence is the best thing about this low-budget detective yarn, which employs a routine 'whodunit' style plot, far too many villains and an unsurprising outcome.
None of the other cast members can really hold a light to Karloff, who makes the role of Mr. Wong his own. The mild-mannered, umbrella-carrying private detective wanders around the sets, making jokes about drinking cups of tea and eating oriental duck; other than that, there's no real reason for him to be Chinese. Still, his deductive methods are sound, if understated, and he's as observant and keen as many a Holmes imitator.
Workaholic director William Nigh – who made over a hundred films in thirty years – keeps things plain and simple and there's no fancy camera-work or surprises here; but then you've never expect that from the poverty-row Monogram Pictures studio. Shouty policeman Grant Withers goes for broke with his bluff, angry detective character and he's a real hoot, livening up the film no end with his hilarious stupidity. A shame the cast list of suspects and villains are so underwhelming, these guys are about as menacing as a tea bag. The most interesting plot element lies in the murder weapon, a tiny glass ball filled with poison gas, which explodes when subjected to a certain noise; I'll not say which noise that is, as not to spoil the ending, but it comes as a fun surprise. A shame that elements like this can't stir below-average dialogue and a plot that outstays its welcome, despite only a seventy-minute running time.
None of the other cast members can really hold a light to Karloff, who makes the role of Mr. Wong his own. The mild-mannered, umbrella-carrying private detective wanders around the sets, making jokes about drinking cups of tea and eating oriental duck; other than that, there's no real reason for him to be Chinese. Still, his deductive methods are sound, if understated, and he's as observant and keen as many a Holmes imitator.
Workaholic director William Nigh – who made over a hundred films in thirty years – keeps things plain and simple and there's no fancy camera-work or surprises here; but then you've never expect that from the poverty-row Monogram Pictures studio. Shouty policeman Grant Withers goes for broke with his bluff, angry detective character and he's a real hoot, livening up the film no end with his hilarious stupidity. A shame the cast list of suspects and villains are so underwhelming, these guys are about as menacing as a tea bag. The most interesting plot element lies in the murder weapon, a tiny glass ball filled with poison gas, which explodes when subjected to a certain noise; I'll not say which noise that is, as not to spoil the ending, but it comes as a fun surprise. A shame that elements like this can't stir below-average dialogue and a plot that outstays its welcome, despite only a seventy-minute running time.
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