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      Mr. Wong, Detective

      Released Oct 5, 1938 1h 9m Mystery & Thriller List
      Reviews 43% Audience Score 250+ Ratings Factory owner Simon Dayton (John Hamilton) visits the office of private detective James Lee Wong (Boris Karloff) in San Francisco's Chinatown, claiming to be in danger. When Dayton is murdered, suspicion falls on scientist Carl Roemer (John St. Polis), who had recently accused Dayton of stealing his latest findings. With the help of the captain of police (Grant Withers) and Dayton's comely secretary (Maxine Jennings), Wong pursues the case, which grows more complex when a second body is found. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Apr 12 Buy Now

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      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member Definitely a B picture from Monogram pictures. Boris must have been slumming down on Poverty Row, needing a job. Anyway, He is good, his make-up not so much and the other actors are pretty bad. There is no soundtrack music at all, but still with all these flaws, its not bad. The story clips right along, the mystery is compelling, it's only an hour, they have to wrap things up fast. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member I have a scale of offensiveness for White Actors Portraying Asians. At one, the least offensive, there's David Carradine playing Caine in Kung Fu. At five, the most offensive, there's Mickey Rooney as Mr. Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Boris Karloff rates about one on this scale. His Mr. Wong doesn't adhere to too many of the stereotypes of the day, there are very few parables, and he isn't afflicted with the Hollywood idea of a Chinese accent. In fact, the makeup they use is so subtle that, well, he doesn't look remotely Chinese. If you were to squint, you might assume someone had left Karloff in the sun for too long and he had acquired a tanâ??and a mustache. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesting whodunit with lots of wisecracks. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesting Mystery Feature With a Good Performance From Karloff--This movie is a campy hoot!! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Sometimes we witness things without being aware of their importance. When a potential client and two other associates are killed Mr. Wong springs into an investigation that happens to be lead by a naive detective. As Mr. Wong operates, the detective learns some tips and tricks about observation, motives, and criminology. Can the two men work well enough together to capture the killer? "You can be very clever when you're not careless." William Nigh, director of The Soul of a Man, Mr. Wu, Monte Carlo Nights, The Mysterious Mr. Wong, Dizzy Dames, Streets of New York, and Mutiny in the Big House, delivers Mr. Wong Detective. The storyline for this picture is fun and contains a very entertaining character. Boris Karloff is stunning in the lead role and the cast also contains Grant Withers, Maxine Jennings, and Evelyn Brent. "Even Mr. Wong can be fooled." My wife and I are huge fans of Boris Karloff and have always loved him in these eccentric roles. He delivers an interesting character that is both clever and funny. The movie kind of feels like a twist between Batman and Sherlock Holmes. Ultimately, this is a worthwhile picture if you're a fan of the mystery genre. Grade: B- Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Boris Karloff is amazing. He does the job right. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Mr. Wong, Detective

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Factory owner Simon Dayton (John Hamilton) visits the office of private detective James Lee Wong (Boris Karloff) in San Francisco's Chinatown, claiming to be in danger. When Dayton is murdered, suspicion falls on scientist Carl Roemer (John St. Polis), who had recently accused Dayton of stealing his latest findings. With the help of the captain of police (Grant Withers) and Dayton's comely secretary (Maxine Jennings), Wong pursues the case, which grows more complex when a second body is found.
      Director
      William Nigh
      Screenwriter
      Houston Branch
      Distributor
      Monogram Pictures Corporation
      Production Co
      Monogram Pictures
      Genre
      Mystery & Thriller
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Oct 5, 1938, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jul 29, 2016
      Runtime
      1h 9m
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