Boris Karloff in "The Mystery of Mr. Wong" (1939) - feat. Grant Withers

Описание: In San Francisco, a series of baffling murders draws the attention of the brilliant Chinese-American detective Mr. James Lee Wong (Boris Karloff), who is called upon by Captain Street (Grant Withers) to assist the police. The victims all appear to be connected to a group of antiquities dealers and collectors, and each killing is marked by the presence of a rare poison derived from an exotic source. As Wong studies the pattern, he suspects the crimes are tied to a valuable artifact recently brought into the city under mysterious circumstances, one that several interested parties may be willing to kill to obtain.

The object at the center of the intrigue is an ancient Chinese scroll believed to contain a secret formula of immense worth. Several individuals have reason to seek possession of it, including the wealthy collector Jason Barton (Holmes Herbert), his anxious daughter Win Len (Lotus Long), and Barton’s secretary, whose behavior suggests a hidden motive. When Barton is suddenly murdered under suspicious conditions, the case deepens, and Wong becomes convinced that the killer is eliminating anyone who might stand in the way of obtaining the scroll.

Wong methodically questions each suspect, paying close attention to their reactions and inconsistencies. He notes that the poison used in the murders requires specialized knowledge and access, narrowing the list of possible culprits. Meanwhile, another attempt is made to steal the scroll, and a second murder follows, reinforcing Wong’s belief that the crimes are part of a carefully planned scheme intended to remove all opposition and secure the document.

As Captain Street and the police struggle to keep pace, Wong sets a trap designed to expose the killer. By arranging a meeting involving the remaining suspects and the coveted scroll, he forces the murderer to reveal himself. The culprit is ultimately unmasked as the seemingly trustworthy secretary, who had orchestrated the murders in order to gain sole possession of the valuable document and its hidden secrets.

In the final confrontation, the killer attempts to escape but is apprehended after a brief struggle. With the case resolved, Wong explains how the pattern of poisonings and the behavior of the suspects pointed directly to the guilty party. The stolen scroll is recovered, and order is restored, leaving Wong to quietly reflect on the destructive power of greed and ambition.

A 1939 American Black & White mystery film directed by William Nigh, William T. Lackey associate producer, Scott R. Dunlap in charge of production, screenplay by Scott Darling, based on the "James Lee Wong" series in Collier's Magazine by Hugh Wiley, cinematography by Harry Neumann, starring Boris Karloff, Grant Withers, Dorothy Tree, Craig Reynolds, Ivan Lebedeff, Holmes Herbert, Morgan Wallace, Lotus Long, Chester Gan, Hooper Atchley, Bruce Wong, Jack Kennedy, Joe Devlin, Lee Tung Foo (as Lee Tong Foo), Wilbur Mack, Dick Morehead, and I. Stanford Jolley. Released by Monogram Pictures.

First of two appearances for Craig Reynolds in the "Mr. Wong" series, the second being "The Fatal Hour" (1940). He portrays a different character in the two movies. And first of three appearances for Lotus Long, the second being "Mr. Wong in Chinatown "(1939) and the third being "Phantom of Chinatown" (1940). She portrays a different character in the all three.

Grant Withers (1905-1959), born Granville Gustavus Withers in Pueblo, Colorado, was an American film actor. He began working in motion pictures during the last years of the silent era. Withers moved into sound films, establishing himself with a list of headlined features as a young and handsome male lead. He landed a 10-year contract with Republic. His friendships with both John Ford and John Wayne secured him a spot in nine of Wayne's films, but later roles dwindled to supporting roles, mainly as villains. In 1930, Withers eloped to Yuma, Arizona, with 17-year-old actress Loretta Young. The marriage ended in annulment just as their second movie together, titled "Too Young to Marry" (1931) was released.

In the opening sequence, one shot includes a "Water Taxi Service" sign. One popular use of water taxis was to transport customers to and from gambling ships anchored just beyond the 3-mile limit, where gambling was legal.

The looting of Nanking started on December 13, 1937 when the Japanese Imperial army invaded the city. It lasted six weeks with more then 100,000 of the city's residents being murdered. The massacre is considered to be one of the worst wartime atrocities.

The second of the six-film "Mr. Wong" series, and Boris Karloff's first feature following his third and final theatrical appearance as the Frankenstein monster in "Son of Frankenstein" (1939).

A well-paced, off-beat B-Movie mystery potboiler that pack a load of entertainment, mystery, and suspense into a short running time. The best of the "Mr. Wong" s eries. Not a bad little whodunnit. Recommended for mystery buffs.