Phantom of Chinatown (1940)

Absolutely brilliant

Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Theoretically, "Phantom of Chinatown" is the last one of the "Mr. Wong" detective series that had been starring Boris Karloff, where Monogram had tried in a rather mediocre way to 'copy' 20th Century-Fox' hugely successful 'Charlie Chan' series. But, even in story, directing and acting this movie is way above the 'British Chinese detective' films - and what's much more, it stars not only a REAL Chinese as the detective, but someone known VERY well to fans of the genre in general and to fans of the 'Charlie Chan' movies in particular: Keye Luke, who had played Charlie's 'number one son' Lee in the Warner Oland Charlie Chans...And now he becomes a detective 'in his own right' at last - and a very clever one, too! He does some nice teamwork with the typically American 'flatfoot' Captain Street (Grant Withers), but there's no doubt that the Chinese is smarter - which was a pretty unusual thing at the time: an Asian as protagonist, and being more intelligent than the average US policeman; and on top of it all, 'Jimmy Wong' even makes QUITE a daring remark about all the archaeological excavations being done in China by Americans, suggesting that maybe Chinese archaeologists might dig up George Washington's grave for a change!! Generally, this is a very neat and unusual little 'flag waver': Chinese and Americans work hand in hand for a HUGELY important purpose - the 'Eternal Fire' that the leader of the archaeological expedition had discovered in Mongolia is of such vital importance that it must not under ANY circumstances fall into the hands of both countries' enemy...But it's also a VERY entertaining, suspenseful mystery thriller, where nothing's missing, neither a creepy atmosphere nor some REAL good jokes nor a beautiful romantic element; it can surely compete with almost any of the best crime movies of its time (and especially taking into account that it was made on a budget incomparably smaller than that of the big studios' productions) - and it owes the biggest part of its liveliness and freshness that remains until this day to its wonderful cast; with first and best Keye Luke.

An archaeologist, Dr. Benton(Charles Miller)returns from a camel caravan across Mongolia returning with a valuable ancient scroll. During his fact-finding lecture at Southern University, Benton collapses...he's dead. Key Luke(better known as Charlie Chan's number-one son)steps in for his predecessor Boris Karloff; Detective James Lee 'Jimmy' Wong at your service. He calls himself a researcher when San Francisco Police Captain Street(Grant Withers)at first considers him a suspect. The investigation has several people of interest like Win Len(Lotus Long),Benton's secretary;Dr. Wilkes(Huntley Gordon),Benton's partner and Charles Frasier(John Dilson),the expedition's photographer. The plot is very simple and very inexpensive to film; after all its a Monogram Pictures 62 minute mystery. A few twists and turns keeps the story moving at a nice pace. This is the sixth and final film based on stories by Hugh Wiley. Take note that out of all the Asian detective films(Charlie Chan, Mr. Moto and Mr. Wong), Key Luke is the first actual Asian to play the lead role. Also in the cast:Virginia Carpenter, John Holland and Lee Tung Foo.

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.

Poverty Row programmers like this may now seem incredibly hokey, but at the same time they're fascinating time capsules of American mores of those bygone (and maybe not so bygone) days. This one is routinely scripted and handled with little inspiration (though lots of pace), yet it's quite idiosyncratic for its time. Most obviously, a real Asian (Keye Luke, better known as Charlie Chan's Number One Son) is finally given the opportunity to play an Asian detective. The screenwriters certainly take advantage of the unique casting, turning a lot of the expected racially-insensitive material on end -- Luke gets in a real zinger when he brashly compares the looting of a Mongolian sarcophagus to having a Chinese adventurer dig up and purloin George Washington's corpse from its tomb. Also relevant to the 21st century is the fact that the tomb raiders are not so much seeking the legendary Eternal Flame for cultural or historic reasons, but due to the conjecture that it is produced by a hidden treasure trove of priceless oil. Quite refreshing attitudes for a 40s B-movie, with some vivid scenes of Chinatown life and interesting travelogue footage of a seemingly authentic excursion to Northern China.