Search - Mr. Wong Collection (Mr. Wong, Detective / Mystery Of Mr. Wong / Mr. Wong In Chinatown / The Fatal Hour / Doomed To Die / Phantom Of Chinatown) (2DVD) on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 9/17/2023...

Old school black & white detective series! The picture quality could have been better.

There is really only one 1930s Chinese Detective

Gary F. Taylor | Biloxi, MS USA | 04/13/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"20th Century Fox's Charlie Chan series was a gold mine for the studio, which produced dozens of films starring first Warner Oland and then Sidney Toler as the Hawaiian-based but globe-trotting Chinese detective. Extremely popular throughout the 1930s and well into the 1940s, the Chan series spawned two imitators: Mr. Moto, starring Peter Lorre, and Mr. Wong, starring Boris Karloff. Neither series had the staying power of Chan, and after a few films both were discontinued, faded into obscurity, and were soon forgotten.Only a small number of Chan films and one Mr. Moto film--all on VHS--are available to the home market today. But this double DVD collects all six of the Mr. Wong films, and presents them in near-pristine condition: there are occasional scratches, blips, and one or two breaks in the films, but for the most part these transfers are as good as they get, and although not as sharp as the visuals the sound quality is quite good too. The entertainment value of the individual films, however, varies a great deal from title to title. The best of the collection are the first two titles, MR. WONG DETECTIVE and THE MYSTERY OF MR. WONG; the third title, MR. WONG IN CHINATOWN, is also quite good. But the second disk titles are increasingly uninteresting--and PHANTOM OF CHINATOWN can scarcely be called a Mr. Wong film at all, for the film (which is arguably the least interesting in the series) features Keye Luke instead of Boris Karloff in the title role.Like the Charlie Chan series, Mr. Wong films have several disabilities. From a modern standpoint, the idea of a white European or American using stereotypes and heavy make-up to play an Asian might be considered distasteful by some--but in defense of this I note that such was standard practice at the time, and the stereotypes involved are never mean spirited and the detective is always shown in a positive light. The films are also cheaply made, the direction is at best so-so, and the cinematography extremely static. But for the most part, the Chan films generally manage to rise above these issues; they are essentially "B" movies that attain an "A" level through a clever mixture of mystery, comedy, expert performances from the entire cast, witty scripts, and a rapid pace. The Mr. Wong films, however, are "B" movies that stay "B" movies. Boris Karloff is extremely entertaining as Mr. Wong, but the plots (even in comparison with Chan, which was no paragon on this point) are extremely transparent and gimmicky, there is little humor, the supporting casts are weak, and the scripts are ho-hum. And they run at a much slower pace.Although the quality transfers are to be applauded, the entertainment value of the films are such that I consider the set over priced. I myself have enjoyed them quite a bit, but I suspect the Mr. Wong collection will appeal almost exclusively to film buffs and fans of Karloff and 1930s B mysteries--most casual viewers are likely to be disappointed. Recommended, but to serious collectors of the genre only."

Excellent-Should appeal to all Charlie Chan fans.

Gary F. Taylor | 11/05/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an excellent set of six movies made in the late 30's and early 40's starring Karloff as detective Mr. Wong (except in the last movie which stars Keye Luke as Mr. Wong). The first movie was actually remade as the Charlie Chan film "Docks of New Orleans". The quiality is very good and I would recommend this series to any Charlie Chan or Mr. Moto fan. Very entertaining."

The Complete Adventures of James Lee Wong!

Mark Savary | Seattle, WA | 05/07/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

""I wonder if I might ask you a question...," asks the kindly and reserved James Lee Wong, as he coaxes a vital clue to a murder from a hesitant witness. Boris Karloff starred in five films as Mr James Lee Wong, a gentleman of Chinese decent living in San Francisco. Educated at Oxford, an expert on Oriental art and culture, Wong offers his services as a Special Investigator to the SFPD.Though some PC types will complain that Karloff is not Chinese and therefore should not have been cast, the truth is that Karloff delivers a marvelous performance as Wong, creating an indelible character.The Mr.Wong movies were meant to be Monogram's answer to the Charlie Chan films, and to a lesser extent, Mr. Moto. The result was a stylish and likable character that was different from both other detectives.Reserved, polite, and brilliant, Karloff's Wong is treated extremely well for a minority character of the day. Always shown as intellegent, compassionate, and respected by all those around him (the closest thing to a slur is a crook calling Wong a "Chinese copper"), any critisicm of the Wong character by the PC crowd simply will not hold water.The Roan set is nicly packaged. It does not have any extras, booklets, or inserts, but it does put the six Wong films into one DVD box.The first four films are the best, especially once Marjorie Reynolds joins the cast. The love/hate relationship between her go-getting, scoop-happy star reporter Bobbie Logan, and Grant Wither's role of irritated and frustrated police Captain Bill Street, is played nicely.The fifth film ("Doomed to Die"), is the weakest of the Karloff entries, and after watching it there can be little doubt why Karloff tired of playing Wong. Several segments are directly lifted from the fourth film ("The Fatal Hour"). The worst part is in one scene, where Wong goes to visit the secret tong group he met in the fourth picture. The same scenes are re-edited from the fourth film, with another actor in different make-up used for the new shots with Karloff!The sixth Wong picture with Keye Luke is the worst of the lot, not that the mystery is all that badly written. The Roan write-up on the back of the DVD case begs the question, "It this a prequel to the later films, with a younger Wong meeting Street, or is this Wong's son...?"Best to look at it in the latter light, rather than the former. While this Wong meets Captain Street for the first time, it's tough to see Street calling Wong "Jimmy", as he does in one scene. The youthful exhuberence Luke brings to the character is also a far cry from the quiet, reserved, Karloff protrayal of Wong.For fans of Mr. Wong, this set is a real treat. If you like Mr. Moto, you'll probably like Mr. Wong as well. For those horror buffs who would like to see Karloff in a non-horror role, Mr. Wong is a sure bet for entertainment!"