Sayonara Mr. Moto

MR MOTO IN DANGER ISLAND-1939-While recovering in Puerto Rico from an appendectomy, Mr. Moto (Peter Lorre) investigates the smuggling of stolen diamonds. He gets help from pro wrestler Twister McGirk (Warren Hymer) who talks like Slip Mahoney. Suspects include a diamond merchant Sutter (Jean Hersholt), Col. Castle (Charles D. Brown), Commissioner Gordon (Richard Lane), Lt. Bentley (Robert Lowery), Commissioner Madera (Leon Ames) and La Costa (Douglas Dumbrille). Castle's daughter Joan (Amanda Duff) tries to help after her father is accused of murder. When Moto is accused of being an infamous Japanese criminal, he and Twister lam it. Later they are taken into the confidence of the crime gang. Renie Riano is a blond haired librarian and Willie Best is a frightened boat driver.]

This was the last of the 8 Mr. Moto movies made by 20^th Century Fox between 1937 & 1939. It is also the second Moto script to be rewritten from an unmade Charlie Chan script (because of Warner Oland's death). Herbert I. Leeds also directed the Charlie Chan mystery CITY IN DARKNESS (with Sidney Toler) the same year.

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A Vacation Forever

MR. MOTO TAKES A VACATION-1939-The (phony) Japanese detective gets involved in protecting an ancient relic called “The Queen of Sheba's Crown” in San Francisco's Chinatown. Moto (who also appears in disguises) is less suspiciously acting than usual and is shot at several times by a mysterious trench coated figure. Mr. Featherstone (GP Huntley), the English dandy shows up to get in the way and Moto surmises that Mataxsa, an international jewel thief might be after the crown despite the fact that he's suppose to be dead! Suspects include Hildebrand (Lionel Atwill) the museum curator, Stevens (John “Dusty” King), the guy who headed the expedition that found the crown and Manderson (Joseph Schildkraut), the expedition's sponsor. In their finale fight Moto and Mataxsa nearly wreck the museum! 

Norman Foster once again directed this, the last of 8 Mr. Moto films with Peter Lorre.

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Hello Moto

THE MYSTERIOUS MR. MOTO-1938-In the fifth entry of the series, the famed Japanese detective (played by non-Asian Peter Lorre) investigates “the league of assassins” for Scotland Yard by disguising himself as a timid turbaned servant to one of its members (Leon Ames). He gets involved with Anton (Henry Wilcoxon), an industrialist who's life seems to be threatened because of his secret steel formula and Anton's girlfriend Anne (Mary Maquire). Forrester Harvey and Lotus Long (later in the unheralded PHANTOM OF CHINATOWN) have roles and the film's director Norman Foster (who directed most of the MOTO series) has a bit role. There's a great fight in a bar and the climax is terrific!  

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Moto's Chances

MR. MOTO TAKES A CHANCE-1938-While the famous (phony) Japanese detective (Peter Lorre in his fourth outing as the Asian sleuth) is digging in some ruins in Ankor Wat he meets Victoria Mason (Rochelle Hudson) an aviatrix who was flying around the world until her plane crashed. After a rajah's (J. Edward Bromberg) wife dies mysteriously Moto (who acts as suspiciously as a murderer) investigates. Later he disguises himself as a high priest to save some reporters (Robert Kent and Chick Chandler) from death. Then a real local high priest causes trouble. Too much time is spent on the comic adventures of the reporters. It turns out Moto and Victoria are working for the same end: to smash an arsenal assembled for the high priest's planned revolution. 

Director Norman Foster (also an actor) made most of the entries in the Moto series as well as several Charlie Chan mysteries and is the credited director of Orson Welles' JOURNEY INTO FEAR.

 Lead actress Rochelle Hudson was a popular leading lady in films of the '30's and early '40's. After playing Natalie Woods' mother in REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE in 1955 she left Hollywood for other endeavors. She worked sporadically in the 1960's but retired for good after her last film appearance in the low budget anthology GALLERY OF TERROR (aka RETURN FROM THE PAST) IN 1967. She died in 1972. 

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Mr. Moto Returns Again

MR. MOTO'S GAMBLE-1938-The intrepid Japanese detective (Peter Lorre) investigates the in ring death of a boxer. He gets assistance from pickpocket Knockout Wellington (“Slapsie” Maxie Rosenbloom) and Lee Chan (Keye Luke), Charlie Chan's number 1 son! The chief suspect is gangster Nick Crowder (Douglas Fowley) who's main henchman Joey is played by pre-Wolf Man Lon Chaney Jr. Ward Bond is Moran, the world champion. Poison seems to be the culprit but who did it? As usual Moto plays his cards close to his vest seeming almost as though he were a suspect too. Lynn Bari and John Hamilton are also featured.

The unusual presence of Lee Chan isn't so odd when you know that MR. MOTO'S GAMBLE (the third entry into the series) actually started out life as an entry in another (phony) Asian detective series at 20^th Century Fox, CHARLIE CHAN AT RINGSIDE. But illness forced star Warner Oland to drop out (he suffered from alcoholism and was involved in a messy divorce at the time). The filmed footage was scrapped but the script was later reworked with Lee being a student in one of Moto's crime classes.

Director James Tinling spend most of his time making low budget films and ended his career with some early TV work. Three years before GAMBLE he made CHARLIE CHAN IN SHANGHAI. GAMBLE is just a so-so detective murder mystery with too much comedy but Lorre is always interesting to watch.

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Mr. Moto

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THANK YOU MR. MOTO-1937-Peter Lorre starred as Kentaro Moto, a Japanese sleuth created by writer James Marquand in eight “Mr. Moto” films between 1937-1939. This was the second one produced. The Moto character at least in films is very mysterious. Sometimes it's not even clear who he's working for. He almost seems like a free agent working toward his own gains (but in the end always on the side of good). In THANK YOU, the intrepid P.I. investigates a collection of ancient Chinese maps that may lead to the treasure of Genghis Khan. It starts off in the Gobi desert with Moto disguised as a Mongolian. Later he tries to help an art collector Eleanor Joyce (Pauline Frederick). Everyone it seems is after the priceless scrolls a prince (Phillip Ahn) and his mother have especially bad guy Sidney Blackmer. Co-star Thomas Beck who plays Eleanor's love interest was also in several Charlie Chan movies. Sig Ruman is an early victim and John Carradine is a art dealer with a weird accent. Director Norman Foster made other Moto films as well as several Chan entries and is the credited director of Orson Welles' JOURNEY INTO FEAR.

 

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