The Mystery of Mr. Wong is a 1939 American mystery film in which the titular detective tries to solve the murder of an antiques collector who was in possession of a famous jewel known as The Eye of the Daughter of the Moon. It was the second in the series of Mr. Wong movies.
The movie was directed by William Nigh (The Strange Case of Doctor Rx; Black Dragons; The Ape; Doomed to Die; The Fatal Hour; Mr. Wong in Chinatown; Mr. Wong, Detective) from a screenplay by Scott Darling based on the James Lee Wong series in Collier’s Magazine written by Hugh Wiley.
The Monogram Pictures production stars Boris Karloff, Grant Withers, Dorothy Tree, Craig Reynolds, Ivan Lebedeff, Holmes Herbert, Morgan Wallace, Lotus Long and Chester Gan.
Plot [includes spoilers]:
A wealthy gem-collector, Brandon Edwards, gains possession of the largest star sapphire in the world, the ‘Eye of the Daughter of the Moon’, after it has been stolen in China.
Edwards, at a party in his home, confides to Mr. Wong (Boris Karloff) that his life is in danger. During a game of Charades (called “Indications” by Mrs. Edwards), Edwards is mysteriously shot dead and the gem disappears.
Unbeknownst to Wong, the jewel is in possession of Edwards’ maid, Drina, who intends to return it to China, but she too is murdered, and the gem is taken again. After one more murder—the suspect list is dwindling—Wong exposes the killer, turns him over to Police Inspector Street, and orders his manservant Willy to return the gem to China.
Cast and characters:
Boris Karloff as James Lee Wong
Grant Withers as Police Captain Sam Street
Dorothy Tree as Valerie Edwards
Craig Reynolds as Peter Harrison
Ivan Lebedeff as Michael Strogonoff
Holmes Herbert as Professor Ed Janney
Morgan Wallace as Brandon Edwards
Lotus Long as Drina, the Maid
Chester Gan as Sing, the Butler
Hooper Atchley as Carslake
Bruce Wong as Asian Man
Jack Kennedy as Policeman
Joe Devlin as George, the Detective
Lee Tung Foo as Willie (as Lee Tong Foo), Wong’s Butler
Wilbur Mack as Ballistics Expert
Dick Morehead as police detective
I. Stanford Jolley as Charades Player
Tech specs:
1h 8m (68 minutes)
Black and white
Aspect ratio: 1.37: 1
Free online on YouTube [1080p HD]:
Free online on YouTube in colour [4K UHD]:
Related:
MR. WONG, DETECTIVE Boris Karloff! Crime mystery – free online [4K]
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