Mr. Wong Phantom of Chinatown (1940) KEYE LUKE
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- Stars: Keye Luke, Grant Withers, Lotus Long
Director: Phil Rosen
In this prequel to the film series that starred Boris Karloff, a younger Mr. Wong, played by Keye Luke, assists the police when an Archaeologist is murdered while giving a college lecture!
This movie was better written than the other Mr. Wong movies. Keye Luke's part was written without the racial bias you see in the other movies. They made him completely American, of Chinese heritage, no hokey accents, just a solid character. Cheers
I prefer Karloff as mr. Wong !! No offense to keye Luke!
In the books, Chan likes to fool people by putting on the hokey accent and acting out the stereotype as a diguise.
Faking an accent is sometimes part of an actor's job. It's ACTING.
sheesh 😒🙄
I agree. Dignity!
💜☮️🙏🏻💯@@scarygary-qq1pj
Monogram delivered some great early films. thanks 🍕🍕🎥🎥🎥
The start of the film brought back memories of a camel ride I went on in Tunisia... My then partner walked like John Wayne for hours afterwards. He wasn't too happy, had the hump all day 😂 Thanks for posting these films. They help to get me through my lonely nights.. ❤️
It's awesome to see old movies where they do not ridicule people by their ethnicity. They let the actors act. And not give them ridiculous racists lines.
Classic mystery, good anytime movie.
At 26:00 minutes-did anyone else notice the price of gas? 10 1/2 cents-cost JImmy $2 to fill the tank! I think this is the first time I've seen Keye Luke in a completely serious role. He carries serious off as well as he does humorous.
I can remember gas wars at 11cents a gallon.
@@jjennings6161 LOLOL. 4 loaves if bread for a dollar; going to the "picture show" with fifty cents and that would get you in, buy a drink and popcorn, and still have some change...
Yeah, but it had lead in it, and the smell of that car exhaust was completely unfiltered.
Keye Luke (1904 - 1991) was the first major Chinese American film star and the first given a contract by RKO, Universal and MGM. He became famous playing Lee Chan "number one son" of Charlie Chan in the 1939 - 1941 Green Hornet series. He was also an accomplished artist. He had a long film career as well as appearances in several TV series including, for example, an episode of The Golden Girls in 1986 as one of Sophie's love interests.
You are SPOT - ON regarding Golden Girls episode. Great job & excellent memory, too!
I guess that you would call me an old movie tragic! Many thanks.
Thank you, Russell. I always enjoy learning about people's lives. As a child I very much enjoyed the Charlie Chan movies and remember him playing the part of number one son. Did not know he played a part in The Golden Girls. Thanks again. 😃
He was also Master Po in Kung Fu
Anna May Wong ?
What a joy what a thrill the movie was great expectation on the movie 🎥 Thank you 🍿You and your family have Kairos day🌟10 stars
They rushed into the Tomb...the cameraman was already there !
"My camera! I ought to be photographing this!" 🙂
It was also pretty well lit for a tomb. :)
They could have rushed in twice, that's not lying. :p
At first I thought the cameraman was George Zucco. Nope.
In most every film from this 40s-50s era, cigarettes are treated as Cheap commodities. Maybe in California/Hollywood... But for the most of the USA during this period, tobacco was like store-bought beer or whiskey. These folks take a puff or two and chunk them. In 1940, a One US Dollar Bill was (in today's money) equal to $16.50 + in todays money. People don't chunk pennies when they're worth that much unless it is Hollywood.
Entertaining story. The Captain's hat was too much though. He wasn't wearing the hat, the hat was wearing him.
Even in his older years on kung fu he we a real professional. He let a lot full of discrimination just fall off his shoulders. Smart man
Oh your right he played the master
He was also in 3 episodes of M.A.S.H. One was the trader with the push cart who made the instrument which Hawkeye needed as a clamp.The other 2 I'm not clear on so I won't try to name them.
Another great picture show!!!
I wonder what type camera and film they used without any lighting of any kind and had nice bright movie inside an ancient tomb.
good movie , thanks
Thank you!
What an obnoxious guy Street is. And he was just as obnoxious in all the other Wong films.
He's gentler here, actually. In one of the Wong movies, he was being so rough that I was wondering how he landed the job. Though, that particular one was the first Mr. Wong movie I ever saw, too.
Weird.... no cell phones.
Nice to hear it pronounced sneaked instead of snuk
Was Keye Luke in any other Mr Wong movies??
There were six Mr. Wong movies made between 1938 and 1940. The first five started Boris Karloff and were directed by William Nigh. Only the final movie starred Keye Luke as a young James Lee Wong. This movie was directed by Phil Rosen.
Keye Luke had already appeared in seven Charlie Chan movies as Chan's "number one son" Lee Chan when this movie was made. He continued to work extensively in film and television until his death at age 86 in 1991.
There's a Wikipedia article "Mr. Wong (fictional detective)". According to this article, "Phantom of Chinatown" was the first time an Asian actor played a lead Asian detective in an American sound film.
@@patrickblaney1675 me
@@jerrycottrell302 ?
Plain, simple fare, but worth the watch. 6/10. (27.6.21)
Grant Withers reminded me of the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz with that stupid hat on all the way through the movie.
It is a good movie.I am glad i did not make the Wong choice
I believe the woman playing the Supervisor @ The Chinese Telephone Exchange is the SAME woman who played Sidney Toler's wife in several of the Charlie Chan films. Can anyone confirm?
Bad acting, hokey plot, great cars! What's not to like!!
Ah...don't go spoilin' it for me now!
This is one of the few films from the 40`s that lowers the stereotyping of Chinese. Keye Luke plays his role with dignity. However, portions of "ham boning and chop suey" are still dished out.
26:18 in. Check out the price of the Fuel.. Wow, if only it were that today... haha.
I paid 16.9/gal. In 1970!
It was part of a gas war between gas stations.
Regular price at the time was .25/gal
Not a prequel; 6th following 5-Karloff series, abandoned by studio despite Luke 4-episodes-a-year contract. Set precedents, but the dignity of the eminence given Karloff was lost; miss the Asian furnishings throughout, especially Mr Wong's home. Leigong/Leishen, god honored for vengeance on personal enemies.
I knew this was going to be a good movie when I saw that it was approved with certificate #6779.🙄
Keye Luke was not big in draw in this movie so they picked Boris Karloff.
Nope, Karloff was not available to film this sixth entry in the Wong series so Monogram Pictures boldly cast Keye Luke in this "prequel", which accounts for Captain Street's suspicions and racial insensitivity, as it's their first meeting. In the Karloff films, which are set chronologically later, Street is respectful in partnering with Wong on their cases together. Apparently Street was ageless!
@@jimmypetersThank you.
I Wing the WONG number
15 cents a gallon for gas LOL
That's about $2.75 today. I bought gas today for $1.95 so that makes it cheaper today.
@@DavidSmith-sb2ix Wow - you're right! I was going to deride your comment but then I looked it up and Inflation Calculator agrees with you 100% - good one! Cheers!
@@acehandler1530 Thanks. You're one of us that thinks before he starts commenting. Gas here in Western Maryland is going below $1.70 now. Too bad there's nowhere to go.
@@acehandler1530 Hey stupid, inflation rate is not the same as increase in cost of living, which is way more than inflation!
So, 15 cents in 1940 would be equivalent to $6 now.
Sorry, wrong movie.
Cpt Cupid
typical
I LIKE KEYE LUKE AS AN ACTOR AND NUMBER 1 SON OF CHARLIE CHAN. BUT CANT HOLD A CHINA CANDLE TO BORIS KALOFF AS THE REAL AND ONLY MR JAMES LEE WONG AND IVE SEEN THIS MOVIE TWICE ND CONFIRM
OW! STOP YELLING! 🙉🙀
Mui
'40 Pontiac 8 club coupe, '38 Cadillac 60Special Fleetwood, what else? Refreshingly free of the usual dreary violence. What does it say about US bigotry that many of us Caucasians haven't seen such movies until the advent of the personal computer and TH-cam?
oogieobanyon thank God that in this time period they still made a great mystery movie, Keye Luke is so quality!
bigotry?
For some years, the Charlie Chan series was actually _popular._ By extension, so were Mr. Moto and Mr. Wong. Racism couldn't have tolerated that, and Charlie was a smart detective. Back on your idea of "Bigotry," please at least consider that traumas and bad memories of World War II would have played some part in it; after Pearl Harbor, it just wasn't the same.
Really? You're from the Caucus Mountains? That's what "Caucasian" means.
This movie says much more about 1940 US than about China. No wonder Hitler (wrongly) dismissed the US as posing no threat.
Chinese Americ. A new Try. However the film 🎥📽️🎥 was a regular a low key 🗝️ American Cop Chaser not so much A Chopsuey Diner. 🍜
🤡🐑❄️🦧
Great mystery of the orientals lifeway,hidden Jens,proverbs,secret,honour,trust,tried,true.conclusions.date say,destiny.time we'll watch.fine lifestyles.pop corn anyone.
Love these old movie! Class, not trash with a plot!
It’s lovely seeing men all wearing suits, and the women looking smart with hats and gloves.
Now a days you can go out in your pyjamas because people have no respect or manners anymore
I never watch tv for years so I rely on TH-cam and wonderful people downloading quality films like these to watch instead
Thank you so much for downloading a lovely film where the actors had to act and not rely on cgi, swearing, sex or violence.
You can keep you Brad Pitt’s and Angelina Jolies I’d rather watch Keye Luke any day.
👍
Great movie! I so enjoy Keye Luke. He was an accomplished artist and a good actor! Thank you for posting!
Not lost on me, since watching Key Luke in the Mr. Wong, Mr. Moto and Charlie Chan movies, is that among his natural acting talents, he had such obvious physical dexterity/nimbleness. Male model material- stayed in top physical shape as one can easily see throughout the aforementioned three series.
I love the scene when Captain Street & Wong arrive at Wong's apartment & Wong's butler/housekeeper begins wildly speaking in Chinese; Wong asks him to stop & speak English instead....as respect that Captain Street is there as well & obviously, can't understand Wong's servant.
Wong's butler or house boy was on Bonanza for years. He played Hop Sing, their cook. Cheers
@@cargilekm Old news but thx anyway. Role played by Sen Yung....believe was actor's name.
Here for the cars.
Stayed for the acting!
Always enjoy Grant Withers. Never changes. The quintessential film detective. England, February, 2024.
keep calm everyone , and just enjoy a 78 year old movie for what it is.
Best advice ever!!
Agreed!
78 year old CLASSIC FILM!
So cool and humorous and synchronous in a way to see Keye Luke as Wong, finally the lead detective his character always wanted to be as #1 son in the Chan films. Only the 2nd time during the Asian detective frenzy, the 1st being the 1926 Chan serial, that an Asian was cast in the lead as opposed to Karloff, Orland, Lorre, Toler, et al.
Thanks for that. I knew of all but the '26 Chan you cite; will look for those.
Inconvenient Truth Dept. for some out there, T oler was Asian. Sami. What most people still call Laplander. As Asian as any Chinese guy.
I loved most of the Mr. Motos with Peter Lorre, I'm sure you've seen them?
Love Keye Luke. TY for sharing your talent ❤
@@johnolson4127 Thanks. I think my "talent" is more along the lines of being over-enthusiastic w/too much time on my hand and in all honesty somewhat pedantic. But yes, Key Luke: what an amazing actor. Years prior to my discovery of the Chan and Wong films I had enjoyed Mr. Luke in a variety of other roles beginning, I believe, with his part in the Kung Fu TV series as the unforgettable Master Po, although he's been involved in a myriad of other projects. As a child, Mr. Luke's Master Po made quite a positive impression indeed. In any case, thanks for your positive reply to my comment. Appreciated.
Love the old American cars.
So do I ! They were gorgeous.
Late 1950s and 60s models were better!
Keye Luke was always a solid star. Great actor.
Jimmy Stewart was a GREAT actor. So were Betty Davis, John Wayne, Joan Crawford, Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Deborah Kerr, Myrna Loy, & Greer Carson, to name a few......Keye Luke, on the other hand, was highly accomplished & very good at his craft.
He was Cato (or Kato) in both Green Hornet serials.
So far I've likes everyone of these I've saw. Old movies are the only ones I like.
Classic B & W films are my FAV.....by far!
They are pleasant to watch. Not loud,bloody and vulgar. I have many playlists on TH-cam. Charlie Chan, Wong, Moto, Universal Monster films and noir detective films. Love em all
Keye Luke became famous in 1930s as No. 1 son of Charlie Chan.
He also played Kato in the 1940 and 1941 serials of the Green Hornet. He was Master Po on Kung Fu among many other roles.
Nah ...U made that up....LOL
@@jrousselle7828 Kung Fu was a HORRIBLE show/series.....just saying.
Yes, and I love all the Charlie Chan's! Great movies!
One of the best films I've seen in a long time, thank you xx
I JUST ENJOY THE MOVIES WITHOUT A LOT OF VIOLENCE OR SEX...THEY ARE GOOD ENTERTAINMENT. THANKS FOR POSTING.
But the modern public is groomed to voyeurism, so Hollywood provides for it. It's a matter of popular culture.
The whole movie was about murder and attempted murder.
@randall2020 I never mentioned the sexual nature of this movie. I classify as Male by the way. Prude is feminine meaning brave and excellent or proper. Now who is silly? Me or You?
@@jackhammer9018 Prude is defined as excessively modest or proper in speech, conduct or dress. I have lots of dictionaries. Which one are you using?
And without vulgar language 🙂
Thanks for posting
This classic movie
Man Keye was a smoothie with the ladies in this one. :)
Good movie, the political correct need to get a life
+Dave Thompson I bought all the Charlie Chan vids in case the PC psychos and the thought police get them banned. They should get a time machine and travel back to the 1940s and try to get things changed then. After someone gave them a knuckle sandwich for not minding their own business, they might see the error of their ways and learn how to mind their own business.
stanthology I also bought all the Amos and Andy videos!!!
Dave Thompson
Agree with you! Absolutely...
I got an old klan record.
Keye Luke was great in this and as Charlie chan no 1 son one of his later rolls was Mr wing in the gremlins he passed away in 1991 RIP 💕
Great old movie!
Thanks!
Keye Luke was an accomplished artist and a great actor. I found him much better than Boris Karloff in this role. He comes across as a really nice person and a great representative of his culture. I gather he was in real life too!!
Can't say he was much better ...just put a different 'spin' on the role.
Is that #1 son in the Charlie Chan movies?
TravelDiva66 that's what I was thinking.
Yes.
He was one of the few Big Name Chinese actors in Hollywood in those days.
benson fong
Yes; Keye Luke. Benson Fong was in some Charlie Chan movies in the mid 40s, but he was as Charlie's #3 son, Tommy.
also keye lee was in a variety of shows for many years .. but the one role i always loved him in was chan's #1 son 😊 he played that role very well .. 😊
Loved him dearly on bonanza and the 1st gremlins
According to Wikipedia he appeared or did voice in over 100 movies and over 100 times in television. He was also an artist known for book covers and book illustrations. Wow! What a talent!
@@kennethhill2119He wasn't in Bonanza, that was Victor Sen Yung Chan's #2 son.
excellent film. really enjoyed it . Many thanks
Enjoying a delicious Pizza while watching Pizzaflix❤️
Grant Withers sure made the rounds in the "'WONG" movies, I think of the "James Lee Wong", Boris Karloff.
34:30 she is so cute
Good movie but any archaeologist watching would be cringing at the sight of those "archaeologists" rummaging around and ransacking that tomb.
It's what they used to do.
@@zakofrx No real archaeologist at that time would treat a find like that. That's set in the 20s or 30s not Eighteen Century.
It was a pretty ludicrous scene altogether. Nearly fell over when I heard the voice-over proclaim 'after centuries of archaeology' (paraphrase, not a direct quote), as there had been no such thing as the science of archaeology for centuries. A few upper class gentlemen of western societies had been amateur archaeologists of a sort in the 18th c. (including Thomas Jefferson), but archaeology as we know it didn't begin till the later 19th c.-- hardly the centuries proclaimed by the introductory narrator. And really, the archaeology practiced in the late 19th c. was largely a matter of grave-robbing & desecration of sacred sites of colonized peoples, a practice that continued through the 20th c. for that matter. As a major founding father in the field, Boaz, pointed out, the western sciences committed to the study of non-western cultures were sciences based on the west's colonization of mainly indigenous peoples.
The opening scene of the archaeologists was crude but in many ways an appropriate jab. After 'many centuries of archaeology', this bunch of yahoos has made a great discovery by ripping apart tombs. Someone involved in the making of this film didn't think too highly of the field of archaeology.
@@janegarner6739So what exactly are you trying to say? 🤔
That's what most European explorers did and still do.
thank you delightful movie!
All the actors that played Wong did a good job with the role as directed. There were no cultural boundaries broken, they were actors that's what they do. Just like the Chan movies, they were made to respect the Chinese culture not mock it. These movie series acted as an introduction to a culture most knew very little about. Both Keye Luke and Victor Sen Yung spoke highly of their experiences in the Chan series.
Keye Luke (I met him once, nice guy) got the lead because Karloff wasn't available...
that was good idea
How old was Keye Luke when U met him? Very kewl that U did.
" Karloff" ( real name was something Scottish but I see his daughter uses " Karloff" in interviews so maybe he got a name change) was not only a versatile actor ( just typecast in routine shock flicks) and a very cultured gentleman, he by all accounts I know was one of the nicest people in the whole movie biz. He played Wong like Black , Asian and etc. opera singers sing plenty of White characters ( Tosca, Der Rosenkavalier, Wagner's Flying Dutchman's " Senta" etc etc etc) nowadays; nobody cared. Music and acting, not polemics. " Boris" wouldn't have deliberated offended anyone anyhow. A really interesting man.
@@gregorypalmer5403 Boris Karloff's real name is "William Henry Pratt."
@@gregorypalmer5403DELIBERATELY
No one else seems to have picked up on Chow Lee not knowing the names of the 2 thugs but knew them by numbers.Just like a Chinese menu.🤣
Thanks for posting. Entertainment and a little bit of how it used to be.
Honorable #1 son of famous detective Charlie Chan make for pretty good detective himself 🙂
a wise man who understands a lot
Phantom of Chinatown, released 18 November 1940 (USA), 22 April 1941 (London, UK) 18 August 1941 (UK). Keye Luke as James Lee 'Jimmy' Wong; Lotus Long as Win Len; Grant Withers as Police Captain Street; Charles Miller (as Charles Miller) as Dr. John Benton; Huntley Gordon as Dr. Norman Wilkes; Virginia Carpenter as Louise Benton; John Dilson as Charlie Frasier (as John H. Dilson); Paul McVey as Detective Grady; John Holland as Mason; Richard TerryToreno (as Dick Terry); Robert Kellard as Tommy Dean; Willy Castello (as William Castello) as Jonas; Lee Tung as FooFoo; Lynton Brent, Radio News Broadcaster; Morgan Brown, Lecture Guest; Jack Cheatham, Hospital Stakeout Cop; Heinie Conklin, Detective in Refrigerator; William Gould, Hospital Stakeout Cop; Bruce Mitchell, Police Officer Stationed at Front Door; William J. O'Brien, Lecture Guest; Victor Wong as Charley Won.
He also was an extraordinary artist.
Great flick ! Thanks.
From what I have found in my studies of the depression gas stayed around 10 cents a gallon.
Love Boris Karloff as Mr Wong ! Luke is better suited playing Charlie Chan's son !
Keye Luke should have played Mr. Wong in every Wong movie for this great series. I never believed he was given the fair chance. Monogram studio puts Boris Karloff in as Mr. Wong. Totally unjustified to Keye Luke, a very capable American actor 😊
There were several actors who played Wong, they all did the role justice. Just like the Chan series they were done with respect for the culture, they weren't done to mock. Keye Luke had other things going on at the time and also went on to help put together the Screen Actors Guild. There were also issue regarding contracts that needed to be honored by the studio. I think it's important that people understand that these series acted as an introduction to Chinese culture for Americans as well as many other countries.
Yes, too many people are just too anxious get on their high horse to spout nonsense. 🐴🐎
In this movie, "Evelybody Clazy!" Must be the Fooey Chop Suey 😁
At Steets...The man just wants a easy job.
@@cheeseburgersuperior1874AN
This is one of the best Mr Wong movies yet. Altho, Hollywood History struck again--Gcd of Vengeance; I don't think so. Archeology looked like fun back then.
Excellent ! Thank you.
Several gun shots and the police on patrol never make it to the room.
Captain Bill Street (Grant Withers) was more subdued in this Wong version as compared to those with Boris Karloff & Marjorie Reynolds.
This is the most subdued I've ever seen him, though he wasn't _always_ a complete hard-head even in the Karloff movies. In one of them, though (Mr. Wong in Chinatown, which was the first Mr. Wong movie I saw,) he was so rough that I wondered how he ever got the job.
Key Luke was in a Miami Vice episode
Love all these movies, the cars are incredible,,
Is Wong's car a Buick? I'm sure it's GM, maybe an Oldsmobile.
I think that the reporter is so annoying. I would have had her arrested for interfering in a police investigation.
That wasn't a chargeable offense back in those days.
Still enjoy this Classic Mr Wong Phantom of Chinatown Which has a good ending like a fortune cookie #Classic #film
Wow 😂 can t believe i m half of it in n i was still expecting for Boris Karloff to show up! Lol 🫣🫣🫣
Keye Luke, what a great career, definitely a big part of my life
I call bull crap on the police officer getting the number of the cab. 🙄 Really enjoyed the movie though. 🍿
Even though it is just a five minutes in they are desecrating a place of religious importance that is not theirs.
Religion need only be followed by the faithful.
All bets are off regarding outsiders!
40:47
@@richardwoolley7854 WRONG. Religion or not, foreigners have no right to loot tombs for "research". Typically European practice.
I remember Keye Luke playing Kato in the series "Green Hornet"
😢these movies were much better starring Boris Karloff 😊
Such a great movie.....very entertaining
Mr. Wong
Before Karloff?
No violence? Just poisoning ,kicking dogs, hammers to the head...without violence you couldn't have a murder mystery!
I would love to have my pick of the cars in this movie, and the Chinese woman, if they were in the same condition as they were in back then.. .
legion1a the cars were cherry!
Most of those women are now dead.
You mean black & white?
@@acehandler1530 No, you dim wit, in the color they were when they were in front of the ancient B&W camera!
@@legion1a You miss the humor in life you miss the living itself 😁