IMDb > Phantom of Chinatown (1940)

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Phantom of Chinatown (1940) -- Detective James Lee Wong is on the scene as archeologist Dr. John Benton, recently returned from an expedition in China where a valuable ancient scroll was recovered, is murdered while giving a lecture on the expedition.
Phantom of Chinatown (1940) -- Detective James Lee Wong is on the scene as archeologist Dr. John Benton, recently returned from an expedition in China where a valuable ancient scroll was recovered, is murdered while giving a lecture on the expedition.
Phantom of Chinatown (1940) -- Detective James Lee Wong is on the scene as archeologist Dr. John Benton, recently returned from an expedition in China where a valuable ancient scroll was recovered, is murdered while giving a lecture on the expedition.

Overview

User Rating:
5.6/10   149 votes
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Director:
Phil Rosen
Writers:
Hugh Wiley (characters from "James Lee Wong" series in Collier's Magazine)
Ralph Gilbert Bettison (story)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Phantom of Chinatown on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 November 1940 (USA) more
Genre:
Mystery more
Tagline:
A thousand suspects... 20 fingerprints... a Chinese temple... Mr. Wong solves a murder! more
Plot:
Detective James Lee Wong is on the scene as archeologist Dr. John Benton, recently returned from an... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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User Comments:
Run of the mill mystery is of interest mainly because Keye Luke has a rare lead role more (13 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)
Keye Luke ... James Lee 'Jimmy' Wong
Grant Withers ... Police Captain Street
Lotus Long ... Win Lee, Benton's Secretary
Charles F. Miller ... Dr. John Benton / Cyrus Benton in Newspaper (as Charles Miller)
Huntley Gordon ... Dr. Norman Wilkes
Virginia Carpenter ... Louise Benton
John Dilson ... Charles 'Charlie' Fraser (as John H. Dilson)
Paul McVey ... Detective Grady
John Holland ... Co-Pilot Mason
Richard Terry ... Toreno (as Dick Terry)
Robert Kellard ... Pilot Tommy Dean
Willy Castello ... Jonas, Benton's Butler (as William Castello)
Lee Tung Foo ... Foo, Jimmy's Cook
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lynton Brent ... Radio News Broadcaster (uncredited)
Jack Cheatham ... Stake-out Cop (uncredited)
Heinie Conklin ... Detective in Refrigerator (uncredited)
William Gould ... Policeman (uncredited)
Bruce Mitchell ... Police Officer stationed at front door (uncredited)
William J. O'Brien ... Extra in Audience at Benton's Lecture (uncredited)
Victor Wong ... Charley Won (uncredited)
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Directed by
Phil Rosen 
 
Writing credits
Hugh Wiley (characters from "James Lee Wong" series in Collier's Magazine)

Ralph Gilbert Bettison (story) (as Ralph Bettinson)

George Waggner (screenplay) (as Joseph West)

Produced by
Paul Malvern .... producer
 
Original Music by
Edward J. Kay  (as Edward Kay)
 
Cinematography by
Fred Jackman Jr. (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Jack Ogilvie 
 
Art Direction by
Charles Clague 
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mack V. Wright .... assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Dave Milton .... interior decorator
 
Sound Department
William R. Fox .... sound director (as William Fox)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial Effects
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
62 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Certification:
USA:Approved (PCA #6779)
Company:
Monogram Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
This was the only Hollywood film of the period in which an Asian detective was played by, and top billing was given to, an actor (Keye Luke) who was actually Asian. more
Quotes:
James Lee Wong: Greetings. Only the eyebrows of youth would have the temerity to call the beard of age at such an hour. more
Movie Connections:
Follows Mr. Wong in Chinatown (1939) more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
5 out of 5 people found the following comment useful.
Run of the mill mystery is of interest mainly because Keye Luke has a rare lead role, 1 October 2006
5/10
Author: dbborroughs from Glen Cove, New York

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.

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