Very well executed

It is a performances centric movie

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

The biggest novelty of this rather dull little mystery is that for once during this era, a person of Chinese ancestry actually plays a Chinese-American amateur detective!! That's right, unlike Charlie Chan, Mr. Moto and the previous Mr. Wong films, this one does not feature some Western guy with his eyes taped so that he looks Chinese-ish. And, also interesting is that this actor is none other than Keye Luke--the guy who played Number One Son in the Chan films. In some ways, this was very culturally sensitive and forward-thinking and Luke's character was bright and articulate--using definite articles in conversation and seeming less like a walking stereotype. At the same time, the writers were still in the 1940s mindset, as some of the remarks of the incredibly imbecilic chief of detectives are awfully crude stereotypes. An example of this was when he asked all the people what they had for dinner. When he came to the Chinese lady, he said "I assume you just had Chop Suey". Uggh!!! Now as for the film itself, it seems like a lower than usual quality B-movie--with most of the usual clichés but with none of the energy or excitement of films from the Boston Blackie, Charlie Chan, Falcon or Sherlock Holmes series. While there were some interesting story elements (such as the whole oil angle), the film was so low energy and dull that it rarely engages the viewer. I think most of this is due to the painfully low budget--making productions by second-rate poverty row studios (like rival Monogram Films) seem vastly superior to this one. It is obvious in this film that the end of the Wong series was in sight and there wasn't much more when it comes to innovation other than the casting of the ever-capable Luke in the lead.

Apart from the whodunit element of the film which drives the narrative in an entertaining way there are other interesting things in the film. Several James Lee Wong films had been made previously with Boris Karloff in the title role, who as the elderly 'Chinese cop' solved several mysteries and although he was made up to look oriental (skin colour etc.) there was always that beautiful English voice spoiling the effect. The films were nevertheless good mystery stories, filmed in Monogram's low budget efficient way.In 'Phantom of Chinatown' James Lee Wong is played by Keye Luke, a rare leading role then for an Asian actor. He is not a detective but a student and younger. (Confusingly Grant Withers who plays Inspector Street was in the earlier Karloff films and this one but treats Wong like he had never met him before. Perhaps this is a prequel!) Keye Luke is excellent and it is a shame he didn't make any more Mr Wong films as he is definitely shines in this. Charming and bright and capable. He has a nice line in humour too. The other members of the cast are OK. Grant Withers as Street is his usual grouchy self. Lotus Long as the Chinese secret agent is particularly delicious. A series with her and Luke would have been great. Oh well.It also has a very sympathetic view of the Chinese people. Wong is definitely the most able character in the film. Furthermore at the beginning as the professor shows film of the expedition and what appears to be ungainly dancing to which the academics in the audience laugh patronisingly, until they are reminded sharply that the Chinese were civilised long before the west. In another scene at the murdered man's house when people are questioned about their movements Captain Street assumes that all Lotus Long would eat for lunch would be "chop suey" and is surprised to learn she had coffee and apple pie. A nice inversion of a cliché. The best gag in the film is when Keye Luke compares the acquisition of Chinese treasures to digging up Washington's bones in the USA. As a positive picture of Asian Americans the film stands out for its time.

Asian detectives were usually played by Caucasian actors at the time this movie was made, but Phantom of Chinatown is an exception and features Keye Luke in the role of Mr. Wong. Luke makes a likable and younger version of Wong and it's great fun to see how Wong and Captain Street first met. Grant Withers as Captain Street is one of my favorites elements of the Mr Wong movies. Withers is exceptionally good in this one. Some have said that Withers should have been replaced with a younger actor for this "prequel", but I don't agree. Luke and Withers make a fun pair. I enjoy all of the Mr Wong series, but Phantom of Chinatown is one of my absolute favorites.

I have now seem four films of the "Mr.Wong" series and it seems obvious to me that, although they were plagued by very low budgets, this wasn't the main cause of their rapid decline in quality. No - it's the fact that the mysteries themselves (except for the original one, which was very clever) weren't very good, or presented in a way that would engage the viewer and give him a reason to care about the outcome. This one in particular is so forgettable and uninteresting that I defy anyone to remember even the most basic details about it five minutes after the picture is over. As for Keye Luke's casting in the title role, sure, it's good for authenticity, but what's going on here? Why doesn't Inspector Street recognize him at first? If he's playing a younger version of the character Boris Karloff portrayed, why didn't they also get a younger actor to play Street? How can one of them be approximately 20 years younger and the other one the same age as before? Not that it's something to keep you up at night. 0.5 out of 4 stars.