Absolutely Fantastic

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

****SPOILERS*** Weird sort of movie where everyone in it is identified by their astrological signs not just their names with Chinese astrologist Mel Li Ming, Anna May Wong,cracking this puzzling murder case by interrupting the astrological charts of those involved in it. We also get a 7 minute introduction to the movie by the narrator-whoever he is-Manl;y P. Hall who's like Miss. Ming supposed to be an expert on the subject of astrology. It's on a cruise from Hong Kong to San Francisco that Miss.Ming in noticing businessman Philip Corey's, James Stephenson,birthday on his passport predicts that he'll be dead within 48 hours. When that in fact happened she's a suspect in his what looks like his murder not suicide with her friend and former school mate Doris Kane, Margaret Lindsey,Corey's fiancée held for questioning.It soon turns out that Doris' brother Larry Camp, Anthony Averill, was the last person to see Corey alive who in fact is later exposed by the sharp eyed Miss. Ming in her getting the astrological charts of all those involved in knowing his astrology chart that Miss. Ming realizes that he's not her brother at all but her lover! With the police going nowhere in the case it's Miss. Ming who puts all the loose ends as well as son moon and planets together in finding out who Corey's killer is. This is done by her finding out the charts of all those involved and identifying from them the killer's identity.****SPOILERS**** It soon turns out that Doris's mom was being blackmailed-in her having a serious drinking problem- by Corey to get her to agree her to have have her daughter Doris marry him by also-I if the drinking story didn't work-coming up with this story that she's involved in a drug trafficking operation with Corey and his business partner Frederick Glow, Lenonard Mudie, that in fact Corey was the head had honcho of. The confusing final that takes place in San Francisco's Chinatown has Glow exposed and on the run as Corey's killer who ends up getting all that's coming to him with Corey's loyal valet Shields, Eric Stanley, a crack shot and Olympic gold medal winner who spotted Glow taking Miss. Ming hostage shoots him dead as he tries to make his escape.

Oh heck...I gave it practically a rave review because I was not bored for one minute. Those that stated the astrological slant being ridiculous due to so few facts to cast a chart...well...the movie is for astrology semi-buffs that do nothing more extensive zodiac-wise than read their daily horoscope. It was a neat tale supported on GENERAL characteristics of each of the zodiac signs. All the actors were great and seemed to be treating the material with respect. For the plot read the others' reviews.. I just had to put my two-cents in by saying, PLEASE do not take this fun short film too seriously.

This supremely entertaining B-mystery from Warner Bros features a wonderful lead performance by Anna May Wong as an astrologer in San Francisco's Chinatown who helps the police solve a murder by using her uncanny star-gazing talents. Anyone even remotely interested in astrology will find the story-line quite pleasing (and pretty accurate, given the participation of Manly Hall, a noted astrologer of the day). Even those without much interest in astrology (except those who are stubbornly judgmental and predisposed to be negative about these things) should find this fast-paced, amusing mystery a cut well above the average. The adroitly talented supporting cast--including Margaret Lindsay, Lola Lane, Jeffrey Lynn, James Stephenson and Olin Howland--give the film an additional sheen. Highly recommended; definitely check it out whenever it turns up on Turner Classic Movies.

Since I've always felt that astrology can be described at best as fraudulent, the goings on here annoyed me very much. Tell Anna May Wong your birthday and she can look up your chart and tell you everything about you. She tells James Stephenson he has two days to live; Jeffrey Lynn that his wife will have twins; Inspector Charles Wilson that there will be two more murders, etc. It goes on and on and she's never wrong! Mind you, she says these predictions are only generalizations, because she doesn't have the exact time of your birth. The opening scenes has Manley P. Hall (the one who concocted the original story) on-screen telling how astrology enables you to predict the future and he cites laughable examples of it. He also explains the 12 signs of the zodiac and the characteristics of the people born under those signs. To me it was all nonsense. You might note that the character of each of the 12 credited actors was born under a different zodiac sign which was specified on-screen.The film is well directed by William McGann, who sets a nice pace for the 65 minute length of the film, and it was somewhat fun to watch the mystery unfold. But I cringed every time Wong opened her mouth with some item seemingly picked out of the air. If you believe in astrology, you may like this film. I didn't.