Phantom of Chinatown (1940) is the sixth and final film in the Mr. Wong series. Unlike the first five entries, this one stars Keye Luke as James Lee "Jimmy" Wong instead of Boris Karloff. It also marked an important milestone, as it was the first Mr. Wong film to feature a Chinese actor in the lead role.
Without spoilers:
The story begins with an archaeologist returning from an expedition to Mongolia carrying an extraordinary discovery—an ancient scroll that may reveal the location of a legendary site with enormous historical and economic significance. Before he can fully explain his findings, he suddenly dies under mysterious circumstances during a public lecture. Jimmy Wong is drawn into the investigation, where he must determine whether the death was accidental or murder and uncover who is willing to kill for the expedition's secrets.
What to expect:
- A brisk, 62-minute mystery that gets to the central case almost immediately.
- A mix of archaeology, ancient legends, missing documents, and murder.
- Plenty of suspects, misleading clues, and detective work rather than action.
- A slightly more adventurous tone than some of the earlier Mr. Wong films, while still remaining a classic 1940 detective mystery.
If you've watched the earlier Mr. Wong films with Karloff, the biggest change is the lead actor. Keye Luke brings a younger, more energetic interpretation of Wong while keeping the character's intelligence, courtesy, and methodical approach to solving crimes. Many classic film fans appreciate the film both as an entertaining mystery and because it finally casts a Chinese actor in the role
`10/10
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