3. The Mysterious Mr. Wong
Directed by William Nigh
USA, 1934
Monogram Pictures
First Viewing
Mr. Wong: “A few hours with the rats will loosen his tongue to tell the truth!”
Mr. Wong (Bela Lugosi) will stop at nothing to obtain the 12 golden coins of Confucius, which will allow him to rule the province of Keylat. A wisecracking reporter (Wallace Ford) blithely suffers one near-death experience after another to solve a series of murders in Chinatown in pursuit of him. Lugosi makes perhaps the most unconvincing Chinese person on record, but he does exude a certain campy menace. This was a Monogram Pictures B-picture and perfectly serviceable for the bottom of a double bill.