THINK FAST, MR MOTO

US, 1937, 66 minutes, Black and white.
Peter Lorre, Virginia Field, Sig Rumann, J.Caroll Naish.
Directed by Norman Foster.

Think Fast, Mr Moto was the first in a popular series in the '30s and '40s. Mr Moto, based on a character created by J.P. Marquand (H.M. Pullham Esquire), was a Japanese merchant involved investigating all kinds of mysteries. Peter Lorre is quite ingratiating in the central role. Sig Rumann is one of the blustering villains. The film is interesting in its presentation of the popular crime stories of the period (in the Charlie Chan tradition) - diamond-smuggling, drug-smuggling, phone-tapping, the relationship between the US and Asia. The series is popular material - and a memory of past decades.

1.Popular murder mystery? Thriller? Introducing the character of Mr Moto?

2.San Francisco, the high sea, Honolulu, Shanghai - and the studio settings for these exotic locations? Musical score?

3.Peter Lorre as Mr Moto - the initial disguise, fight, investigations, the diamonds, Mr Moto as himself, going on ship, contacts with the police - but the audience seeing him as possibly a criminal? Friendship with Robert, with Gloria, keeping an eye on them during the trip? Shipboard activity? Carson and his attack, his death? Contacts in Shanghai, the secretary and tapping the phone? The merchant and the shooting? Mr Wilkie - and suspicions? Tracking down Gloria, her uncle? The dinner, the gambling, the shoot-out and the confrontation? The truth? The police arriving on time? Mr Moto lives to solve another crime? Blend of the serious and the humorous?

4.Robert, his father, the drinking, the special message, friends, romance with Gloria, on board - and the friendship with Mr Moto? With Mr Wilkie, the false letter? Search for Tania, wanting to investigate the smuggling, captured, rescued?

5.Gloria, on board, attractive, keeping an eye on Robert? Vanishing, singing in the nightclub, the revelation of the truth? The White Russians and their migration, becoming involved in smuggling?

6.Her uncle, his contacts, with Wilkie, the shoot-out, the gambling, the diamonds? His death?

7.Wilkie, the overseas head of the firm, suave, the shooting, the truth?

8.The atmosphere of this kind of murder mystery of the period - American tone, exotic settings?