MR WONG, DETECTIVE

Mr. Wong, Detective is the first of the Mr. Wong murder mysteries featuring Boris Karloff as the very polished but enigmatic detective in San Francisco. There were five films in all, from 1939 to 1941.
Asian detectives were very popular in series at this time, the Mr. Moto series as well as the Charlie Chan series.
The film is interesting of its kind, but a modest small-budget supporting film, of historical interest. San Francisco police headquarters must be the smallest and barest offices in cinema history.

But the film will be of particular interest to followers of Boris Karloff’s career. This performance is quite far from his many appearances in horror films, a much more urbane and intelligent performance than many of his fans might be used to.