MR MOTO TAKES A CHANCE


US, 1938, 63 minutes, Black and white.
Peter Lorre, Rochelle Hudson, Robert Kent, J.Edward Bromberg, Chick Chandler, George Regas.
Directed by Norman Foster.

This is one of the least effective of Mr Moto films starring Peter Lorre as the famous Japanese agent, created in the novels by the J. P. Marquand. From 1937 to the early 1940s, Peter Lorre appeared in the number of small budget films in 20th Century Fox supporting features.

This one is set in French Indochina, in contemporary Cambodia, with a glimpse from the plane of Angkor Wat. The film has something of a colonialist attitude towards the native peoples but also towards the local rulers who are obligated to the French.

Mr Moto is on a digging site looking for a stash of weapons to be used by rebels, led by the sinister local high priest and his associates. At various times Mr Moto has to assume disguises, especially of an older venerable religious figure. The Americans, cavalier and rather ignorant of the people in the country, are taking documentary film material. There is also a pilot, in the age of Amelia Earheart and other women pilots, flying to Cambodia and deliberately crash landing. She is taken in by the local ruler who is attracted to her – and is later revealed as an agent to join with Mr Moto in exposing the rebels.

J. Edward Bromberg is the local chief, seemingly rather effete, but aware of the plots against him, attracted to the pilot, but ultimately hostile to Mr Moto and the agents.

Far-fetched, to say the least, and much less interesting than so many of the other Mr Moto films.