Monogram murder mystery with Boris Karloff starring as Oriental investigator Mr. Wong, called on by a newspaper reporter, Bobbie Logan(the unflappable Marjorie Reynolds, representative of the wisecracking dame known to populate these kinds of films at this time) to solve the case of the killing of her best friend's father, a shipping magnate, Cyrus Wentworth(Melvin Lang). Cynthia Wentworth(Catherine Craig)is in love with her father's business rival's son, Dick Fleming(William Stelling). Paul Fleming(Guy Usher), also a shipping magnate, wanted to consolidate companies with Cyrus, who would have none of it. Wentworth's shipping enterprise was under water in the stock market due to, among other things, a disaster on the high seas in regards to a fire on board an illustrious ocean liner which killed 400 people. Cyrus had just finished his will and was embroiled in a smuggling operation involving Chinese bonds from a group called the Tongs. When Dick went to Cyrus to ask his permission to marry Cynthia, the result was a heated argument. Someone shoots Cyrus not long after his discussion with Dick and Mr. Wong must determine who is responsible.
Captain William Street(Grant Withers)believes it's an open and shut case and that Dick is the man behind the murder because he was in the room not long before Cyrus' demise. Other suspects emerge such as a fired chauffeur, Ludlow(Kenneth Harlan), caught a couple times on the fire escape snooping(not to mention he sneaks into Cyrus' office to burn a letter found in the safe for which Wong must use an infrared technique in an attempt to read the contents from its ashes), a Chinese servant, and Matthews(Wilbur Mack), an associate of Wentworth's. Attorney Victor Martin(Henry Brandon)also knew the contents of Cyrus' will, had prior knowledge of the smuggling operation, and the combination to the safe so he can not be ruled out as a suspect either, no matter how kind and innocent he seems.
Boris Karloff incorporates Wong with a sophistication, manners, confidence(in his abilities to get innocents off the hook for a murder they didn't commit), and dependability, you just know that he will catch the criminal(s) and see that justice is served. DOOMED TO DIE is actually my first in the Karloff-Wong Monogram series and I certainly plan to see the previous entries. If you enjoy 60+ minute murder mysteries where you get plenty of red herrings with multiple suspects then you could do a lot worse than DOOMED TO DIE. Reynolds and Withers bounce insults off each other as cop and reporter respectively..Bobbie loves to rub it in that Street's certainty of Dick's guilt is wrong, utilizing Mr. Wong's detective skills to get the better of him. Meanwhile Street tries to keep Bobbie in the dark so she will not report the news before the case is completely solved. There's an attempted murder of Wong, a car chase resulting in a crash, blackmail, and ulterior motives behind Wentworth's murder pointing towards greed. The key to it all is the letter Ludlow almost gets rid of..this evidence could hold the answer which rescues Dick from jail or the death penalty. Decent Asian make-up for Karloff; a direct polar opposite to his Fu-Manchu character, Mr. Wong is polite, trustworthy, and of substantial importance thanks in part to his astute talents at uncovering what the police can not.
Captain William Street(Grant Withers)believes it's an open and shut case and that Dick is the man behind the murder because he was in the room not long before Cyrus' demise. Other suspects emerge such as a fired chauffeur, Ludlow(Kenneth Harlan), caught a couple times on the fire escape snooping(not to mention he sneaks into Cyrus' office to burn a letter found in the safe for which Wong must use an infrared technique in an attempt to read the contents from its ashes), a Chinese servant, and Matthews(Wilbur Mack), an associate of Wentworth's. Attorney Victor Martin(Henry Brandon)also knew the contents of Cyrus' will, had prior knowledge of the smuggling operation, and the combination to the safe so he can not be ruled out as a suspect either, no matter how kind and innocent he seems.
Boris Karloff incorporates Wong with a sophistication, manners, confidence(in his abilities to get innocents off the hook for a murder they didn't commit), and dependability, you just know that he will catch the criminal(s) and see that justice is served. DOOMED TO DIE is actually my first in the Karloff-Wong Monogram series and I certainly plan to see the previous entries. If you enjoy 60+ minute murder mysteries where you get plenty of red herrings with multiple suspects then you could do a lot worse than DOOMED TO DIE. Reynolds and Withers bounce insults off each other as cop and reporter respectively..Bobbie loves to rub it in that Street's certainty of Dick's guilt is wrong, utilizing Mr. Wong's detective skills to get the better of him. Meanwhile Street tries to keep Bobbie in the dark so she will not report the news before the case is completely solved. There's an attempted murder of Wong, a car chase resulting in a crash, blackmail, and ulterior motives behind Wentworth's murder pointing towards greed. The key to it all is the letter Ludlow almost gets rid of..this evidence could hold the answer which rescues Dick from jail or the death penalty. Decent Asian make-up for Karloff; a direct polar opposite to his Fu-Manchu character, Mr. Wong is polite, trustworthy, and of substantial importance thanks in part to his astute talents at uncovering what the police can not.