MR. WONG DETECTIVE (1938) Boris Karloff, Grant Withers & Maxine Jennings | Crime, Drama | B&W

Mr. Wong, Detective is a 1938 American crime film directed by William Nigh and starring Boris Karloff in his first appearance as Mr. Wong.

SYNOPSIS
When a chemical manufacturer is killed after asking detective James Wong to help him, Wong investigates this and two subsequent murders. He uncovers an international spy ring hoping to steal the formula for a poison gas being developed by the first victim's company.

Simon Dayton is in fear for his life and seeks the help of Mr. Wong to protect him. Just prior to meeting Mr. Wong, Dayton is found dead in his office in San Francisco without a mark on him. Several witnesses testify Dayton was alone in his office that was locked from the inside. Though the police view Dayton's death as due to a heart attack, Mr. Wong discovers a broken glass ball that contained poison gas.

CAST & CREW
Boris Karloff as Mr. James Lee Wong
Grant Withers as Capt. Sam Street
Maxine Jennings as Myra Ross
Evelyn Brent as Olga - aka Countess Dubois
George Lloyd as Devlin
Lucien Prival as Anton Mohl
John St. Polis as Carl Roemer
William Gould as Theodore Meisle
Hooper Atchley as Christian Wilk
John Hamilton as Simon Dayton
Wilbur Mack as Russell
Lee Tung Foo as Tchin
Lynton Brent as Tommy
Grace Wood as Mrs. Roemer

Directed by William Nigh
Screenplay by Houston Branch
Based on James Lee Wong series in Collier's Magazine written by Hugh Wiley
Produced by William T. Lackey
Cinematography Harry Neumann
Edited by Russell F. Schoengarth
Production company Monogram Pictures
Distributed by Monogram Pictures
Release date October 5, 1938
Running time 69 minutes
Country United States
Language English