THE MYSTERY OF MR. WONG (1939) * Back when the sense of American identify was such that a foreigner was a foreigner, I guess. I mean, British-born Boris Karloff is about as unlikely a Chinaman was you're ever likely to see, and only slightly better (and even less interesting) as a detective. And this is the second time they had him do it! So someone must have noticed. I can't get over it, it's always surprising no matter what. Sadly, the mystery of why they think anyone will be fooled is the only apparent mystery of much interest. There's a particularly lousy party in what they go out of their way to insist is San Francisco (will L.A. never give up?), and a couple Chinese people (one of whom speaks English like Tonto) to add exotic color, or something. They can tie all the ribbons on it that they want, the real mysteries aren't solved and they've barely even been touched.
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