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Peter Lorre as Mr Moto is good, classic Hollywood fare. Mr Moto is the Japanese Charlie Chan and these movies have loads of international intrigue, pre-WW2. I really like them for what they are. Great murder / mystery yarns with old-time actors and lots of action with pretty good stories to tell. I now have all eight of the movies and I will keep them to watch again. These combo sets of four movies are good deals.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Kentaro Moto from Kobe, Japan as portrayed by Peter Lorre and a creation of novelist/adventurer John P. Marquand (see my review in Vol. 1) for a background history on the character, is brilliant as the most unusual oriental sleuth on film from the 30's. I have am writing a brief description of both volumes in this review as teasers (without giving away the tag lines) to entice movie lovers to watch this wonderful series. THINK FAST MR. MOTO: Takes us from San Francisco to Honolulu and mainly Shanghai in pursuit of diamond smugglers. THANK YOU, MR. MOTO: In Beijing, a lost ancient scroll completes the map to the wealthy tomb of Genghis Khan--and everyone is looking for it. MR. MOTO'S GAMBLE: An aviatrix and movie crew in Cambodia along with Moto disguised as not only an archeologist but an ancient high priest, are looking for the secret to an ancient temple and the secret it holds. MYSTERIOUS MR. MOTO: Two convicts including Moto again disguised escape from Devil's Island to London. Moto is hot on the trail of of the league of assassins--a group of paid for hire killers. MR. MOTO ON DANGER ISLAND: Danger Island is Puerto Rico. Moto comes down with a fake attack of of appendicitis and upon docking in San Juan is highjacked in an ambulance on the way to the hospital. He is looking for fake diamond smugglers glutting the market to devalue the precious gem. The film is lighter by a slap happy wrestler McGurk whom becomes Moto's assistant in order to learn the art of Judo. MR. MOTO TAKES A CHANCE: This is the unfinished Chan movie co-starring Keye Luke who is a student in Mr. Moto's criminology class (Luke would not return to the Chan series for another 15 years). The scenario plays more like a Chan movie, as there is more humor and a running gag about a punch drunk ex-boxer who is a kleptomaniac and taking the class in hopes of being cured. The movie involves a booking syndicate and the death of a prizefighter by poison during a boxing match. MR. MOTO'S LAST WARNING: This film can still be found separately on DVD. It is more intricately plotted and a bit slower moving than the others in the series. In this entry, Moto is in Port Said to thwart saboteurs. MR. MOTO TAKES A VACATION: In disguise as a European archeologist, the Crown of the Queen of Sheba is discovered and sent to San Francisco for Display. Some vacation--Moto learns a dead and dangerous thief--Mr. Matasko is living and in hot pursuit of the valuable headpiece. This outing is more humorous thanks to a Mr. Featherstone, a bumbling nephew of an inspector for Scotland Yard that borders at times, on slapstick. When viewing these films, one "must" dismiss the benevolent Chan and Wong movies. Mr. Moto is very dual in nature. He appears benevolent and self-effacing but underneath he resorts to cunning, trickery, disguises and resorts to violence and at times even murder. One must judge these movies on their own merit and not make comparisons to Moto's famous cinema counterparts. Fox who has released the the Chan and Moto films has done a better remastering job on the Moto films. Since the Chan movies are more prolific, many are now public domain and cannot be obtained legally. Fortunately, all 8 of the Moto films have been rightfully preserved for posterity. The Chan and Wong movies are stage pieces, whereas, the Moto series is action-filled and fast moving. Anyone who enjoys the genre of this golden age of Hollywood will certainly love the Mr. MotoRead full review
These original Twentieth Century Fox studio releases are well worth the extra searching and cost. There are some bootleg 9-movie Mr. Moto DVD's sets out there that just aren't worth buying as the video is severely lacking in quality. In the style of Charley Chan, these discs will send you on an excellent journey back to 1930's mystery and intrigue.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Mr Moto was a very likeable mystery series, similar to Charlie Chan, but I think they were better mysteries. Peter Lorre , even though he was not asian, did a believable job as Moto. The black and white quality is excellent in picture and sound! This series was very enjoyable.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Really fun old movies for fans of old detective mystery movies. Quality and sound are very good (sound is actually better than a lot of the new movies). What’s not to like?
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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