Phantom of Chinatown (1940)

This is the last of the Inspector Wong movies though Wong was not played by Boris Karloff this time but Keye Luke. An East Asian lead character being played by an East Asian actor was rather novel for the time. This also seems to be a prequel as Wong and Captain Street (Grant Withers) appear to meet for the first time.

Dr Benton (Charles Miller) has returned from an expedition to Mongolia where he has apparently found a secret tomb by an ancient Chinese emperor and a scroll that reveals a mysterious secret. Benton is killed by poison during a presentation. Wong and Street begin the investigation assisted by Chinese agent Win Len (Lotus Long). They discover that the secret, now missing, scroll reveals the location of a massive oil deposit...

And it is all rather enjoyable. A neat little mystery with plenty of suspense and misdirection. There is the added fun of the actor who was usually Charlie Chan's bumbling "number one son" leading a detective case!

Predator (1987)

For the blog's four hundredth review another of our all-time favourite films...

Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is leading his elite team of special forces in the South American jungle on a CIA mission with Dillon (Carl Weathers) when they come under attack. However its not a human that is stalking them and taking them out one by one. It's something not of this world...

Predator has a rather simple premise and plot: humans are hunted by an alien with some nifty stealth gear and laser guns who takes scalps of his conquered prey. The hero (Arnie of course) eventually is left alone to deal with the hunter in an epic showdown and settle the interstellar conflict between human and alien in the traditional Kirk manner: with his fists.

What makes the film sing is the great cast ensemble including Jesse Ventura (who goes around carrying a Gatling gun!)

Despite the science-fiction underpinning the film is mostly a straight ahead war action film with some great twists. The film has plenty of humour despite the blood letting, some of it rather cheesy (such as when Dutch impales a bad guy with a knife to a wall and he tells him to "Stick around!") but in the context of the film and delivered so dead-pan it works. The sfx also stand up remarkably well for a film from the late 1980s.

North of Arizona (1935)

Jack Perrin is a cowboy (also called Jack to avoid any confusion on set no doubt) and takes a job at George Tully's (Al Bridge) ranch.

Unfortunately Jack's new colleagues are outlaws and he ends up breaking up a robbery being committed by them. Jack is framed for the robbery...

Jack breaks out of the gaol and enlists some friendly Indians to help clear his name and bring the real villains to justice. Oh and get the girl (Blanche Mehaffey) too.

Its all a bit by the numbers and full of B-movie western cliches. There is plenty of action (not all of it that good if we're going to honest) but the film is lacking a spark. Average at best.

Gangs, Inc. (1941)

Rita Adams (Joan Woodbury) is a naive young girl with a difficult life (ex-convict father, no job et cetera) who takes the rap for her useless boyfriend Harold (Phillip Trent) after a hit-and-run. After a spell in the state pen she discovers the truth about her beau and sets out on a life of crime...

She becomes a mysterious "blonde beauty" and rises up the ranks in the mob led by Jack La Rue. Meanwhile Alan Ladd is an undercover agent who has infiltrated the mob. When he is ready to bring them down unfortunately Rita is ready to go straight...

It is a rather complicated plot and unfortunately tries to pack too much in to a rather short film. It is complete nonsense but is an enjoyable fast-moving romp.

Hong Kong Nights (1935)

A 1930s Oriental romp so you know to expect dated stereotypes, though isn't too bad compared to some films...

This is a decent if unexceptional crime drama involving weapon smuggling into HK. Gil Burris (Cornelius Keefe) is the mastermind behind the smuggling and two US customs agents (Tom Keene and Warren Hymer) are tasked to bring Burris to book. One complication is Burris' girl (Wera Engels), they all have the hots for to various degrees. She is of course naive and innocent of Burris' evil doings until Keene comes along...

Another complication is Burris' honourable henchman Wong (Tetsu Komai) and his good luck amulet which ends up saving Keene's life...

It is though a rather run-of-the-mill adventure film. Fairly fast moving and usually makes sense, but not always! Once things get going the action is solid.