Shadow of Chinatown

Merchants in the Chinatown district are targeted by evil European business people intent on taking over their territory. The obvious answer? To hire a mad scientist of course! An inquisitive male/female duo investigates and try to thwart the dastardly plan.

Shadow of Chinatown was edited into feature length from a fifteen part serial of the same name. It's only real selling point nowadays is its star actor Bela Lugosi. But before anyone gets too excited about this, it has to be said that it's a very lacklustre performance from the Hungarian star. Even by 1936 he was slumming it in cheap undistinguished b-pictures like this one. I've seen a few films from various eras that were made from editing episodes of serials together and, with few exceptions, they usually end up being really poor. This one is no exception to this general rule and ultimately is a pretty forgettable viewing experience.

"A group of Chinese merchants and importers are the target of a European import firm that uses a beautiful Eurasian girl and a mad scientist as the means to put them out of business. A newspaper reporter and her dashing boyfriend learn of the problems the Chinatown businessmen are dealing with and decide to investigate," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.

"Shadow of Chinatown" is a feature length version of the recently released 15-part serial; its shortened length is a welcome digestion, considering the lack of quality on display.

Super hypnotist Bela Lugosi (as Victor Poten) is more stupefying than hypnotic. Though Mr. Lugosi gets top billing, Bruce Bennett stars (as Martin "Marty" Andrews); and, he is a serviceable serial hero. Joan Barclay and Luana Walters add feminine wiles. The players appear to have blocked their scenes, and know their lines well enough for a quick read through. Mr. Bennett has some good fighting scenes; for example, the one atop a building, with Charles King. There is a semi-cool car chase, with 1930s automobiles and an old "Stop"/"Go" traffic signal.

Luana Walters comes to Bela Lugosi with a plan to destroy Chinese merchants and, I guess, take over their businesses. Bruce Bennett -- still called Herman Brix -- and Joan Barclay are their opposition.

The first thing I noticed about this feature version of the serial directed by Robert Hill for Sam Katzman was that the sound seems to have been recorded in an echo chamber by Hans Weeren. His was a name new to me. He was the sound man for 140 movies between 1932 and 1943, when he seems to have died at age 49, or perhaps he was assassinated. If so, I don't approve, but I understand. His list of films is not distinguished by anything except being almost entirely B westerns of which I have never heard.

Given this is Hill directing, I was mildly pleased by the decent movement and speed of editing; even if you could see that the clip of the guy who leaps over a fence begins while he's standing around waiting for his cue, editor Charles Henkel Jr. Seems to have made an effort to cut down the 280 minutes of the serial to a manageable length, and largely succeeded, even though Bennett does not know how to throw a punch. The modern crowd might be pleased that they actually used ethnic Chinese for the appropriate roles. I suspect that is because they were cheaper to hire and make up than otherwise.

Shadow of Chinatown (1936) is actually a 15-part serial but the movie is a condensed/edited version of it. Basically, 15 shows edited to create one movie. I have not seen the serial only this film version.

With the serial being condensed into a movie I'm sure the viewer is missing out on some interesting scenes by watching only the movie version but I feel they did a good job with the movie to cut through the chase and get to the heart and soul of the serial.

I liked this film. It's not the greatest Lugosi film but it's actually a fun crime-drama to watch. Victor Poten (Lugosi) will hypnotize and terrorize the people that get in his way of destroying Chinatown - he is a vengeful madman.

The movie is interesting enough that I would like to watch the the entire 15-part serial. For me it's just to watch Lugosi in something different.

6/10

Originally, "Shadow of Chinatown" was a four hour plus serial and was then condensed to the length of a full-length film...much, much shorter at only 71 minutes. Now you would THINK this would make the film fast- paced and interesting...and you'd be thinking wrong! It still manages to be sluggish and dull...and probably not worth your time. Imagine how bad it would be watching the UNCUT serial version!

The Dragon Lady wants to ruin the local Chinese-American merchants in order to get rich. So, she hires the crazy Eurasian chemist/inventor, Poten (Bela Lugosi) to do his evil best and create a tong war.

The film is filled with faux Chinese folks who are obviously just American actors made up to look kinda Chinese. This was sadly the norm at the time but doesn't help the film at all. It also is full of terrible acting...so bad that leading man(?) Herman Brix ('Bruce Bennett') is far less wooden than the rest. Overall, a difficult to watch and impossible to enjoy film. You could EASILY do better!!