Noite de Terror

1940's "The Fatal Hour" began shooting Nov. 28, 1939 for release in January (original title "Mr. Wong at Headquarters"), Boris Karloff's 4th Monogram entry as Oriental detective James Lee Wong, again teamed with Grant Withers as Capt. Bill Street and Marjorie Reynolds as reporter Bobbie Logan. As a whodunit it might very well be the best of the entire series, with its culprit guilty of four murders during the course of the film while using a remote controlled radio for an alibi, the brand new Philco Mystery Control. A somber note is struck at the beginning when Street learns of the murder of one of his colleagues, whom he has known since childhood, found dead in the bay while on smuggling detail at the waterfront. Wong's investigation involves a number of suspects: a shady jeweler (Hooper Atchley), his dense but innocent son (Craig Reynolds), the son's fiancee (Lita Chevret), and her association with a nightclub owner (Frank Puglia) directly involved with the smuggling ring. Even a radio actor (Jason Robards) isn't safe from danger, Karloff himself oddly more of a background figure in many scenes, essentially silent as Grant Withers does all the tiresome bullying (not once is Wong seen in his home). Once again, Bobbie Logan is capable of far more than her police captain boyfriend lets on, and even delivers the payoff for the climax by preventing two more killings. Richard Loo puts in another performance in aged makeup, Frank Puglia fresh from the set of "Charlie Chan in Panama," where he played an Egyptian building his own tomb! Karloff's final outing as the Asian sleuth is preceded by mad scientist roles in Universal's "Black Friday" and Columbia's "The Man with Nine Lives."

The Mr. Wong series borrows somewhat from the Torchy Blane series at Warner Bros., i.e. feisty female reporter annoying the police officer/boyfriend, but also key to solving the crime. A comment was made elsewhere about that character here having a "Lois Lane" moment. Torchy Blane was allegedly the inspiration for the Lois Lane character of Superman comics.

A humorous, but probably unintentional, mistake shows up early in the film when Boris Karloff's darkening makeup is forgotten on his neck, giving him a two-tone head.

Although one can disparage Karloff for these films, keep in mind that film actors then, as now, need and want work. There are plenty of other well-experienced actors appearing in the Mr. Wong films, whom you can see in better films at better studios in the 1930s, or even in later films.

Although Karloff was making "B" films at Monogram and Columbia around this time, at least he had an "up" blip in his career when he played a major role in "Arsenic and Old Lace" on Broadway from 1941 to 1944.

This film is no worse than the formulaic TV series we have now, both comedy and drama, TV now being today's equivalent of the "B" movies of yesterday.

After a number of Mr. Wong detective movies, Boris Karloff's performance as a "Chinese copper" is a smooth transition in believing Karloff is Chinese. The battling twosome of Captain Street and Reporter Bobbie Logan returns as usual. Because of the number of mysteries solved by Mr. Wong, Street seeks out the detective in solving the murder of Street's friend and fellow cop, Dan O'Grady. A level head is needed in solving this mystery. Numerous clues appear and only Wong can see them. Of course, this will occur only if Wong can survive till the end of the movie. For once, the female reporter Logan saves the lives of both of the men. A good movie to watch if you like a mystery.

This was a Wong routine murder mystery, none too well produced, which has as its principal saving grace the suave BORIS KARLOFF...as a master detective. Basically an ordinary story, its failure to impress is largely due to the elemental plot and the inconsistencies which figure. Karloff still made this a classic film series for viewers of many generations.

Karloff tops a first class cast supported by the beautiful Marg Reynolds, who was at the beginning of her climb up the ladder after years of bit parts. (She was the fem lead in the best of all Abbott and Costello films, Time of Their Lives (A must see)). Grant Withers as the top cop works with the oriental Karloff character to solve a couple of murders. Others who shine are Frank Puglia as a shifty crime boss and Lita Chavret as the second fem banana. Script by Scott Darling and George Waggner holds well. This is a typical 1940's classic that is fun to watch. Directed by the very professional William Nigh who has more than 100 notches on his directorial gun. Made by Monogram studio. This is one of 50 films in the Horror Movie DVD pack that's well worth investigating. This film is well worth the time.