Posts about “B” films from the 1930s and 1940s.
On Christmas Eve, 1937, the second Mr. Moto film, Thank You, Mr. Moto (1937) staring Peter Lorre, debuted. International Agent Mr. Moto strives to protect Chinese cultural treasures from international criminals. The Seven Scrolls will reveal the hiding place for the Tomb of Genghis Khan. Genghis Khan’s warriors reportedly buried great treasure with their dead leader. Mr. Moto’s friend Prince […]
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The series of the Charlie Chan films starring Warner Oland were probably the strongest films in the Charlie Chan series. Sidney Toler made several good films also but eventually the series would become low-budget “B” films produced by Monogram Pictures. Charlie Chan’s Secret (1936) was one of the earlier Twentieth-Century Fox films about Charlie Chan. The production values are better […]
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Dangerous Money (1946) is the second to last Charlie Chan film starring Sidney Toler from Monogram Pictures. After Sidney Toler’s death, Roland Winters took over the role for seven more films. This film allows us to appreciate Toler’s portrayal of Inspector Chan for close to the last time. This film was the tenth for Monogram and his twenty-first portrayal of […]
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On March 16, 1945, Universal Pictures released The House of Fear (1945), the eighth of twelve Sherlock Holmes films produced by the studio. Basil Rathbone returned as Holmes for the tenth time. Rathbone played Sherlock Holmes twice for Twentieth Century – Fox before Universal started producing the series. Despite its late entry into the series, the film (affiliate link) stands […]
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The Scarlet Clue (1945) is the fifth of eleven Charlie Chan films produced by Monogram Pictures after Twentieth-Century Fox cancelled the series in 1942. Sidney Toler made eleven films for Twentieth-Century Fox before moving the series to Monogram. After Toler died in 1947, Roland Winters took over the role for seven more films. In this film (affiliate link), Inspector Charlie […]
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On April 7, 1939, Twentieth Century-Fox released the seventh of eight Mr. Moto “B” movies. Mr. Moto in Danger Island begins with Mr. Moto on a ship headed to Puerto Rico. Mr. Moto, played by Peter Lorre, and several passengers are watching a wrestling match. Twister McGurk, played by Warren Hymer, is wrestling Sailor Sam, played by Ward Bond. Mr. Moto […]
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Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (1944) is the first Charlie Chan film (affiliate link) produced by Monogram Pictures. Sidney Toler reprises his role as Inspector Charlie Chan. After Twentieth-Century Fox decided to cancel the series after Castle in the Desert (1942), Sidney Toler bought the production rights. Toler successfully shopped the rights for the series to Monogram. Sidney Toler […]
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While a few actors played Charlie Chan before Warner Oland and a few portrayed Inspector Chan after Roland Winters, the main body of Earl Derr Biggers’ Charlie Chan film adaptations occurred between 1931 to 1949. Warner Oland began playing Charlie Chan in The Black Camel (1931). After his death, Sidney Toler started playing the role of Charlie Chan in the […]
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