THANK YOU, MR. MOTO

Filmed during Hollywood's era of ethnicity be damned, Peter Lorre starred in a series of Mr. Moto films based on the novels by John P. Marquand. Marquand wrote six Mr. Moto books and there were eight films featuring his character produced between 1937-1939 by 20th Century Fox. Rarely did an Asian actor play a lead role in Hollywood, especially in these types of films.

Mr. Moto was a Japanese secret agent/detective and Marquand wrote the stories when the SATURDAY EVENING POST was looking for a similar series after the death of Earl Derr Biggers, who had been writing the successful Charlie Chan series for them.

Peter Lorre as the titular character in "Thank You, Mr. Moto".

Released on 24 December 1937, THANK YOU, MR. MOTO was adapted from the novel of the same name that had been published just the year before. The screenplay was written by Wyllis Cooper, the creator of the old time radio shows, LIGHTS OUT and QUIET, PLEASE. He scripted several Mr. Moto films, as well as the screenplay for SON OF FRANKENSTEIN. Having watched it recently, I found it to be a quaint and enjoyable movie.

Lorre as Mr. Moto in disguise in the opening segment of the film.
Makeup is by Ben Nye.

Second in the series, the film is typical of the mystery/detective stories that were cranked out by Hollywood by the busload during this period until film noir became the theme du jour in the next decade.

Lorre, Pauline Frederick in her last film as Madame Chung (another Caucasian playing an Asian) and Philip Ahn as Prince Chung. 

This and other Mr. Moto movies were populated by a host of regular character actors that could be seen in many productions, both before and after. Many found a second career when television became a viable form of home entertainment. Other than murderers, there are no monsters in Mr. Moto movies, but as you can see, some of these actors played in horror and other genre films and shows.

Lorre and the lovely Jayne Regan.

Here is a list of some of the more well-known supporting cast members in THANK YOU, MR. MOTO.

• Sydney Blackmer as (CHARLIE CHAN AT MONTE CARLO, THE LADY AND THE MONSTER, as Roman Castavet in ROSEMARY'S BABY, numerous TV shows including, THRILLER, THE GIRL FROM U.N.C.L.E. and THE OUTER LIMITS).
• John Carradine as Piereira (famous actor of stage and screen, including his performances in Universal's THE INVISIBLE MAN, THE BLACK CAT, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, CAPTIVE WILD WOMAN, THE MUMMY'S GHOST, HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN and HOUSE OF DRACULA).
• Victor Wong as Chinese curio shop merchant (SHADOW OF CHINATOWN, KING KONG, SON OF KONG and MR. MOTO TAKES A VACATION).
• James B. Leong as Peiping cop (THE MASK OF FU MANCHU, SON OF KONG, THE MYSTERIOUS MR. WONG, MR. MOTO TAKES A CHANCE and TARZAN'S NEW YORK ADVENTURE).
• Philip Ahn as Prince Chung (THINK FAST, MR. MOTO, CHARLIE CHAN IN HONOLULU, DRUMS OF FU MANCHU and many TV shows including as Master Kan in KUNG FU).

A review of THANK YOU, MR. MOTO from MOTION PICTURE HERALD (November 1937):

One sheet poster: