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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0089218407894
Format: Black & White, DVD-Video, NTSC
Label: Alpha Video
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Alpha Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: November 19, 2002
Running Time: 68 minutes
Sales Rank: 115915
Studio: Alpha Video
Theatrical Release Date: August 12, 1940
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - Detective Wong is right again
Looking and sounding about as Chinese as I do, Boris Karloff is once again on the case as the irrepressible Detective Wong in 1940's Doomed to Die. I know a lot of people love these Detective Wong movies for Boris Karloff, but I'm actually more partial to Grant Withers' performance as Captain Bill Street, the blustering homicide captain who keeps having his open and shut cases proven quite wrong thanks to the nosy interference of journalist Bobbie Logan (Marjorie Reynolds), with whom Street banters throughout the entire film. Street and Logan are like cinematic professors of sharp and witty repartee, giving the film more than a few moments of humor.
You can hardly blame Captain Street for thinking this particular case basically solved itself. At least three people, including the boy's father, heard Dick Fleming (William Stelling) arguing with shipping magnate Cyrus P. Wentworth (Melvin Lang) in the man's office just seconds before hearing a gunshot and rushing in to see Wentworth fatally wounded - and no sign of Dick Fleming, who obviously fled out the back entrance to the office. The motive for the murder was plain to see as well - Dick had gone to tell Wentworth that he was marrying his daughter Cynthia with or without his blessing, a blessing that Wentworth would never give due to his personal and professional enmity with his main competitor Paul Fleming (Guy Usher). As Street's luck would have it, though, reporter Bobbie Logan just happens to be best friends with Cynthia, ... Read More
Rating:  - A Whodunit In the Spirit of Sherlock Holmes
I must admit that in spite of seeing Boris Karloff playing a person of Chinese heritage, I enjoyed this movie. Karloff played Chinese-American detective James Lee Wong in the sixth of seven films featuring the James Lee Wong character, though this film was Karloff's last appearance as this character - Keye Luke played James Lee Wong in the final film in this series.
Cyrus P. Wentworth is despondent over a fire and loss of life on his ship Wentworth Castle. The film footage of the ship on fire is actually that of the Morro Castle, which caught fire in 1934 and led to the loss of 137 passengers and crew. Overlaid on Wentworth's despondency is his ire that Dick Fleming, son of a rival, wants to marry his daughter. Wentworth essentially tells Fleming that he can marry his daughter over his dead body. You know the old saying that you should be careful what you ask for...
Since Dick Fleming was visiting Wentworth moments before his death, police Captain Bill Fleming decides that Fleming must be the killer. However, detective James Lee Wong is not so sure, and methodically follows the clues to track down his man.
I mostly liked this movie with the exception of obnoxious reporter Bobbie Logan and police Captain Bill Fleming. Both characters were, as often was the case in movies from this era, stereotypical and poorly developed. If either character had totally disappeared from the film I am not sure the plot would have suffered much. The rest of the movie was ... Read More
Rating:  - You can't go wrong with Wong
Another fine old who-dunnit with Karloff as the great detective. Mr Wong never quite caught on the way Charlie Chan and Mr Moto did. He did have his moments though. His films are well worth a look if you are a fan of these types of mysteries.
Rating: - Another "Wong" Winner!
This is a terrific DVD for the atmosphere, the clever Mr. Wong, This is a B picture, to be sure, shot on a budget, but its great fun as Mr. Wong solves his case. The transfer is very good considering there is no restoration. The sound is very good as well. I love this series and Boris is the man to play the character.
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