Mr. Moto in Murder and Mystery Forum

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Mr. Moto

Author	Comment
ScaredyRAT	Mr. Moto	Lead	[-]
Apr 13 06 11:38 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I'm a big fan of the work of Peter Lorre, but I've never seen the Moto films, everything I hear is either extremely positive or extremely negative, the films are either unbelievable racist and offensive trash, or underappreciated and forgotten classics. I liked the books, but apparently that doesnt matter because their so different, I never bought into the idea that you can only like the book or the movie and not both though (people treat it like a law of physics or something "You mean you like the Frankenstein book AND movie!?!") just because their different doesnt mean they can't both be good. Anyway I guess what I'm asking is, are the films any good? And would they be worth the trouble it would take to find them?
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Renfield	Re: Mr. Moto	#1	[-]
Apr 13 06 12:14 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I read a couple of the Mr. Moto books and I've seen most of the Mr. Moto films. The movies are well-made, albeit low budget, and manage to hold your interest and Lorre is great as Moto in them. Joe "Renfield" Meadows HORROR-WOOD Webzine http://www.horror-wood.com
black hangman	Re: Mr. Moto	#2	[-]
Apr 13 06 8:03 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I'd definitely give the Moto's a try--the films are a mix--My favorite is Mr. Moto's Last Warning, with Think Fast, Mr. Moto a close second--Danger Island is my least fav--a reworking of Murder in Trinidad (a "lost" film) and remade as Caribbean Mystery in '46--I'd try that one instead. Mr. Moto's gamble is interesting in that it was a Chan film just starting production when Oland passed on--you get to see No. 1 son and Moto together. Like the Chans,Shaynes,Roving Reporters and Camera Daredevils films, 20th CF usually served up a decent product.
ScaredyRAT	Re: Mr. Moto	#3	[-]
Apr 14 06 11:51 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Mr. Moto and No. 1 son in the same picture? That sounds interesting. Thanks guys, I'll keep your opinions in mind, nice to hear the thoughts on them from someone who has actually seen the films, and not just assumed that they were good or bad based on things like Lorre's not being Japanese. See ya on the boards! -RAT ----------------- K0KW-CALLING, I'm on international frequency, come-in.
HalLane	Re: Mr. Moto	#4	[-]
Apr 15 06 1:38 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	As a Chan fan MR. MOTO'S GAMBLE is my favorite, for the Keye Luke connection. It was the last time he would play the character until returning to the Chan series for the final entry THE SKY DRAGON alongside Roland Winters; another fun flick, IMHO. It's also fun to compare Lorre's Asian Moto with his appearances in Universal's INVISIBLE AGENT and Warner's ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT.
rvoyttbots	Re: Mr. Moto	#5	[-]
Apr 16 06 9:44 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I did read a couple Moto books & I saw almost all the Lorre films. Liked the books & the films. You would definitely enjoy the films.cI don`t remember anything racist about them but it has been decades since I last saw them.
Bill Lydig	Re: Mr. Moto	#6	[-]
Apr 17 06 7:22 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Having seen all the Lorre Motos, I don't believe there is anything racist about them. Lorre wasn't Japanese by birth which might upset some hyper sensitive folks that nitpick these things, but he makes a great Moto. The thing I like about these films is that Moto isn't above killing his opponent if he feels the situation calls for it. He's a different kind of hero than one normally sees in these 30s/40s mystery movies. Word on the street is that Fox has all 8 Moto films ready to be released on DVD. Apparently the timing will be dependent on the sales of the Chan sets.
SAM33	Re: Mr. Moto	#7	[-]
May 4 06 8:19 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Over at DVD Drive-in this AM it says the Moto's will be out this fall! Good news, say I! SAM33
TheHoldingCoat	Re: Mr. Moto	#8	[-]
May 25 06 1:41 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I, too, am a big Lorre fan, and have seen and enjoyed most of the Moto films. Hope this announced DVD release actually happens. I highly recommend the Moto books for any fan of well written pulpy adventure. John P. Marquand was a high class novelist who, like Graham Greene with his espionage books, was "slumming" when he wrote the Motos, but they are fine reads, with great atmosphere and suspense. Moto is a much more enigmatic character in the books than he is in the films.
Renfield	Re: Mr. Moto	#9	[-]
May 25 06 4:23 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Interestingly, the low-budget Lippert production team made a Mr. Moto film for Fox in 1965, The Return of Mr. Moto, with Henry Silva starring as Moto. I caught this flick some time ago on Fox Movie Channel and it's a pretty dull and feeble attempt to remake Moto as a sort of secret agent (apparently to cash in on the then-current movie and TV spy boom). It fails miserably at this and Silva makes a colorless Moto (he does the characterization with no makeup effects). Joe "Renfield" Meadows HORROR-WOOD Webzine http://www.horror-wood.com
Steven Tate	Re: Mr. Moto	#10	[-]
May 28 06 9:42 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* I highly recommend the Moto books for any fan of well written pulpy adventure I picked up a few of the Moto books...when they re-issued them a few years ago with Lorre's visage on the covers...and frankly I hated them... A clear case of where the movies are better than the books! Steven
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Monsterpal		#11	[-]
Dec 8 07 3:22 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I just watched Think Fast, Mr. Moto last night. The disc's image is crisp, the story is fast moving and action packed, the production values are accomplished, and the supporting cast is fine. Peter Lorre is magnificent, as usual. There's an interesting extra, an audio interview with Lorre's stuntman for nearly thirty years, Harry Parry. It's fun to hear him refer to the star as "Pete," and talk about what a swell guy he was.
Friend of Daniel		#12	[-]
Dec 10 07 11:42 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Bah! And here I was promising myself to not buy any more discs... at least for a couple of weeks. I fear curiosity is about Lorre's films is about to get the best of me. I've never seen any of the Mr. Moto films but I'm a fan of the Chan films, and even enjoy the Karloff Wong films to a point. When the Fox Movie Channel started running the Chan films a couple of years ago there was some outcry from Aisian-Americans and FMC pulled them from their schedule. But then George Takei organized a panel of Asian-Americans and they said it was OK to watch 'em. Takei and Friends even hosted the movies when FMC began running them again. I don't know what Takei thinks about the Mr Moto films. If you're an Andy Milligan fan there's no hope for you. Last Edited By: Friend of Daniel Dec 10 07 11:44 PM. Edited 1 times.
gfanikf		#13	[-]
Dec 11 07 12:08 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Friend of Daniel wrote: Bah! And here I was promising myself to not buy any more discs... at least for a couple of weeks. I fear curiosity is about Lorre's films is about to get the best of me. I've never seen any of the Mr. Moto films but I'm a fan of the Chan films, and even enjoy the Karloff Wong films to a point. When the Fox Movie Channel started running the Chan films a couple of years ago there was some outcry from Aisian-Americans and FMC pulled them from their schedule. But then George Takei organized a panel of Asian-Americans and they said it was OK to watch 'em. Takei and Friends even hosted the movies when FMC began running them again. I don't know what Takei thinks about the Mr Moto films. Sulu, would be cool with it . Moto was a true bad ass. He used brains and judo skills, hell thats better than Chan and white guys. I just ordered both sets from DDD, I got Mr. Moto Takes a Chance from Netflix and loved it. I think I'm going to truly enjoy the 30s Mystery and action films. HK AND CULT FILM NEWS Your source for all the latest Hong Kong and Cult Films DVD News and Reviews! I actually said he was da bomb but my main man Dennis didn't peep me right.- Tom "Big Daddy" Weaver.
Friend of Daniel		#14	[-]
Dec 11 07 12:24 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	You know, I'm as big a fan as anyone around here of Karloff, Lugosi, Chaney, Price, Cushing, etc. but I'm slowlying beginning to realize that Lorre is my favorite genre actor, and possibly my favorite actor - period. I can't recall even not enjoying a Lorre performance. If you're an Andy Milligan fan there's no hope for you.
CherylMorris	Lorre Biography	#15	[-]
Dec 15 07 12:56 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I'm a long-time fan of Peter Lorre's, too -- since 1973. Have you read the Lorre biography, The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre, by Stephen Youngkin (University Press of Kentucky)? Have you visited the official website, http://www.PeterLorreBook.com? You'll love the "Mr. Moto" DVDs -- all remastered and restored prints, with extras, including original documentaries and several original theatrical trailers. Cheryl
Friend of Daniel		#16	[-]
Dec 15 07 11:27 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Cheryl, the bio looks fascinating. I'll definitely have to get a copy. And thanks for the website link. And very special mega-kudos to the good Captain America for alerting me to a good deal on the Moto sets. I realized I did own one of the Moto films: the 50 Movie Pack Mystery Classics (anyone else addicted to these 50 pack things?) included MR. MOTO'S FINAL WARNING. I had a great time with the film. As mentioned above, Lorre's Moto is certainly more energetic than the other fake Asian detectives from this era! Yet another creepy ventriloquist dummy was a nice bonus, too. That dummy looked awfully familiar; is it the same one W.C. Fields used in his terrible act in YOU CAN'T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN? According to IMDb, the glimpse of a Warner Oland CHAN poster outside a theater with "LAST DAY!" posted over it was a tribute to Oland, who died during the production of the MOTO film. MORE LORRE LORE: Several years ago I bought the Critic's Classics not-too-classic DVD release of THE LAST MAN ON EARTH specifically because it included as a 'bonus feature' the unaired 1958 pilot of Collector's Item, a proposed series starring Lorre and Vincent Price as globe trotting... antique dealers. My main motivation for wanting to see this was it has an original score by Bernard Herrmann (which has since been released on CD), but I was also curious to see the 'lost' performances by Price and Lorre. Price gives it a good college try and seemed to take the whole business very seriously, but Lorre, possibly sensing this thing was going nowhere, gives a hilarious, and obviously mostly ad-libbed, turn as Price's assistant. Several times during the episode Price seems on the verge of cracking up at Lorre's asides. It's like a warm-up for THE RAVEN. If you're an Andy Milligan fan there's no hope for you.
CherylMorris	Lorre Lore	#17	[-]
Dec 15 07 8:31 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	You'll enjoy reading about Collector's Item in The Lost One. Peter Lorre was actually quite ill during the filming of the pilot episode, "The Left Fist of David". (There was also a second pilot, "Appraise the Lady".) Cheryl
Bill Lydig		#18	[-]
Dec 16 07 8:15 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Have you read the Lorre biography, The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre, by Stephen Youngkin (University Press of Kentucky)? Have you visited the official website, http://www.PeterLorreBook.com? Another recommendation for this wonderful book. I have it and it was a very well written and insightful biography without resorting to the type of unsubstantiated lurid gossip that so many bios of long dead celebs resort to. The author treats Lorre with respect but still points out the problems he dealt with in his life. In other words, he is portrayed as a human being that had great professional success but some struggles with his personal life.
CherylMorris	Comment	#19	[-]
Dec 16 07 11:49 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Another recommendation for this wonderful book. I have it and it was a very well written and insightful biography without resorting to the type of unsubstantiated lurid gossip that so many bios of long dead celebs resort to. The author treats Lorre with respect but still points out the problems he dealt with in his life. In other words, he is portrayed as a human being that had great professional success but some struggles with his personal life. Thank you for your kind words, Bill! If it's ok with you, I would like to pass your review on to Stephen Youngkin, who is always interested in comments on his book. I agree that Stephen treats Peter Lorre with respect. In fact, he wanted to write the kind of book that Peter himself would like. I believe he did. Cheryl
captainmarvel1957		#20	[-]
Dec 17 07 5:23 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I'll never forgive Mr. Moto for disuading John Carradine from taking his photo out of that book of known spies that the bad guys had. What a cold, cold, move for a movie from the 1930's. And what bad judgement for a hero to exhibit. Charlie Chan would never have made that mistake!
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