Mr. Moto in Danger Island (1939)
1h 4m | PG-13
In Puerto Rico to investigate a glut of contraband diamonds that are flooding the world's jewel market, Mr. Moto and his sidekick, a wrestler, find themselves involved in murders by thrown daggers, the frame-up of an overstressed Army colonel, and a pirate gang led by an unknown boss who has inside knowledge of the ensuing investigation.
Director: Herbert I. Leeds
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Action
Video: 720p
Cast
Peter Lorre
as Kentaro Moto
Warren Hymer
as Twister McGurk
Amanda Duff
as Joan Castle
Robert Lowery
as Lt. George Bentley
Leon Ames
as Commissioner Madero
Jean Hersholt
as Mr. Sutter
Reviews
This last but one outing for Peter Lorre in the title role is a really lacklustre affair with precious little for either us, to him, to sink our teeth into. Our contemplative detective is despatched to Puerto Rico to investigate a diamond smuggling racket that cost his predecessor his life. En route he bests and befriends the nice but dim wrestler "McGurk" (Warren Hymer - whom I could have sworn was Ward Bond) and so acquires quite an useful bodyguard as his task becomes positively dangerous. Sadly, though, the infiltration and exposure elements of the story are quite weak, and the opportunities for "Moto" to use his celebrated cerebral skills are sparse. It's engaging enough to watch, though, just a shade on the predicable side.