Mysterious_Mr._Moto Knowpia

Mysterious Mr. Moto
Mysterious Mr. Moto
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Norman Foster
Screenplay by	Philip MacDonald; Norman Foster
Based on	Mr. Moto; novel series; by John P. Marquand
Produced by	Sol M. Wurtzel
Starring	Peter Lorre; Mary Maguire; Henry Wilcoxon; Erik Rhodes
Cinematography	Virgil Miller
Edited by	Norman Colbert
Music by	Samuel Kaylin
Distributed by	Twentieth Century-Fox
Release date	September 1938
Running time	63 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Mysterious Mr. Moto, produced in 1938 by Twentieth Century Fox, is the fifth in a series of eight films starring Peter Lorre as Mr. Moto.^[1]

The film is based on the character of Mr. Moto created by John P. Marquand, from an original screenplay by Philip MacDonald and Norman Foster.

It was originally known as Mysterious Mr. Moto of Devil's Island.

Plot edit

A daring escape from the French penal colony on Devil's Island by Mr. Moto, pretending to be Ito Matsuka, a Japanese murderer, and Paul Brissac, who belongs to a group of assassins. Brissac changes his name to Romero when they arrive in London and Moto stays on as his houseboy.

Moto then uncovers a plot to assassinate pacifist industrialist Anton Darvak.

Cast edit

Peter Lorre as Mr. Kentaro Moto
Mary Maguire as Ann Richman
Henry Wilcoxon as Anton Darvak
Erik Rhodes as David Scott-Frensham
Harold Huber as Ernst Litmar
Leon Ames as Paul Brissac (alias Romero)
Forrester Harvey as George Higgins
Fredrik Vogeding as Gottfried Brujo
Lester Matthews as Sir Charles Murchison
John Rogers as Sniffy
Karen Sorrell as Lotus Liu

Production edit

Henry Wilcoxon replaced Michael Whalen in the cast.^[2] It was an early Hollywood role for Australian actor Mary Maguire.^[3]

Filming took place in March and April 1938, shortly after completion of Mr Moto's Gamble.^[4]

During filming Peter Lorre, as Moto, impersonated a seventy-year-old German painter.^[5]

Reception edit

The film was released in May 1938. The Los Angeles Times praised the "exciting action".^[6] It arrived in New York in September.^[7]

Home media edit

This film, along with Think Fast, Mr. Moto, Thank You, Mr. Moto and Mr. Moto Takes a Chance, was released on DVD in 2006 by 20th Century Fox as part of The Mr. Moto Collection, Volume One.

References edit

^ "NEWS OF THE SCREEN: George Arliss Will Appear in 'Suez' at 20th CenturyFox-Donald O'Connor Gets Role in Crosby Film Other Items at Fox Coast Scripts Of Local Origin". New York Times. March 12, 1938. p. 13.
^ "RICHARD DIX CAST FOR 'GROUND CREW': To Star in Picture Which RKO Will Make One of Its More Impressive Productions DICK POWELL GETS ROLE Will Appear in 'The Hottentot'-'Start Cheering' Opens at Rialto Here This Morning Frances Farmer Replaced Coast Scripts Of Local Origin". New York Times. March 16, 1938. p. 21.
^ HEDDA HOPPER (April 7, 1938). "In Hollywood". The Washington Post. p. X26.
^ "Nationalities Vary On 'Mr. Moto' Set". The Washington Post. April 19, 1938. p. X10.
^ "Age Moto 40 Years In 20 Minutes". The Washington Post. May 8, 1938. p. TT4.
^ von Blon, Katherine T. (May 28, 1938). ""CHAPERONED BY THREE" NOVEL, INTERESTING PLAY". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
^ "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD". New York Times. September 17, 1938. p. 20.