This isn't exactly the deepest or most politically correct film, but it sure is silly old-fashioned fun. This is a prime example of a Saturday morning B-type movie, though its production values are a little better than average, since it's made by a larger studio.
The first thing you will probably notice when you see the movie is that many of the Chinese in this movie, and ALL of the main actors, are Caucasians--so, those who have strong "politically correct" tendencies, you MIGHT want to find a different picture to watch. I agree that it's sad to see people such as Boris Karloff and Myrna Loy playing Chinese people in this film, but unfortunately, it WAS the norm for this era. Apart from Keye Luke playing "#1 son" in CHARLIE CHAN pictures, Chinese people rarely played lead actors. Such ridiculous celebrities as Katherine Hepburn(!!!), Walter Huston, Sidney Toler, Louise Ranier and Paul Muni played Chinese people--and did so VERY unconvincingly.
Now, apart from all this, the movie is pretty good, though not great. Despite having Boris Karloff, this really isn't a horror film and is a pretty much average performance from him. However, this still IS a good thing as his movies almost always are entertaining fun and this film is no exception.
The first thing you will probably notice when you see the movie is that many of the Chinese in this movie, and ALL of the main actors, are Caucasians--so, those who have strong "politically correct" tendencies, you MIGHT want to find a different picture to watch. I agree that it's sad to see people such as Boris Karloff and Myrna Loy playing Chinese people in this film, but unfortunately, it WAS the norm for this era. Apart from Keye Luke playing "#1 son" in CHARLIE CHAN pictures, Chinese people rarely played lead actors. Such ridiculous celebrities as Katherine Hepburn(!!!), Walter Huston, Sidney Toler, Louise Ranier and Paul Muni played Chinese people--and did so VERY unconvincingly.
Now, apart from all this, the movie is pretty good, though not great. Despite having Boris Karloff, this really isn't a horror film and is a pretty much average performance from him. However, this still IS a good thing as his movies almost always are entertaining fun and this film is no exception.