Karloff To Create New Screen Detective

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 99, 20 January 1939, Page 14

Karloff To Create New Screen Detective

qpi-lE first of a new series of detecfive stories will shortly be released by British Empire Films when the character James Lee V\ ong, in the person of Boris Karloff, will make his bow in “Mr. Wong, Detective.” Joining the company of Charlie Chan, Mr. Moto, the Saint, Philo Vance, and others. Janies Lee Wong, newest screen sleuth, hails from “Collier’s Magazine,” and is a creation ot Hugh Wiley. James Lee Wong is a native of Sail Francisco, an educated, cultured Chinese. He is a scientific detective, who revels in intricate cases. The more’ baffling the mystery the more intrigued is Mr. Wong.

Monogram has planned four “Wong’ pictures to be released during the 19381939 season. Karloff, long known as the “horror” man, hated this epithet, and has yearned to become identified on the screen with a character who would have other claims to fame than his ability to scare. When Karloff heard of Monogram’s purchase of the “Wong” series he immediately asked Scott'Dunlap, production head, if he might play James Lee Wong, and that very day the contract was signed. It takes him two hours to apply the make-up. ~ “Mr. Wong, Detective,” is the story of a rare poison gas, and the murder of three men who tried to steal its formula. Outstanding ip the cast are Evelyn Brent, Grant M ithers and John St. Polis. “Mr. Wong in Chinatown,” “Mr. Wong at Headquarters,” and “The Mystery of Mr. Wong” are to continue the adventures of the screen’s new sleuth.