Product Details

• Actors: Boris Karloff, Marjorie Reynolds, Grant Withers, William Stelling, Catherine Craig
• Directors: William Nigh
• Writers: Hugh Wiley, Michael Jacoby, Ralph Gilbert Bettison
• Producers: Paul Malvern, Scott R. Dunlap
• Format: Black & White, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Alpha Video
• DVD Release Date: November 19, 2002
• Run Time: 68 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00007G1TE
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,731 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Doomed to Die" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

From the Actor

Known as the King of Horror for his memorable performances in a series of scary Hollywood Classics, Boris Karloff played several bits and pieces roles before he was finally discovered by the world as the star in Whale’s Frankenstein in 1931. His performance in this classic earned him not only critical acclaim but propelled him into superstardom, making him a movie icon. Karloff’s versatility also brought him non-horror roles, among which The Lost Patrol, House of Rothschild, and West of Shanghai are still remembered. Doomed to Die is one among a series of mystery movies in which Karloff plays the enchanting Chinese detective James Lee Wong.

THE PLOT: Vowing to marry Cynthia Wentworth (Catherine Craig) come what may, Dick Fleming (William Stelling) barges into his future father in law Cyrus P. Wentworth’s (Melvin Lang) office to announce his intentions, when the old man is mysteriously shot dead. Fearing arrest, Dick goes into hiding. The murder brings Police captain Bill Street (Grant Withers) rushing to the scene and Bill wastes little time in pinning the murder on Dick. It is now up to Dick’s friends Bobbie Logan (Marjorie Reynolds) , a street-smart reporter, and the revered private eye James Lee Wong (Boris Karloff) to save him from the electric chair.

Product Description

DOOMED TO DIE - DVD Movie

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You can't go wrong with Wong, August 25, 2004

By 

W. Foo - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doomed to Die (DVD)

Another fine old who-dunnit with Karloff as the great detective. Mr Wong never quite caught on the way Charlie Chan and Mr Moto did. He did have his moments though. His films are well worth a look if you are a fan of these types of mysteries.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another "Wong" Winner!, July 2, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Doomed to Die (DVD)

This is a terrific DVD for the atmosphere, the clever Mr. Wong, This is a B picture, to be sure, shot on a budget, but its great fun as Mr. Wong solves his case. The transfer is very good considering there is no restoration. The sound is very good as well. I love this series and Boris is the man to play the character.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Detective Wong is right again, January 14, 2008

By 

Daniel Jolley "darkgenius" (Shelby, North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Doomed to Die (DVD)

Looking and sounding about as Chinese as I do, Boris Karloff is once again on the case as the irrepressible Detective Wong in 1940's Doomed to Die. I know a lot of people love these Detective Wong movies for Boris Karloff, but I'm actually more partial to Grant Withers' performance as Captain Bill Street, the blustering homicide captain who keeps having his open and shut cases proven quite wrong thanks to the nosy interference of journalist Bobbie Logan (Marjorie Reynolds), with whom Street banters throughout the entire film. Street and Logan are like cinematic professors of sharp and witty repartee, giving the film more than a few moments of humor.

You can hardly blame Captain Street for thinking this particular case basically solved itself. At least three people, including the boy's father, heard Dick Fleming (William Stelling) arguing with shipping magnate Cyrus P. Wentworth (Melvin Lang) in the man's office just seconds before hearing a gunshot and rushing in to see Wentworth fatally wounded - and no sign of Dick Fleming, who obviously fled out the back entrance to the office. The motive for the murder was plain to see as well - Dick had gone to tell Wentworth that he was marrying his daughter Cynthia with or without his blessing, a blessing that Wentworth would never give due to his personal and professional enmity with his main competitor Paul Fleming (Guy Usher). As Street's luck would have it, though, reporter Bobbie Logan just happens to be best friends with Cynthia, and she asks Detective Wong to take a look at the case in hopes of proving Dick's innocence. Wong, of course, quickly discovers that the case is much more complex than it would first appear. He thinks the murder has to be related in some way to the recent loss of Wentworth's flag ship, which burned at sea, especially when he learns that a fortune in bonds was being smuggled into the country on that very ship.

I love Boris Karloff as much as the next guy, and I enjoy watching these Detective Wong mysteries, but they just never seem to rise to the occasion in more than a four-star manner. Without the verbal jousting match between Captain Street and thorn-in-his-side reporter Bobbie Logan, Doomed to Die would probably tend to drag from time to time, especially since Wong tends to keep certain bits of information to himself until the time comes to reveal the identity of the murderer at the very end. Still, this is certainly an enjoyable little crime caper. Even if you buy it strictly for Karloff, you're bound to be entertained by the antics of Grant Withers and Marjorie Reynolds.