Customer Reviews

Mr. Moto Collection: Volume 2 (Mr. Moto's Gamble / Mr. Moto in Danger Island / Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation / Mr. Moto's Last Warning)

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Volume 2 of Fox's Mr. Moto series has finally been released, and after years of viewing battered second-generation prints, the results are little short of breathtaking. I almost think that the films didn't even look this good in original release. Two of the films in this set, MR. MOTO'S GAMBLE and MR. MOTO IN DANGER ISLAND, have always been among my favorites in the series, and to see them in such pristine shape almost brought a tear to my eye. The set also includes some very informative featurettes, as well as the trailers for five of the eight films. Considering the fact that Fox waited for so long to release this series on video (remember, with the exception of one film, MR. MOTO'S LAST WARNING, they never even made it out on VHS), the fact that the whole series is now availible and been treated with such loving care is a cause for celebration. As with the first volume, this is highly recommened.

A must for Peter Lorre fans -- the 2nd and final 4-disc box set of Mr Moto films with Peter Lorre as the Japanese secret agent. Compared with the Volume 1 set, the films here are generally weaker in quality in their story lines although I would suspect that the quality of the prints to be excellent.

"Mr Moto's Gamble" was actually intended to be a Charlie Chan film, "Charlie Chan at the Ringside." However, Warner Oland, who played Charlie Chan, walked off the set one day during its production to visit his mother in Sweden and died there. Much of the film, with Keye Luke as Chan's
Number One son Lee and ex-fighter Max 'Slapsie Maxie' Rosenbloom, was salvaged and reworked as the new Mr. Moto film.

"Mr Moto's Last Warning" has a brief reference to Warner Oland and the film "Charlie Chan in Honoloulu" although it was Sidney Toler who stared in this film (his first Chan film) following Oland's death. This is probably a hidden tribute to Oland and the film he would have made if he were still alive.

Also included is the 1965 film bomb "Return of Mr Moto" with Henry Silva.

It is also anticipated that there will be several interesting featurettes, or documentary extras, as there were in Volume 1.

Howard Berlin
Author of:
The Complete Mr. Moto Film Phile: A Casebook
The Charlie Chan Film Encyclopedia
Charlie Chan's Words of Wisdom

With the release of Mr. Moto Collection Vol. 2, I can officially retire a 27-year-old VHS tape which contained my only recording of "Mr. Moto's Gamble." While it is probably not considered by most Moto fans to be the best entry in the series, it has always been my favorite. Aside from the appearance of Keye Luke as Lee Chan (in what was originally slated to be "Charlie Chan at the Ringside") and Maxie Rosenbloom as "Knockout," it's fun to pick out the lapses in continuity between the original Chan footage and new footage shot for the Moto release. Most notable is how the character, Nick Crowder, the gambler, changes wardrobe during the first boxing match! He walks in wearing a light-colored fedora and heavy woolen grey topcoat, yet in close up reaction shots, he appears to be wearing a black bowler hat and plaid suit, and then changes back again!

"Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation" is another favorite from the series with Moto pitted against the evil secret agent known as Metaxa. Good cloak and dagger stuff which works well in spite of the insufferable British comic-relief that they saddled Mr. Moto with in several of the features.

As in Volume 1, this set is rich with special features giving new insight into the Moto character; his creator, J.P. Marquand; and much more.

Thank you 20th Century Fox for realizing that those old classic B movies are loved and worth restoring.

The prints of these films are marvelously clear and complete. It is easy to see why Mr. Moto was so popular in the late 1930's. The stories are light-weight, but it is obvious that the producers and directors worked hard to make them look good. Like the Charlie Chan series, Mr. Moto films are filled with the great character actors we all recognize. In these 4 films we see Maxie Rosenblum, Dick Lane, Leon Ames, Recardo Cortez, John Carradine, George Sanders, Lionel Atwell and a truly fun performance by J. Carrol Nash as a particularly nasty Indian henchman.

The stories are full of spies and murderers who succumb to the efforts of the tenacious Mr. Moto. Of course there is always a scene where he gets to display his mastery of Ju-Jitsu. With Mr. Moto, crime is both a physical and mental sport.

In addition each film has featurettes which gives insights into the Mr. Moto character and films. Especially interesting was "Mr. Moto meets Mr. Chan, the making of Mr. Moto's Gamble."

This is an outstanding restoration of the classic detective's movies.
If you are a Peter Lorre fan, you will love them. If you are not a Peter Lorre fan, you will become one.

The Mr. Moto series is an excellent group of adventure/detective movies. Peter Lorre's characterization as Mr. Moto and a fine supporting cast elevates these movies above the usual "B" detective movies.

The restoration of these films by Twentieth Century Fox is excellent. The picture quality of this set(and its companion set) are far superior to the public domain versions of these films.

Please consider two (2) other related purchases (not to mention to other volume of Mr. Moto films) to become an expert fan of Mr. Moto and Peter Lorre. Howard Berlin has written a concise and well-organized overview of the Mr. Moto series, The Complete Mr. Moto Phile: A Casebook. This softcover book is available for approximately $[...] from Amazon.com. Stephen Youngkin has written a book on Peter Lorre, The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre. Youngkin's book is one of the most comprehensive and best researched biographes of a Hollywood star - it is a a treasure trove of information about Peter Lorre. This hardcover book is available for approximately [...]from Amazon.com. I gained a greater appreciation for Peter Lorre's acting talents in the Mr. Moto series after I read both of these books. Please review the Amazon.com reviews for these books!

The Complete Mr. Moto Film Phile: A Casebook

The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre

Peter Lorre was an under-rated actor and deserved far better roles than Mr. Moto. However Mr. Moto is greater than it might have been due to Lorre's acting. This deserves to be seen by lovers of adventure, spy and detective films. Forget any flaws while viewing them as they are minor. The edgy perfomances of Lorre, who could play maniacal characters with aplomb is a must for film fans. You should watch everything Lorre did up to 1952. You will be glad you did.

I've been looking for Mr. Moto for the last 20 years? They don't show them on tv anymore, and I could not find them on the internet. So, it seems they needed restoration and it was worth the wait. I am savoring every moment of this work. Thank you, Mr. Lorre, for your gift to us.

I purchased both volumes. Mr. Moto with Peter Lorre. On this one, my favorite movie is Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation. The restoration is beautiful, and each movie dvd has extra content, background, informative.

Absolutely a must if you are a Moto fan! The best reproductions ever! I have copies from several sources of the Mr. Moto films. These are highly superior to all my other copies. Don't miss this collection! I give it my highest recommendation.

IF YOU'RE BUYING THE MISTER MOTO FILMS, IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE IN FOR. THEREFORE THE ONLY PERTINENT QUESTIONS ARE HOW THEY LOOK, SOUND, ETC. THEY ARE VISUALLY VERY CLEAR AND THE SOUND IS QUIET. IF YOU LIKE CLASSIC BLACK & WHITE DETECTIVE MYSTERYS, YOU WILL LIKE THESE. THEY SEEM TO BE COMPLETE AS OPPOSED TO HAVING BEEN CUT FOR TV. I'VE ONLY WATCHED 3 SO FAR, BUT SO FAR THEY PLAY FINE AND ARE QUITE ENTERTAINING.