Shadow of Chinatown

In this ultra-condensed, 71 minute version of the original 15-part, 440 minute (!) serial, Bela Lugosi plays the maniacal Eurasian mastermind, Victor Poten, who plots to destroy both European and Asian people in Chinatown.

Astonishingly, even after being cut down by 80%, SHADOW OF CHINATOWN is a real chore to watch. Lugosi is his old, reliable self, but there's just not enough plot or action to keep things interesting.

There are other serials starring Lugosi (THE PHANTOM CREEPS, WHISPERING SHADOW) that are far superior to this...

Luana Walters comes to Bela Lugosi with a plan to destroy Chinese merchants and, I guess, take over their businesses. Bruce Bennett -- still called Herman Brix -- and Joan Barclay are their opposition.

The first thing I noticed about this feature version of the serial directed by Robert Hill for Sam Katzman was that the sound seems to have been recorded in an echo chamber by Hans Weeren. His was a name new to me. He was the sound man for 140 movies between 1932 and 1943, when he seems to have died at age 49, or perhaps he was assassinated. If so, I don't approve, but I understand. His list of films is not distinguished by anything except being almost entirely B westerns of which I have never heard.

Given this is Hill directing, I was mildly pleased by the decent movement and speed of editing; even if you could see that the clip of the guy who leaps over a fence begins while he's standing around waiting for his cue, editor Charles Henkel Jr. Seems to have made an effort to cut down the 280 minutes of the serial to a manageable length, and largely succeeded, even though Bennett does not know how to throw a punch. The modern crowd might be pleased that they actually used ethnic Chinese for the appropriate roles. I suspect that is because they were cheaper to hire and make up than otherwise.

Shadow of Chinatown (1936) is actually a 15-part serial but the movie is a condensed/edited version of it. Basically, 15 shows edited to create one movie. I have not seen the serial only this film version.

With the serial being condensed into a movie I'm sure the viewer is missing out on some interesting scenes by watching only the movie version but I feel they did a good job with the movie to cut through the chase and get to the heart and soul of the serial.

I liked this film. It's not the greatest Lugosi film but it's actually a fun crime-drama to watch. Victor Poten (Lugosi) will hypnotize and terrorize the people that get in his way of destroying Chinatown - he is a vengeful madman.

The movie is interesting enough that I would like to watch the the entire 15-part serial. For me it's just to watch Lugosi in something different.

6/10

Feature version of a serial of the same name has Bela Lugosi turning tables on a woman who hired him to help with her evil plans in Chinatown while a reported and her beau hunt down the villains.

One of the few things worse than this movie is the full length serial version. That monstrosity put me to sleep with its wild over length (15 chapters with enough plot for 2) and the same poor production values that make this film just as bad. I've seen almost every sound serial ever made, but the original serial was a chore and a half to get through and I never finished it (its one of the few). I have no idea what possessed me to try the feature version other than, perhaps selective amnesia about the original. Here the story unfolds in approximately one fifth the time but its a hopeless mess with an attempt to get a good portion of the "good bits" into it. Making matters worse is the cheapness of the film, this was an independent production and had a limited budget. There's tons of stock footage, almost no music and a technical quality (especially the sound) thats lacking.

In the "of note" column, and its not really a good thing, is the fact that this stands as one of the worst performances Bela Lugosi ever gave. I'm not even sure its a performance. Even in the final days Bela was never this disconnected to what he was doing. Its mind numbingly awful. Fortunately he's not alone since a good many of the other actors are clearly collecting a pay check not to act. Herman Brix, who would soon change his name to Bruce Bennett and move on to better things does give a performance, even if its phoned in.

Bad film lovers may want to see this on fast forward, but otherwise I'd avoid it at all costs.

"A group of Chinese merchants and importers are the target of a European import firm that uses a beautiful Eurasian girl and a mad scientist as the means to put them out of business. A newspaper reporter and her dashing boyfriend learn of the problems the Chinatown businessmen are dealing with and decide to investigate," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.

"Shadow of Chinatown" is a feature length version of the recently released 15-part serial; its shortened length is a welcome digestion, considering the lack of quality on display.

Super hypnotist Bela Lugosi (as Victor Poten) is more stupefying than hypnotic. Though Mr. Lugosi gets top billing, Bruce Bennett stars (as Martin "Marty" Andrews); and, he is a serviceable serial hero. Joan Barclay and Luana Walters add feminine wiles. The players appear to have blocked their scenes, and know their lines well enough for a quick read through. Mr. Bennett has some good fighting scenes; for example, the one atop a building, with Charles King. There is a semi-cool car chase, with 1930s automobiles and an old "Stop"/"Go" traffic signal.