Mr. Wong 5-Film Collection (1938-1940)

[MifuneFan]

Kino will be releasing a 5-Film collection of Mr. Wong films, featuring Boris Karloff on June 20th.

Coming June 20th!
https://www.kinolorber.com/product/m...-doomed-to-die

MR. WONG COLLECTION (1938-1940)
• Brand New HD Masters - From 2K Scan of the Fine Grains
• NEW Audio Commentary for Mr. Wong, Detective by Film Historiand Tom Weaver and Larry Blamire
• Optional English Subtitles

Film legend Boris Karloff (Frankenstein, The Raven, Black Sabbath) commands the role of James Lee Wong, the eminent gentleman-sleuth of the printed page, in five taut tales of mystery and murder for Monogram Pictures and director William Nigh (The Ape). Grant Withers (Goin’ to Town) co-stars as Wong’s fellow case-cracker, the irascible Police Captain Street.

DISC 1:
• Mr. Wong, Detective (1938) — Upon the discovery of a strange glass globe, Mr. Wong delves into the death of a chemical company bigwig. With Maxine Jennings.
• The Mystery of Mr. Wong (1939) — Mr. Wong works to crack the killer riddle of an exquisite gemstone known as the Eye of the Daughter of the Moon. With Dorothy Tree.
• Mr. Wong in Chinatown (1939) — There’s murder in the house of Mr. Wong when death by dart comes to Princess Lin Hwa (Lotus Long). With Marjorie Reynolds.

DISC 2:
• The Fatal Hour (1940) — Mr. Wong tracks the treacherous trail of a corpse to a jewel-smuggling ring on the San Francisco waterfront. With Marjorie Reynolds.
• Doomed to Die a.k.a. Mystery of the Wentworth Castle (1940) — When a shipping magnate is mysteriously shot, Mr. Wong springs into action. With Marjorie Reynolds.

credit to Dailyan

[MifuneFan]

Cover art, and official details added!

[filmlover22]

so the only extra is one commentary on the first film?
a little disappointed, but it still is worth it!

[tangerinewolf]

It's been a while coming, over a year (04/03/2022) since first posted by the KLI, but should be worth the wait!

[AlanClarke]

Excluding Phantom of Chinatown, the only one of these Oriental detective films starring a Chinese actor, the wonderful Keye Luke, is a deal-breaking mistake for me.

[filmlover22]

it is a Karloff Wong collection, not a general Mr. Wong collection, so at least I didn't expect that to be included. Perhaps they will release the Keye Luke one separately.

[AlanClarke]

Originally Posted by filmlover22

it is a Karloff Wong collection, not a general Mr. Wong collection, so at least I didn't expect that to be included. Perhaps they will release the Keye Luke one separately.

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the spine say "Mr Wong Collection"? The KinoLorber site definitely does. It looks to me like they either forgot or deliberately chose to disregard the Keye Luke film. There's absolutely no reason not to include it, at least as an extra which would certainly add tremendous value to the set's almost non-existent special features.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by AlanClarke

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the spine say "Mr Wong Collection"? The KinoLorber site definitely does. It looks to me like they either forgot or deliberately chose to disregard the Keye Luke film. There's absolutely no reason not to include it, at least as an extra which would certainly add tremendous value to the set's almost non-existent special features.

1) There is limited space on the spine. The front cover clearly states in BIG letters that it is a Boris Karloff Mr. Wong Collection:



2) Phantom is presumed to be owned by another studio than the rest. According to CHFB it has been available for streaming on Paramount+, which most likely means it is one of the Monogram pictures controlled by Paramount and would explain why Kino was not able to include it. But hey, don't let that get in the way of your conspiratorial phantasies ...

[kingdoxie]

Originally Posted by AlanClarke

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the spine say "Mr Wong Collection"? The KinoLorber site definitely does. It looks to me like they either forgot or deliberately chose to disregard the Keye Luke film. There's absolutely no reason not to include it, at least as an extra which would certainly add tremendous value to the set's almost non-existent special features.

Karloff’s name is on the cover no less than 6 times. I’m sure the Luke film is good but you come off as having an axe to grind. This level of trolling is usually only found in the Criterion threads.

[darkness2918]

Never seen these but I do like Murder mystery movies so might blind buy the set.

[DavidRoylance]

I am sure that KL did attempt to get the rights to the Keye Luke film but were unable to get it.

[tangerinewolf]

Correct me if I'm wrong, anyone, but I recall the KLI posting that there was some sort of problem concerning the sixth Mr. Wong film starring Keye Luke. Not sure if even if it was with MGM? Anyway, glad to have these five films coming on blu-ray.

[Mikezilla3k]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

. According to CHFB it has been available for streaming on Paramount+, which most likely means it is one of the Monogram pictures controlled by Paramount and would explain why Kino was not able to include it.

Paramount + has been having a couple of PD films on their service for a while now. Doubt it being on there has anything to do with it.

It's probably not included here because the main appeal of these are for Boris.

[captainsolo]

I assumed it might be a potential rights issue like DAUGHTER OF THE DRAGON which meant they couldn't safely include that on their Fu Manchu set.
Still it's a shame this release is one film short of complete.

[AlanClarke]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

1) There is limited space on the spine. The front cover clearly states in BIG letters that it is a Boris Karloff Mr. Wong Collection:



2) Phantom is presumed to be owned by another studio than the rest. According to CHFB it has been available for streaming on Paramount+, which most likely means it is one of the Monogram pictures controlled by Paramount and would explain why Kino was not able to include it. But hey, don't let that get in the way of your conspiratorial phantasies ...

Oh, gee, forgive me for daring to criticise Kino Lorber. I shan't do that anymore lest your profile picture sets me off on another one of my conspiratorial tirades.

Since "Phantom of Chinatown" is one of the best Wong films and the only one starring an Asian actor, I am sorry it's not included and it definitely drops this release off my wishlist. That's all I had to say. I had no idea it was owned by a different company since that didn't stop it from being included on the old DVD box set. But the website and the box set still say "Mr Wong Collection" and there's no mention of the missing sixth film anywhere. Forgive me for being disappointed by Kino Lorber's "inclusivity".

[filmlover22]

I think it all comes down to the last film, while part of the franchise, which is owned by another company .

The confusion is due to Roan's set having the Luke film included, which not only being a good film, also has cultural significance.

Hopefully Kino or another label can pick it up later, and included a commentary or supplements that provides historic context.

[MifuneFan]

There are a lot of possible reasons for Phantom not being included, some more savory than others. Outside of it being a rights issue, it'a also possible the film simply wasn't given a new scan/restoration like the other five. Finally, supposing that rights, nor it being restored were issues, then it's also possible that it simply made more business sense to market the set as a Karloff collection. Doing so allowed them to put Karloff's name, and image big and bold on the front, which would be a little more awkward had the 6th film also been included.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by AlanClarke

Oh, gee, forgive me for daring to criticise Kino Lorber. I shan't do that anymore lest your profile picture sets me off on another one of my conspiratorial tirades.

Since "Phantom of Chinatown" is one of the best Wong films and the only one starring an Asian actor, I am sorry it's not included and it definitely drops this release off my wishlist. That's all I had to say. I had no idea it was owned by a different company since that didn't stop it from being included on the old DVD box set. But the website and the box set still say "Mr Wong Collection" and there's no mention of the missing sixth film anywhere. Forgive me for being disappointed by Kino Lorber's "inclusivity".

It is perfectly alright to be disappointed by Kino not including Phantom of Chinatown.

I think most of us, including myself, would very much have preferred to have it in the set.

What I and a couple of others argue against is the fact that you immediately jump to the conclusion that its exclusion from the set either has to be a) due to Kino's incompetance or b) due to some nefarious and deliberate desire to disregard it, before you even as mush as consider any of the many other valid reasons there could be for it not to be included

[SanCarolina59]

Per the KLI on the Kino thread back when this got announced, they tried to get Phantom Of Chinatown on the set as well, but it was apparently not legally cleared to be included in the set.

Originally Posted by Kino Lorber Insider

We tried to include the Keye Luke one, but it's not legally cleared for home video release, at least not by MGM.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by filmlover22

so the only extra is one commentary on the first film?
a little disappointed, but it still is worth it!

I was hoping for some good contextual featurettes. 40$ (on the KL website) is a a good sum for for a 2-disc release, but that houses 5 movies. Hmm, pre-order or wait for a sale?