Two Wongs Don't Make It Right!

Among the Bela Lugosi movies I've never seen until recently was The Mysterious Mr.Wong. This is pretty typical yellow-peril flick with a wiseacre reporter and his gal spelunking in the underworld of Chinatown in pursuit of the vile and mysterious Mr.Wong, a Tong mastermind who is assembling the Twelve Coins of Confucious which tradition says will make him master of his homeland. There are quips and threats and some great pacing in this adventure. Wong's trio of killers are pretty funny sometimes as they plot to kill people, and sometimes very efficient.

Bela plays the title role, and does a double as the benign by-day disguise of a Chinese shopkeeper while becoming his own evil self Mr.Wong by night. The story gives him lots to do, and he does with his usual aplomb. Sadly though the movie is yet another example of a white guy playing an oriental, a nasty habit of Hollywood even today.

Lugosi's name is forever linked with that of Boris Karloff. Karloff too ironically also played a "Mr.Wong" in a series of five movies in which he plays a detective of that name. This is Charlie Chan-like affair with the calm and reserved Mr.Wong being called upon to solve all manner of mysteries, usually with an Asian link of some kind. These are harmless flicks, passably entertaining, and like Lugosi, Karloff brings his professionalism and gravity to the role elevating the whole affair.

But sadly these things can only be elevated so far. And as interesting as both Lugosi and Karloff can be in any roles, it's unfortunate these stereotypes are on their resumes. I know that many will argue that the times were different, and I agree that the movies must be seen through the lens of the day. But that doesn't mean in the light of the modern world that such things should be blithely condoned.

Karloff also played Fu Manchu, and with much effectiveness in an earlier film. I don't hold it against him that he did such a great job in such a role, as I don't hold it against Lugosi. They do what they have to do in these circumstances. It's just a pity that Hollywood considered such material acceptable at all with white players. It speaks of Hollywood and of the audience, and not well.

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