Thank You, Mr. Moto (1937)

This adventure takes "Moto" (Peter Lorre) to China where he is received by the Prince Chung (Philip Ahn) and discusses the ancient scrolls that his family has held for centuries. These intricately crafted pages might just lead to the tomb of the mighty Genghis Khan which would, of course, contain untold riches. Naturally, the Prince and his mother (Pauline Frederick) have no intention of selling these priceless artefacts, but that might not stop some nefarious scheming from those who care little for the integrity of the ancestors, and who may resort to drastic measures to obtain these vital clues. One such scoundrel is "Col. Tchernov" (Sig Ruman) who doesn't like the rebuff he receives from the Prince. With the battle lines drawn, can "Moto" help keep the family and the documents safe? Lorre is on good form here and the story weaves the respectful culture of the past with the more venal one of the present quite effectively. If I were ever to go into business, then making furniture for Hollywood movies would be one of these gifts that keep on giving as it's smashed, burned, broken and trashed throughout this enjoyably paced story that's suitably light on dialogue and presents us with a solid mystery with nobody sure whom they can trust. The production is basic, but that's all fine - it's all about Lorre doing a good job and he does it fine, here.