Mr. Moto in Danger Island (1939)
In Puerto Rico to investigate a glut of contraband diamonds that are flooding the world's jewel market, Mr. Moto and his sidekick, a wrestler, find themselves involved in murders by thrown daggers, the frame-up of an overstressed Army colonel, and a pirate gang led by an unknown boss who has inside knowledge of the ensuing investigation.
- Herbert I. Leeds
- William Forsyth
- John W. Vandercook
- John P. Marquand
- George Bricker
- John Reinhardt
- Peter Milne
Rating: 7/10 by 17 users
Alternative Title:
Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 01 hour 04 minutes
Budget: $0
Revenue: $0
Plot Keyword: rescue, puerto rico, murder, shootout, whodunit, dagger, private detective, black stereotype, framed for murder, red herring, knife murder, intelligence agent, outlaw gang, japanese man, police department, army colonel, abduction, diamond smugglers, swamp hideout, colonial governor, feigned illness, launch pursuit, asian man, pro wrestlers
This last but one outing for Peter Lorre in the title role is a really lacklustre affair with precious little for either us, to him, to sink our teeth into. Our contemplative detective is despatched to Puerto Rico to investigate a diamond smuggling racket that cost his predecessor his life. En route he bests and befriends the nice but dim wrestler "McGurk" (Warren Hymer - whom I could have sworn was Ward Bond) and so acquires quite an useful bodyguard as his task becomes positively dangerous. Sadly, though, the infiltration and exposure elements of the story are quite weak, and the opportunities for "Moto" to use his celebrated cerebral skills are sparse. It's engaging enough to watch, though, just a shade on the predicable side.
