Mr. Moto's Gamble

1938
Approved
1h 12m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Peter Lorre, Dick Baldwin, Lynn Bari, Douglas Fowley, and Harold Huber in Mr. Moto's Gamble (1938)

When the #1 heavyweight contender is mysteriously poisoned during a bout, Moto knows that identifying the gambler who placed large bets against him is the key to solving the murder.When the #1 heavyweight contender is mysteriously poisoned during a bout, Moto knows that identifying the gambler who placed large bets against him is the key to solving the murder.When the #1 heavyweight contender is mysteriously poisoned during a bout, Moto knows that identifying the gambler who placed large bets against him is the key to solving the murder.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

829

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Begun as a Charlie Chan film ("Charlie Chan at the Ringside"), but after difficulties between 20th Century-Fox and Chan star Warner Oland, the script was hastily rewritten to accommodate Fox's other Asian sleuth, Mr. Moto. The presence of Chan's son Lee is evidence of the grafting of one movie onto another series. Producer Sol M. Wurtzel specifically ordered the writers to include Keye Luke's character in the revised screenplay. Though it has been reported that Oland's death was the reason for this change from Chan, this was not the case. This film was released theatrically on 3/25/38; Oland died on 8/6/38.

Goofs
While the minimum weight now for a heavyweight is 200lbs, at the time of the film it was 175lbs. Thus when the boxers are announced as 179lbs and 194lbs they are actually over the required minimum weight for their category.

Quotes
Kentaro Moto: To recognize one's faults requires intelligence; to admit them requires courage.

Connections
Featured in Film Breaks: Detectives from the Orient (1999)

User reviews23

Review

Featured review

6/10

Mr. Moto Steps In For Charlie Chan

Mr. Moto (Peter Lorre) investigates a murder during a boxing match, with unwanted help from Charlie's Chan's "Number One Son" Lee (Keye Luke). Most people probably know this, but originally this was intended to be a Charlie Chan film. But when troubled Chan star Warner Oland walked off the set, they reworked the story and turned it into a Moto movie. This explains the appearance of Lee Chan. It also explains why Mr. Moto is less edgy than in his first two films. Here he resemble a more traditional detective like Charlie Chan.

While I love Charlie Chan, Peter Lorre is kind of wasted in this type of role. He's better suited to roles with a little menace to them. Keye Luke is fine but the chemistry and rapport he had with Warner Oland is missing. Also appearing are Harold Huber, Douglas Fowley, and beautiful Lynn Bari -- each no stranger to the Charlie Chan series. In addition, there's Ward Bond, George E. Stone, and Maxie Rosenbloom. Lon Chaney, Jr. has a small part. Given the troubled backstory behind the movie, I'm surprised it turns out as well as it does. But a good cast goes a long way with these old detective movies.