A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

MR. MOTO TAKES A CHANCE (20th Century-Fox, 1938), directed by Norman Foster, stars Peter Lorre in the title role of the Japanese sleuth based on the character created by John F. Marquand. For this fourth released installment out of eight, this edition, far from the greatest, has its moments, but many scenes best described as weak. In spite of its purposely slow pacing and lack of any underscoring for suspense build-up or mood tension, MR. MOTO TAKES A CHANGE interestingly was the one with the most revived on commercial television when formerly shown on New York City's WOR, Channel 9 from 1969 to 1977. As much as this being the studio's attempt for another "Charlie Chan" franchise, this short-lived movie series succeeds mostly due to the star presence by non-other than Peter Lorre.Taken from an original story by Norman Foster and Willis Cooper, the plot opens with Victoria Mason (Rochelle Hudson), an aviatrix traveling alone around the world in her private airplane, flying over Cambodia. Once near Tons-Moi, she takes out a flare that sets her plane on fire, thus parachuting to safety before the plane crashes. While in the jungles, Victoria meets with Mr. Moto (Peter Lorre), a Japanese detective on assignment posing as an archaeologist searching for ancient ruins for his museum; Marty Weston (Robert Kent) and Chick Davis (Chick Chandler), a couple of newsreel photographers from Chicago; The Rajah Ali (J. Edward Bromberg), a ruler who intends on making Victoria his next wife; and Boko (George Regas), a high priest who wants all whites out of Asia, and promising a bloody day of deliverance. After Chick obtains some movie footage of the Rajah, a poison dart blown from a blowgun suddenly hits and kills Keema (Gloria Roy), the high priest's wife. The cameramen are accused of the curse and sentenced to be thrown into a well, but are saved by an ancient warrior whose "eyes can see through rocks as well as walls." As Mr. Moto sends out his informative news reports about hidden stored munitions to British Intelligence through the use of carrier pigeons, unknown to him, his birds are being shot in flight with messages read and destroyed by someone aware of Moto's secret mission. Later, Moto, Victoria and the cameramen face danger as they are held prisoners in the temple by Boko and Captain Zimmerman (Fredrick Vogeding), surrounded by high explosives inside and gunshots being fired their direction from the outside.In tradition to the series, some characters in the story have hidden secrets about their identity. For Mr. Moto, whose usually works alone on his assignments, also goes about donning various disguises in the similar manner as Sherlock Holmes. Robert Kent and Chick Chandler as newsreel photographers enact their roles in their pre-Abbott and Costello manner, with the exception that both men are thin rather than the fat and skinny combination. Kent is the romantic type interested in the lady aviatrix (Hudson), a character somewhat inspired by Amelia Earheart, while Chick Chandler is the comedy relief who gets himself in trouble with his antics, ranging from falling into a tiger's pit, to demonstrating tricks to the Rajah, one that involves the Rajah's most precious watch, and so forth.Not shown regularly on commercial television since the 1990s, MR. MOTO TAKE A CHANCE, and other installments in the series, have become available for viewing on DVD. Even at a brief 64 minutes, the film on occasion seems a bit longer than it actually is, but with Lorre's know-how performances that manages to make this a watchable little item. Next released installment: MYSTERIOUS MR. MOTO (1938). (*1/2)

I have recently gotten into watching the Mr. Moto series and what a treat I have discovered. Peter Lorre's diminutive Mr. Moto was an exceptional series. The series was created by the studio to compete with the Charlie Chan series and compete it did even gaining as much popularity as Oland's Charlie Chan. Now, you can't really call Kenjaro Moto, a detective,because, he is an art collector, an archaeologist, an international police person, he is what ever the episode has him being. What he is is entertaining. The soft spoken Moto, has a mean streak in him a mile wide too. No shooting the gun out of the hand of the villain...he shoots to kill. If guy comes at him with a knife...they get it back..MULTIPLE times. Shocking, really, in his ruthlessness and overt violence when dealing with crooks. This particular film has him playing a Nippon Indiana Jones type on a dig. When a female aviator, an Amelia Earhart type, whose a spy, on an around the world trek, deliberately crashes her plane near Moto's Tell. A film crew captures the plane crash on film...while shooting crocodiles in the nearby river. Kind of an interesting scene, rather unique too, one of the characters falls out of the boat in the crocodile infested waters. Of course, they were alligators, but the stunt man was at one end of the canoe and two 'live' alligators were at the other, those bad boys can fly in the water and it took some brave stunt man to hop in there with them.Anyway, the plot involves a revolution in a tiny Asian..Siamish type country that was French controlled. Moto disguises himself as a Tibetan monk guru...and when you see him...you will know, where they came up with the character...Yoda, in the Star Wars series. There was some similarities to the Indiana Jones..Temple of Doom too. Lucas and Spielberg HAD to be watching Mr. Moto sometime. Of course, Moto puts out the mini revolt before it starts, blows up the ammunition dump...after throwing the Rajah down into the powder room..head first. The good guy gets the girl. Moto diffuses a revolution and all live happily ever after. Good cast, crisp direction, back lot adventure of the highest quality. The Mr. Moto series was as popular as Charlie Chan back in the thirties and I can see why. I think Lorre's mean streak, flipping guys all over the place, then killing when he had to was more entertaining than the cerebral Charlie Chan, at times. There was also a nice added feature on the life of Peter Lorre. It also stated why he quit the series...to avoid type casting, to get more and better parts AND get more money. He only was paid $10,000 per episode and there were 8 in all. When he found out Warner Oland was making $40,000 per and they were on par, popularity wise...well...Mr. Moto left to all of our losses. Don't miss any of the Mr. Moto series they are fun viewing and Lorre is a real charmer!

Another reviewer has disparaged this film, indicating that P. L. has a small part and that HE is the sole reason to watch it. Not true.Rochelle Hudson is an important addition to this film. Her performance in this Mr. Moto movie is well worth watching. She is also one of the most beautiful actresses you're ever likely to see.If this movie ever becomes available on DVD, I hope I learn of it--I would gladly purchase same. On the basis chiefly of Rochelle Hudson's contributions, I would rate this film 3 1/2 stars out of 5--or 7 out of 10. Viewers who are real Rochelle Hudson fans might well give it a 9 or a 10.

It's a testament to the popularity of the Moto series that this dreadful botch was even released to theaters. It was, in fact, held back for several months, and it's easy to see why. While the other Moto films featured production and entertainment values considerably above that of the average "B" film, this silly and embarrassingly amateurish entry is barely recognizable as part of the same series, with its lame-brained phony Orientalia and sub-Republic serial story line. Worst of all, Peter Lorre--the only reason to watch a Moto film in the first place--spends an inordinate amount of time either offscreen or muffled in a disguise that's preposterous even for Moto.