lugonian MR. MOTO'S LAST WARNING (20th Century-Fox, 1939), directed and scripted by Norman Foster, is regarded either the second best to the earlier THANK YOU, MR. MOTO (1937), or at least hailed as one of the better products in the eight film series starring the one and only Peter Lorre in the title role. Based on the character "Mr. Moto" created by John P. Marquand, where the Kentaro Moto character is best described in the film as "Nationality, Japanese. Age, 35-40. Short. Ju-jitsu expert. Uses various disguises. Adept at magic. Usually works alone. Has been known to use doubles," what really works here is the fine cast of supporting players, namely those familiar names Ricardo Cortez and George Sanders, along with John Carradine and the lesser known Virginia Field making return engagements in the series, both assuming different character roles from earlier entries.On the Valkin vessel bound for Port Said, an assortment of passengers are introduced: Madame Delacour (Margaret Irving) and her six-year- old daughter, Marie (Joan Carol); the French accented Eric Norvel (George Sanders); Rollo Van Debass (Robert Coote), a novelist and buffoon Englishman; and Mr. Moto (Teru Shimada) of the International Police. It is revealed that Norvel is being spied upon by the famed Japanese detective, with Captain Hawkins (Leyland Hodgson) secretly filling Norvel with details about Mr. Moto. After the boat docks, Moto encounters a Japanese man, the real Mr. Moto (Peter Lorre) who passes him a Japanese written message to keep watching Norvel. After going through customs and into the streets, Norvel drives by and offers the fake Mr. Moto a ride to the Hotel Khedive, turning out to be Moto's final destination. With "Mr. Moto" out of the way, the real Mr. Moto must act as well as keeping his identity secret. As Moto keeps close tabs on Norvel, he also watches a ventriloquist act performed by Fabian the Great (Ricardo Cortez) and his prize dummy, Albert, at the Sultana Theater Music Hall. Also in the audience is Danford (John Carradine), known only to Moto as Richard Burke, British Agent S-14, also on assignment to foil a dynamiting plot of the French fleet at the entrance of the Suez Canal that's to disrupt Franco-British diplomat relations. With Mr. Moto posing as Mr. Hykoroki, a shopkeeper at an antique shop of Oriental treasures located across the street from a pub called Connie's Place (owned by Connie Foster (Virginia Field), a woman with a shady past and Fabian's assistant of six years), Moto meets with some near death experiences along the way, but nothing as deadly as coming face to face with its dangerous ring leader.In the tradition of the initial two entries, MR. MOTO'S LAST WARNING is simply 71 minute of fast-paced action and lots of guessing. With the use of the Mr. Moto impersonator fails, the real Moto traditionally goes through measures of disguises, one as a juggler, another as a shopkeeper speaking in Japanese dialect. Near death experiences occur with one tense moment revolving around a ticking bomb hidden inside Moto's shop only moments before it's set to explode. Moto even does some underwater Tarzan-type diving and swimming as he attempts to rescue a victim thrown over and left to drown while tied inside a sack, and to foil a bombing attempt on the French fleet almost simultaneously. There's one moment of unpleasantness where one of the agents is left to die through suffocation while trapped underwater inside a diving bell with no method of escape. Among the villains, Ricardo Cortez comes off best as the most deadly, killing his victims with no remorse. His ventriloquist act is reminiscent to Erich Von Stroheim's performance in THE GREAT GABBO (1929) where he not only performs with his dummy, but converses and treats it as if he were human. Others featured in the cast include: E.E. Clive (The Port Commandant General); Holmes Herbert (Bentham); John Davidson (Hakim); and briefly, Bert Roach (The Hotel Clerk).For being the first 1939 release, MR. MOTO'S LAST WARNING gives every indication of this being both a withheld release and one not released to theaters in the chronological order of production. Possibly produced and filmed late 1937 or early 1938, aside from George Sanders' name listed fifth in the cast as opposed to third, and that Sanders, Peter Lorre, Virginia Field and Joan Carol having already been featured opposite Dolores Del Rio in LANCER SPY (1937), there's further evidence revealing its earlier production being out of date by 1939 standards during a movie house sequence with the marque reading, "Charlie Chan in Honolulu" with Warner Oland. Due to Oland's passing in mid 1938, "Charlie Chan in Honolulu" eventually did go into general release by year's end, but starring Sidney Toler as the new Chan.Unlike the other Moto entries, MR. MOTO'S LAST WARNING became the only one in the series to fall into public domain, and only one in the series readily available on video cassette from various distributors dating back to the 1980s. Two decades later, this and other Moto escapade, became available on DVD with some informative profiles about the series as part of the extras on individual discs. Television revivals for MR. MOTO'S LAST WARNING during the cable and home video era of the 1980s were often broadcast on public or independent television stations through the 1990s before turning up on cable television, most currently on Turner Classic Movies where it premiered October 29, 2004. With Mr. Moto's Last Warning not completely his last, next release in the series: MR. MOTO IN DANGER ISLAND (1939) (***)

gftbiloxi As originally created by author John P. Marquand, Moto was an icy and distinctly lethal Japanese agent; 20th Century Fox, which had earlier created the extremely popular Charlie Chan series, toned down his more deadly qualities, cast German actor Peter Lorre in the role, and between 1937 and 1939 made eight films featuring the character. Although they did not really challenge the Chan films, they were popular in their own right, and it was not until American sentiment began to turn against the Japanese that 20th Century Fox dropped the character.Made in 1939, MR. MOTO'S LAST WARNING is the sixth film in the series, and it finds Moto (Lorre) working to foil an attempt to set the English and French against each other by blowing up the French fleet as it enters an English-controlled canal in the middle east. Although the film has a slow start, it is graced with a gifted cast that includes George Sanders, John Carradine, and Ricardo Cortez, and it soon comes up a snappy pace and proves unexpectedly watchable.Over the years the Chan films have drawn considerable condemnation from Chinese Americans due to the fact that Chan was never played by an Asian actor; somewhat curiously, the Moto films have escaped the same degree of politically-correct derision. This is all the more odd because Lorre is even less of Japanse than Oland and Toler were Chinese. Even so, Lorre is always interesting to watch, and his unexpected physicality (Moto is a master of judo) drives the film remarkably well.MR. MOTO'S LAST WARNING is the only film in the series presently in public domain, a circumstance that seems more accidental than intentional. The Alpha release is very much in line with that: the picture is shaky, particularly in the opening segments, and the sound is quite weak. Fans of the series would do better to go with the series editions now in release through 20th Century Fox--but no matter which copy you lay hands on, you'll find the film an enjoyable bit of flyweight fun. Recommended to fans of 1930s mysteries, thrillers, and espionage movies.GFT, Amazon Reviewer

maksquibs In the long line of 'politically incorrect' Hollywood racial casting, Hungarian born Peter Lorre's Mr Moto is probably the least in need of historical/cultural apologies to facilitate our enjoyment of the eight dandy pics he made as the polite, but not quite knowable Japanese detective. This one is a particularly good outing as Lorre/Moto benefits from regular helmer Norman Foster's visual flair and his original storyline which has George Sanders & Ricardo Cortez plotting to disrupt joint Naval maneuvers between France & England @ Port Said, Egypt. Darkly handsome lensing from Virgil Miller (who brought similar chiaroscuro refinement to some of the Universal Basil Rathbone/Sherlock Holmes series), an unexpectedly nasty edge of perverse violence (watch for John Carradine's grim exit), and cleverly integrated Music Hall elements add a nice kick to the proceedings. Even the obligatory comic relief is tightly woven into the narrative fabric. Moto Rules.

zsenorsock The print I saw of this film was grainy and dark, but I still enjoyed seeing Lorre as Mr.Moto again. The film's highlights include Moto showing off his jujitsu, foiling saboteurs, and the early underwater photography. I also found very interesting Robert Coote's impression of Harold Lloyd as he played the awkward Venable. It's really good. At times Coote seems to be channeling Lloyd to the point where you wonder whether Harold didn't take legal action. In any case, this distraction makes him much less irritating than many detective's comedy sidekicks.Also quite interesting: the ending of this film is very tongue in cheek and anticipates almost the exact same ending in the Hope-Crosby vehicle "Road to Rio" shot ten years later.