THANK YOU, MR. MOTO (20th Century-Fox, 1937), directed by Norman Foster, stars Peter Lorre in the title role of Kentaro Moto best described as "venture explorer and soldier of fortune," but actually a Japanese confidential investigator who "wherever he shows up, something always happens." Following its initial entry, THINK FAST, MR. MOTO (1937), this second installment overall, is quite good, in fact, the best in the entire series of eight. After viewing it, it's easy to see why.Based on the story by its creator, John P. Marquand, with original screenplay by Norman Foster and Wallis Cooper, the plot opens in the Great Gobi Desert in China where Mr. Moto (Peter Lorre), disguised as a Mongolian camel driver, immediately suspecting his life to be in danger. His hunch is right after nearly getting hoofed by a horse rider in the windy desert sands, and later finding a mysterious figure entering his tent with intent to kill. In Peiping, Mr. Moto is discovered holding a secret document, leading to a merry chase through the city streets before making it to his hotel room (Number 303) to his manservant, Wing (Chester Gan), and pet cat. After removing his disguise, Moto arrives to a garden party of various guests, including Thomas Nelson (Thomas Beck), a young American; Eleanor Joyce (Jayne Reagan) from California who's preparing to author a book about Chinese art; Colonel Tchernov (Sig Rumann) and his wife (Nedda Harrigan); and guests of honor of Chinese nobility, Madame Chung (Pauline Frederick) and her son, Prince Chung (Philip Ahn). The once quite wealthy Chungs are learned to be the only remaining members of twelve generations to possess six of the seven scrolls to be the key to the hidden treasure of Genghis Khan. Later, Colonel Tchernov, demanding to get the scrolls from Prince Chung at gunpoint, is later found dead. Learning the value of the missing scroll, Mr. Moto assists Prince Chung in helping with its whereabouts, tracing it to the antique shop of Mr. Pereira (John Carradine, in fine characterization). The antique dealer soon becomes a murder victim himself before he could reveal to Mr. Moto how he was able to acquire the actual missing scroll. Moto, now in possession of the seventh scroll, must outwit its ringleader, Eric Koerger (Sidney Blackmer), and his henchmen, to prevent all seven scrolls from getting into the wrong hands of treasure hunters who will stop at nothing, including murder, to obtain it.Naturally, Peter Lorre, the master of many disguises, is the whole show here. Lorre's fine characterization certainly indicates how he was born for the role for which he's letter perfect. The film also finds time for occasional humor, abductions, chases, shootings, fight scenes, as well as surprising elements that classify THANK YOU, MR. MOTO as least typical yet with enough fast-pace entertainment during its 67 minutes to go around. Thomas Beck and Sig Rumann, who previously co-starred in THINK FAST, MR. MOTO, return in different character roles. William Von Brincken (Schneider); John Bleifer (Ivan); and Gino Corrado are others who also appear in the supporting cast.The possibility of those ranking THANK YOU, MR. MOTO as the best in the series might have been the reason for it to have been the first one chosen over the seven other "Mr Moto" films for its themed subject matter of "Asian Images on Film" on Turner Classic Movies, where it premiered June 10, 2008. For anyone who's yet to see this and/or any other of the Lorre/Moto movie episodes, would have a great opportunity to say "Thank You, Mr. Moto" or 20th Century-Fox Home Entertainment for that matter, after obtaining all eight in the series (1937-1939) available on DVD. Next installment: MR. MOTO'S GAMBLE (1938) (*** scrolls)

I do like the "yellow-face" movies of the thirties and forties. Yellow-face is a white man or woman, playing an Asian. Sometimes it is offensive and sometimes it is done with surprising sensitivity.Thank You, Mr. Moto is one of the latter films. Moto is, on the one hand, capable of cold-blooded murder,if the victim is sufficiently bad. On the other hand, he is capable of giving up a fortune to keep a promise. He can be at once menacing and charming. Very much like the Saint in the first of the Saint series of movies.Peter Lorre is charismatic in this flick. He, like Karloff, played the role of Asian detective without embarrassing accent, just a little makeup to make the eyes narrower and that's about it.This is the best one of the Moto series I've seen so far.

I thoroughly enjoy B movies series and the Mr. Moto series is among my favorites. This entry involves a treasure map which can be completed when seven ancient scrolls are brought together; this map leads to the tomb and treasure of Genghis Khan. Mr. Moto is a very physical detective and dispatches his adversaries quickly and without compunction. The story is one not only of adventure but honor, courage and loyalty to old friends. The cast is a strong one with Sidney Blackmer as the villain, John Carradine as the oily and dishonest antiques dealer, Pereira (since Pereira is a common Portuguese name and the character calls the men señor, it's likely that the character is Portuguese), Philip Ahn as Moto's good friend Prince Chang and Pauline Frederick as Madame Chang (given her earlier illustrious career in movies and on the stage, it's a bit sad that her last movie was in a B film). As usual, Thomas Beck plays an affable young man. However, he does have quite the screen presence and it's a surprise he didn't have more of a movie career. Richard Loo has an uncredited role as a police officer (although Chinese, Loo very often played Japanese officers and villains in WW II movies) Peter Lorre does a great job as Moto and that with the great production values and solid cast, makes this a movie a winner.

I love the Mr. Moto series. My favorite is the first, Think Fast, Mr. Moto, but this second in the series comes a close second. Mr.Moto has been tasked (by whom we don't know) to locate the treasure of Genghis Kahn. His good friend Prince Chung is a descendant of Kahn, and cares for 5 (one was stolen) scrolls that, when put together with the remaining two, reveal the location of the tomb of Genghis Kahn, and within it, a vast treasure.Considering how Japanese/Chinese relations were at the time, the friendship of Moto and Chung is perhaps unusual, but its very touching.John Carradine does a lovely turn as the slimy antique dealer Parera, Thomas Beck is the usual boyish hero in love with the girl. Philip Ahn is quite good as Prince Chung. Why his mother was played by Pauline Frederick instead of a Chinese woman I do not know, but she did quite a good job in her last movie.Quite a few Chinese actors had walk ons in this movie, and the Chinese police are shown in a good light - they too are anxious to stop the smuggling of art objects.It's fast paced, it's fun, I recommend it.