James Lee Wong, known simply as Mr. Wong, is a fictional Chinese-American detective created by Hugh Wiley (1884–1968).[1] Mr. Wong appeared in twenty magazine stories and a film series of six, the first five of which starred English actor Boris Karloff as Wong, the last with Chinese-American actor Keye Luke in the role, the first Asian lead.
In his story "No Witnesses", Wiley describes Mr. Wong as six feet tall, educated at Yale University and "with the face of a foreign devil-a Yankee".[2] In the stories he is an agent of the United States Treasury Department and lives in San Francisco.
The Mr. Wong character was featured in a series of films for Monogram Pictures. The first five starred Boris Karloff and directed by William Nigh. All the films co-starred Grant Withers as Wong's friend, Police Captain Street. Karloff also played the Chinese character Dr. Fu Manchu in The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932) and General Wu Yen Fang, in West of Shanghai (1937), just prior to the first Mr. Wong.
The sixth film featured Chinese-American actor Keye Luke in the title role, the first time an American sound film used an Asian actor to play a lead Asian detective. Luke had formerly played one of Charlie Chan's sons in the Chan mysteries and Kato in The Green Hornet 1939 serial. In the prequel of the Mr. Wong series, the young "Jimmy Wong" (Luke) was introduced to Police Captain Street, whom Karloff's character worked with in the previous films. A 1940 article, Keye Luke Sleuths on his Own, in the Hollywood Citizen News, announced that Luke had been signed for four Mr. Wong pictures a year.[4] However, due to Karloff's departure, exhibitors lost interest and the series ended.[5]
wong, fictional, detective, james, wong, known, simply, wong, fictional, chinese, american, detective, created, hugh, wiley, 1884, 1968, wong, appeared, twenty, magazine, stories, film, series, first, five, which, starred, english, actor, boris, karloff, wong,. James Lee Wong known simply as Mr Wong is a fictional Chinese American detective created by Hugh Wiley 1884 1968 1 Mr Wong appeared in twenty magazine stories and a film series of six the first five of which starred English actor Boris Karloff as Wong the last with Chinese American actor Keye Luke in the role the first Asian lead James Lee WongFirst appearanceMedium Well DoneLast appearanceThe Room of DeathCreated byHugh WileyPortrayed byBoris KarloffKeye LukeIn universe informationGenderMaleOccupationDetectiveNationalityChinese American Contents 1 Description 2 Short stories 3 Films 4 Comics 5 Notes 6 See also 7 External linksDescription editIn his story No Witnesses Wiley describes Mr Wong as six feet tall educated at Yale University and with the face of a foreign devil a Yankee 2 In the stories he is an agent of the United States Treasury Department and lives in San Francisco Short stories editStory title Release date Publisher Collected Medium Well Done 1934 Collier s 3 Murder by the Dozen The Thirty Thousand Dollar Bomb In Chinatown No Ten Bells Murder by the Dozen Long Chance A Ray of Light 1935 Too Much Ice No Jaybird s Chance Murder by the Dozen Scorned Woman Three Words No Witnesses 1936 Seven of Spades Hangman s Knot 1937 No No Smoking The Eye of Heaven 1938 The Bell from China Murder by the Dozen The Feast of Kali The Heart of Kwan Yin 1940 No Footwork The Room of Death Films editThe Mr Wong character was featured in a series of films for Monogram Pictures The first five starred Boris Karloff and directed by William Nigh All the films co starred Grant Withers as Wong s friend Police Captain Street Karloff also played the Chinese character Dr Fu Manchu in The Mask of Fu Manchu 1932 and General Wu Yen Fang in West of Shanghai 1937 just prior to the first Mr Wong The sixth film featured Chinese American actor Keye Luke in the title role the first time an American sound film used an Asian actor to play a lead Asian detective Luke had formerly played one of Charlie Chan s sons in the Chan mysteries and Kato in The Green Hornet 1939 serial In the prequel of the Mr Wong series the young Jimmy Wong Luke was introduced to Police Captain Street whom Karloff s character worked with in the previous films A 1940 article Keye Luke Sleuths on his Own in the Hollywood Citizen News announced that Luke had been signed for four Mr Wong pictures a year 4 However due to Karloff s departure exhibitors lost interest and the series ended 5 Film title Star Director Released Distributor NotesMr Wong Detective Boris Karloff William Nigh 1938 Monogram PicturesThe Mystery of Mr Wong 1939Mr Wong in ChinatownThe Fatal Hour 1940 Also known as Mr Wong at HeadquartersDoomed to DiePhantom of Chinatown Keye Luke Phil RosenComics editFrom 1939 a comic of the film The Mystery of Mr Wong appeared in four consecutive issues of Popular Comics Popular Comics Dell 1939 40 Issues 38 41Notes edit Hugh Wiley Biography p 120 Brunsdale Mitzi Icons of Mystery and Crime Detection From Sleuths to Superheroes ABC CLIO 26 07 2010 James Lee Wong Mr Wong www thrillingdetective com Retrieved 20 September 2018 p 117 Fuller Karla Hollywood Goes Oriental CaucAsian performance in American Film Wayne State University Press 2010 p 82 Everson William K The Detective in Film Citadel Press 1972See also edit nbsp Books portal nbsp Film portalPortrayal of East Asians in Hollywood Charlie Chan Mr MotoExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mr Wong James Lee Wong at Thrilling Detective Mr Wong at seriesbooks info Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mr Wong fictional detective amp oldid 1189287661, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
