The "Chinese" Boris Karloff -- Judi's Romance in Vintage Film Forum

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Subject: The "Chinese" Boris Karloff

Author:
Conrad, author of "Old School Romance" (Vintage Romance Publishing)
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Date Posted: 22:42:06 04/04/08 Fri

Everybody knows Boris Karloff as the Frankenstein Monster, not to mention all his other scary roles. But few recall the times this British actor played Chinese characters in movies. By my count, he did at least seven films playing three different Chinese roles.

The first of these was none other than the notorious movie villian Fu Manchu in "The Mask of Fu Manchu" (1932). Numerous performers have taken on this role over the decades, but most fans consider Karloff's performance to be the best of the lot--and certainly the most scary!

In 1937 Karloff gave what I consider the best performance of his career as a Chinese bandit leader named General Wu Yen Fang in "West of Shanghai." He takes over a village where a number of Americans are staying, and at first seems a menace to them. But as the movie goes along he turns out to be rather likeable. I've only seen this film on Turner Classics, and don't know if it's on video, but it's well worth looking for. Karloff's portrayl of this complex character shows a range of acting talent that was seldom expoited in his other films.

In the late 1930s, Karloff did a series of at least five films as a Chinese detective, starting with "Mr. Wong, Detective," in 1938. Though clearly Mr. Wong was an attempt to imitate the well loved "Charlie Chan" movies, Karloff's characterization was far different from that of Chan. James Wong is a private eye, while Chan was a police officer, a detective for the Honolulu police force. Unlike Charle Chan, James Wong spoke perfect English, his clipped British accent explained as a result of his having attended school in Oxford. Wong seems to be something of a loner, not having any family like Charlie Chan has his sons. Wong also appears to be a a science whizz, solving crimes through scientific techniques. Some of the Wong films are available on dollor DVDs, and are well worth buying if you find them; they're a lot of fun.

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[> Subject: I have seen Boris as a Chinese man, but don't remember what the film was about...it was a long time ago. I'd like to see those!

Author:
Judith....Dad used to do a great Karloff impersonation, from some movie, we don't know...but Dad says he had an English accent, and it went, "I came all the way by coach." I should have recorded Dad saying that, he sounded more like Boris, then Boris himself!
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Date Posted: 17:30:57 04/08/08 Tue

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>Everybody knows Boris Karloff as the Frankenstein >Monster, not to mention all his other scary roles. >But few recall the times this British actor played >Chinese characters in movies. By my count, he did at >least seven films playing three different Chinese >roles. > >The first of these was none other than the notorious >movie villian Fu Manchu in "The Mask of Fu Manchu" >(1932). Numerous performers have taken on this role >over the decades, but most fans consider Karloff's >performance to be the best of the lot--and certainly >the most scary! > >In 1937 Karloff gave what I consider the best >performance of his career as a Chinese bandit leader >named General Wu Yen Fang in "West of Shanghai." He >takes over a village where a number of Americans are >staying, and at first seems a menace to them. But as >the movie goes along he turns out to be rather >likeable. I've only seen this film on Turner Classics, >and don't know if it's on video, but it's well worth >looking for. Karloff's portrayl of this complex >character shows a range of acting talent that was >seldom expoited in his other films. > >In the late 1930s, Karloff did a series of at least >five films as a Chinese detective, starting with "Mr. >Wong, Detective," in 1938. Though clearly Mr. Wong >was an attempt to imitate the well loved "Charlie >Chan" movies, Karloff's characterization was far >different from that of Chan. James Wong is a private >eye, while Chan was a police officer, a detective for >the Honolulu police force. Unlike Charle Chan, James >Wong spoke perfect English, his clipped British accent >explained as a result of his having attended school in >Oxford. Wong seems to be something of a loner, not >having any family like Charlie Chan has his sons. Wong >also appears to be a a science whizz, solving crimes >through scientific techniques. Some of the Wong films >are available on dollor DVDs, and are well worth >buying if you find them; they're a lot of fun.
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[> Subject: I have seen Boris as a Chinese man, but don't remember what the film was about...it was a long time ago. I'd like to see those!
Author: Judith....Dad used to do a great Karloff impersonation, from some movie, we don't know...but Dad says he had an English accent, and it went, "I came all the way by coach." I should have recorded Dad saying that, he sounded more like Boris, then Boris himself! [Edit]	Date Posted: 17:30:57 04/08/08 Tue [ Post a Reply to This Message ]