Thanks for the replies, folks. I've just ordered PHANTOM, so I hope I'll be able to watch it the next 10 days-2 weeks. Along with it, I ordered a 1939 Tex Ritter film called RIDERS OF THE FRONTIER, in which Mantan Moreland appears as the cook on a cattle drive. He and Ritter are supposed to share a song, so I can hardly wait!
PHANTOM arrived yesterday. I watched it when I got home from work. Wish Keye Luke could've had a better starring vehicle. The 62 minutes seemed much longer. His co-star, Lotus Long, seemed to be reading her lines off cue cards and Grant Withers was saddled with a too-small hat(!) and seemed embarassed by the whole thing. I'll watch it again to see if my first impressions hold up.
Just read your review of Phantom of Chinatown. I am curious if you have seen any of Karloff's Mr. Wong films. At one point I was considering purchasing a boxed set from Oldies.com, but have read some not so good reviews of this series.
I can't say that I've seen any of the Karloff "Wongs." But some of the dialogue in PHANTOM gives the impression that Keye Luke is supposed to be the son of the original Wong. Also, having watched PHANTOM two more times, it's started to grow on me. Lotus Long is still a stiff performer, but Luke is very relaxed and personable. I wish the series could have continued with him as the lead.
