Peter Lorre is yellow

"Think Fast Mr. Moto" (1937) stars Peter Lorre.  This is the first of eight films with the Japanese detective played by a German with a thick German accent that Lorre only kind of hides.  Lorre is also slathered in bronzer to play the detective.

Lorre is trying to break up a smuggling ring in China so he follows clues from San Fransisco to Shanghai.  There are fights, romance, a blond vixen, and a dumbass who falls head over heals for her.  There's betrayal, loyalty, murder, deception, and an exotic location----ooooooooooooooh, impressive.  This yarn, and it is a yarn, has everything one could want in a detective story.  

This a fun black and white pic with good acting, good action, and an okay story.  Some of the dialogue is cheesy and is done better in other pictures. Peter Lorre is sublime and naturally creepy so his performances always impress me.  I could watch him talk about how much he likes a white wall, I find him that interesting.  He IS a good actor but his looks give Lorre more to work with as an actor.   They allow him to stand apart from his peers.  the movie is also short, clocking in at 70 mins so sitting down for this like watching a prime time drama.