AniInterview Sorry, this movie sucks

Peereddi I was totally surprised at how great this film.You could feel your paranoia rise as the film went on and as you gradually learned the details of the real situation.

Luecarou What begins as a feel-good-human-interest story turns into a mystery, then a tragedy, and ultimately an outrage.

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

utgard14 When a friend and fellow police officer is murdered, Captain Bill Street (Grant Withers) turns to Mr. Wong (Boris Karloff) for help. Wong's investigation leads him to uncover a smuggling ring. Because the story here is personal for his character, Grant Withers gets a chance to flex his acting muscles for the first time in the series. He wasn't nominated for an Academy Award, which surely must have been an oversight on the part of the Academy. Surely. But don't think the dramatic storyline means Street doesn't find time to yell at his girlfriend, Torchy Blane rip-off Bobbie Logan (pretty Marjorie Reynolds). Another watchable entry in the Mr. Wong series, which was never anything exceptional. Any movie with Boris Karloff is always worth watching once.

Neil Doyle Not only is THE FATAL HOUR a clumsy and mediocre film from the low-budget Monogram studio but it seems much longer than it is despite a brief running time. It's a strictly by-the-numbers sort of thing with very little actually happening until halfway through the story. Boris Karloff dons oriental make-up as the "Chinese copper" aiding Grant Withers and Marjorie Reynolds in solving the case of a murdered policeman on the San Francisco waterfront.With its drab sets and lack of any close-ups during long scenes, the story isn't interesting enough to hold the attention span of anyone but those determined to sit through this potboiler.Craig Reynolds, as a chief suspect, is the only player to inject any over-the-top histrionics to his role. All the others play their parts in an almost indifferent manner with the exception of Marjorie Reynolds as the newspaper lady with a perky sense of humor.Summing up: Hardly worth a peek--and certainly one of Karloff's dullest roles.

wes-connors "In his latest case, Mr. Wong is investigating the murder of a police office (sic) at the request of his friend Captain Street. The murder investigation leads Mr. Wong to a smuggling ring operating on the San Francisco waterfront. After three additional murders take place, Mr. Wong is able to track down the killer and expose the smugglers," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.This episode's most interesting plot development is Mr. Wong (Boris Karloff)'s discovery of the killer's use of a "remote control" radio device. The plot isn't very interesting, but the relatively large "remote control" is; perhaps it was developed for movie plots only, however. Capt. Street (Grant Withers) shouts his lines excessively, which gets other actors involved. Blonde reporter Marjorie Reynolds adds her feminine charms. Still, the Monogram series is lifeless and obnoxious.** The Fatal Hour (1940) William Nigh ~ Boris Karloff, Marjorie Reynolds, Grant Withers

gavin6942 When Captain Street's best friend Dan O'Grady is murdered, Street enlists the help of Chinese detective James Lee Wong (Boris Karloff). Wong uncovers a smuggling ring on the waterfront of San Francisco and unmasks the killer, though not until several more murders occur. This film was including in a horror box set, and the Internet Movie Database considers it to be in the genre of horror, but I will tell you right now: there is no horror in this. None. It is a straight detective story. Yes, Boris Karloff is in it, but that does not make it horror.I was confused by the casting of Karloff as the Chinese Mr. Wong. He plays Wong in six films, but as far as I can tell Karloff is not Chinese and does not look or sound even vaguely Chinese. So why would they not cast someone else or change the nationality of Karloff's character? I really enjoyed Marjorie Reynolds as the pushy reporter, who was possibly Grant Withers' girlfriend (it is never made clear). She seems to show up at all the critical moments, adding a humorous element to the otherwise straight film. The other great character is Frank Puglia as "Hardway", the career criminal who hangs out around the police station. He was the most interesting character, providing a great red herring (actually this film is full of red herrings).If you like mysteries and old films, this is one you will want to give a fair chance to. If old movies bore you, never mind... you will fall asleep. But I liked it.