Mr. Moto Takes a Chance (1938)

The pervading idea might still be that Mr. Moto is simply a Crime/Murder Mystery character, but this is instead clearly an exotic, Jungle Adventure set in the kingdom of Bokor, near Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

There is murder, of course, but the story is mostly about a local revolt set in the larger playing field of international intrigue just before the start of WWII.

In this chapter Mr. Moto continues on his quest to prove himself a sort of Doc Savage-type genius (sans team of specialists) who's an expert on everything and anything. Add to the list: Archaeology and Paleontology and Cambodian dialects.

Archaeology specifically important in this case, because this third Mr. Moto film is undeniably the template used for Temple of Doom.

The pre-WWII setting helps of course, but add to that a plane trip over Asian land; a female who parachutes off a plane (no inflatable raft, though) which then spectacularly crashes; an old stone temple with hidden passages and other secrets; a local, murderous priest; a corrupt king (who sets his sights on the aforementioned female after one of his wives is murdered,) a lavish banquet scene (no gross-out foods, though); etc.

Mr. Moto still refuses to be pinned down as a three-dimensional character (which is perfectly fine for this pulpy adventure,) and his Moto persona might be just as fake as the impromptu disguises he dons. He certainly doesn't mind endangering or even incriminating it for the sake an underlying, secret goal.

Other than his personal charisma, warmth and humor (he seems to relish being in danger, and only once here does he betray feeling worried about being discovered,) we still haven't figured his character out.

A very notable aspect is a plot that involves a conspiracy with weaponry provided by a German villain against French and British colonial authorities which would have provided much better prequel material for a Nazi-fighting Indiana Jones than that of mystical stones and an anachronistic, secret cult of Thuggees.

The problem with that is that it might have been too close for legal comfort, and quite easily identifiable to anyone wishing to sue the Lucas/Spielberg team.

The previous Mr. Moto chapter might be the better film, (this was actually the second film but held from release,) but I found this one incredibly fascinating, not just because of where and when it is set, but by the nationality of its players.

The film was released in 1938, but a date within the movie indicates it was shot in 1937, making the fact that the story involves a Japanese hero and German Villains and is set after Hitler was in power, but one year before the invasion of Poland and a few years before US involvement is fascinating.

It must have been disconcerting even then trying to guess where Hitler was headed this early in the game. Other than for obvious political reasons, this is probably why the word Nazi is never uttered.

Anyone who is a fan of the first two Indiana Jones films owes it to themselves to watch the first three Mr. Moto films if they'd like to see where their inspiration came from; other than this is also a fun trilogy on its own.

With Rochelle Hudson, Robert Kent, J. Edward Bromberg, Chick Chandler and George Regas.