Phantom of Chinatown

Phantom of Chinatown

Year: 1940

Runtime: 62 mins

Language: English

Director: Phil Rosen

CrimeMysteryThrillerThrillers and murder mysteriesIntriguing and suspenseful murder mysteries

During a vivid illustrated lecture about his latest expedition across the Mongolian Desert, famed explorer Dr. John Benton sips from a water bottle on the podium, suddenly collapses, and dies. His dying whisper, “Eternal Fire,” becomes the sole clue for Chinese detective Jimmy Wong and Police Captain Street, who must decipher its meaning to uncover the murderer's identity.

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Timeline & Setting – Phantom of Chinatown (1940)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Phantom of Chinatown (1940). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

San Francisco, Mongolian desert

San Francisco serves as the film's bustling urban hub where Benton's lecture and the ensuing investigation unfold across lecture halls, offices, and a waterfront hideout. The Mongolian desert expedition provides the spark for the discovery of a tomb and the secret oil reserve it supposedly guards. The plot blends urban intrigue with expedition-era mystique, driving the pursuit of artifacts and evidence through both city streets and remote tomb lore.

🌁 Urban city 🧭 Mystery setting 🌊 Coastal seaport

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:02

Main Characters – Phantom of Chinatown (1940)

Meet the key characters of Phantom of Chinatown (1940), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Dr. John Benton

Renowned archaeologist who leads the expedition and guards the scroll. His sudden death by suffocation triggers the investigation and unravels a larger conspiracy to seize the tomb's artifacts.

🧭 Investigator 🧬 Archaeologist

James Lee Wong

Benton's student and amateur sleuth who drives the investigation. He identifies the poison, uncovers the attack on Fraser, and collaborates with Street to expose the killer.

🧭 Detective 🧠 Investigator

Mason

Co-pilot of the expedition who fakes his own death and schemes to seize artifacts from the tomb. He partners with Jonas but has his own agenda that leads to a deadly confrontation.

🧭 Conspirator 🗡️ Double-crossing

Detective Street

Police officer who tracks leads from Fraser to the waterfront hideout and collaborates with Wong to bring the culprits to justice. He is practical, methodical, and willing to take risks.

👮 Police 🧭 Ally

Charlie Frasier

Cameraman who collaborates with Mason to steal the scroll but betrays him to keep the oil secret. He murders Benton and later Jonas, demonstrating ruthless opportunism.

🎥 Cameraman 🗡️ Double-crossing

Jonas

Benton's loyal butler who aids Mason in the theft of artifacts. He is poisoned and stabbed, dying as the plot unravels and the truth comes to light.

🧰 Butler 🗡️ Murdered

Win Len

Benton's secretary who is attacked and found tied up; she claims ignorance of the scroll, becoming a key witness caught in the conspiracy's web.

🗝️ Secretary 🧭 Victim

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:02

Major Themes – Phantom of Chinatown (1940)

Explore the central themes of Phantom of Chinatown (1940), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔎 Mystery

A missing scroll, a murdered professor, and a web of deceit drive the narrative. James Lee Wong and Street piece together clues, tracing poison, attacks, and hidden passages to uncover the killer. The discovery of the hidden Temple of Eternal Fire and the stolen artifact sets off a tense chase that spans city and waterfront locations, culminating in a dramatic confrontation.

🗝️ Secrets

The scroll's disappearance and Fraser's betrayal reveal a layered conspiracy surrounding the tomb's artifacts. A fake death, a secret safe, and a deliberately destroyed scroll feed suspicion and misdirection. The climax hinges on exposing the truth through a published photograph, hinting at broader political dimensions to the oil treasure.

🧪 Poison

The professor's murder is linked to a rare oriental vegetable poison, tying personal rivalries to the quest for the tomb's secrets. James and Street trace the poison to its source, unraveling a deadly plot behind the artifacts' theft. Poison functions as the narrative catalyst that heightens suspense and reveals the killers' ruthlessness.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:02

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Phantom of Chinatown Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Phantom of Chinatown, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Phantom of Chinatown Summary

Phantom of Chinatown Timeline

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Phantom of Chinatown Timeline

More About Phantom of Chinatown

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Phantom of Chinatown (1940) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Phantom of Chinatown (1940) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Phantom of Chinatown (1940) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow