The film opens with a good sequence of a storm-ridden Gobi Desert where a camel caravan stops to rest for the night. Mr Moto is there and in immediate danger when an attacker tries to steal a valuable scroll in his possession. There are six other scrolls that Prince Chung has in a vault behind a shrine. Together the seven scrolls form a map directing the way to the tomb of Genghis Khan and all it's treasures. Prince Chung and his mother are the guardians of the scrolls and need to keep this map safe to honor their ancestors.
Obviously the seven scrolls are sought after by antiquarians and also the would-be plunderers of Genghis Khan's tomb. An art collector Colonel Tchernov who wants to buy the scrolls is killed and Moto is there on hand to make it look like suicide. He doesn't want the death to cause an international incident and so he persuades another witness to play along with him on that score. With that witness not knowing Moto is an importer who does a lot of detective work as a hobby.
The tall figure of John Carradine is bent over in his oily characterization of a dealer in doubtful antiques. He insists on payments in gold for his 'treasures' in a market where genuine jade Buddhas can actually be soapstone Buddhas. Another of my B-mystery favorites is Sidney Blackmer as the arch villain. Peter Lorre is ideal as Moto who has bouts of ruthless toughness alternating with moments of gentle thoughtfulness. There is a touching scene at the end when Mr Moto keeps his promise to someone.
Obviously the seven scrolls are sought after by antiquarians and also the would-be plunderers of Genghis Khan's tomb. An art collector Colonel Tchernov who wants to buy the scrolls is killed and Moto is there on hand to make it look like suicide. He doesn't want the death to cause an international incident and so he persuades another witness to play along with him on that score. With that witness not knowing Moto is an importer who does a lot of detective work as a hobby.
The tall figure of John Carradine is bent over in his oily characterization of a dealer in doubtful antiques. He insists on payments in gold for his 'treasures' in a market where genuine jade Buddhas can actually be soapstone Buddhas. Another of my B-mystery favorites is Sidney Blackmer as the arch villain. Peter Lorre is ideal as Moto who has bouts of ruthless toughness alternating with moments of gentle thoughtfulness. There is a touching scene at the end when Mr Moto keeps his promise to someone.