Shadow of Chinatown, a condensed 65-minute version of the 300-minute serial, presents a unique narrative. It delves into the destruction of San Francisco’s Chinatown by Victor Poten (Bela Lugosi) and The Dragon Lady (Luana Walters), hired by white businesses to eliminate the new Chinese businessmen who threaten their profits. This atypical plot, where white individuals are the aggressors against Asians, stands out in a time when the sinister Fu Manchu was the stereotypical villain in most serials.

One of the intriguing aspects of the film is the character of Bela Lugosi, who has the power to influence others. In this movie, he uses his mesmerizing abilities to instill hatred towards the Chinese, a reflection of his own feelings.

This was directed and written by Robert F. Hill, who had 116 directing credits in his career. After World War II, Universal sent him to Japan to open a movie studio, where he warned that the locals would try to attack him if he started an American studio in their country. He needed to get a doctor’s permit to prove his wife needed care back home before Universal would let him give up. The following person Universal sent? The Japanese filmmakers attacked him and used the studio for themselves.

You can watch this on YouTube.