The Chinatown Mystery
Synopsis
Restored by the George Eastman House in 2001, this 1928 serial was considered a “last hurrah” for the silent-era serial, and brought together some of the biggest names of the era: director J.P. McGowan, actors Francis Ford and Joe Bonomo (a carnival strongman-turned-actor), producer Trem Carr (who would later help found Monogram Pictures), and a slew of silent-era supporting icons such as Ruth Hiatt, Grace Cunard, and more. Chapter names like “The Clutching Claw,” “The Devil’s Dice, “Galloping Fury,” and “The Invisible Hand” offer all one needs to know of the film’s concerns: to promise and deliver as much action and suspense as possible, and move our intrepid hero and heroine from one perilous situation to another. One of the biggest stars of the early silent era and a successful serials director in his own right, Francis Ford was the brother of director John Ford.
Top Cast
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Release History & Theatrical Window
September 1, 1928
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- J.P. McGowan
- Screenplay & Story
- Francis Ford
- Original Title
- The Chinatown Mystery
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- No Language
- Runtime
- 3h 20m
- Production Studios
- Trem Carr Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
J.P. McGowan
Francis Ford
Department Leadership Roster
Francis Ford
Writer
J.P. McGowan
Director
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Chinatown Mystery.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Chinatown Mystery
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Chinatown Mystery about?
Restored by the George Eastman House in 2001, this 1928 serial was considered a “last hurrah” for the silent-era serial, and brought together some of the biggest names of the era: director J.P. McGowan, actors Francis Ford and Joe Bonomo (a carnival strongman-turned-actor), producer Trem Carr (who would later help found Monogram Pictures), and a slew of silent-era supporting icons such as Ruth Hiatt, Grace Cunard, and more. Chapter names like “The Clutching Claw,” “The Devil’s Dice, “Galloping Fury,” and “The Invisible Hand” offer all one needs to know of the film’s concerns: to promise and deliver as much action and suspense as possible, and move our intrepid hero and heroine from one perilous situation to another. One of the biggest stars of the early silent era and a successful serials director in his own right, Francis Ford was the brother of director John Ford.
Who directed The Chinatown Mystery?
The Chinatown Mystery was directed by J.P. McGowan.
Who stars in The Chinatown Mystery?
The principal cast of The Chinatown Mystery includes Joe Bonomo, Ruth Hiatt, Francis Ford, George Chesebro, Sheldon Lewis.
When was The Chinatown Mystery released and how long is it?
The Chinatown Mystery was released in 1928 with a total runtime of 3h 20m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Chinatown Mystery?
The Chinatown Mystery holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).