Book Review: Karloff in the East

The only character Boris Karloff played on film more than once, other than Frankenstein’s monster, is Chinese detective James Lee Wong. Monogram studios wanted to capitalize on the popularity of the Charlie Chan series (which they would eventually inherit) and came up with their own Asian detective.

In film historian and prolific author Scott Allen Nollen’s new book, Karloff in the East, the actor’s work playing Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern, and Oceanian subjects is thoroughly explored. Nollen now lives in Asia with his wife Yuyun Yuningsih Nollen, who assisted him with this project, offering special insights beyond the scope of the films themselves.

The study is very informative, as even some of Karloff’s fans were not aware of how often, as an actor, he essayed Asian characters. The Nollens examine over 40 films that go from the silent era to the actor’s final screen appearance in Targets shortly before his 1968 death. Appendices cover statistical info on TV and radio shows, records, stage performances, writings, even some proposed roles that never happened.

After around 40 years of writing books on film subjects, Scott Allen Nollen has garnered a reputation of thoroughness, accuracy, and good writing, and that is what we get with Boris Karloff in the East. This book contains over 400 pages of essays studying not only the Wong series, but diverse entries like The Mask of Fu Manchu, The Mummy, Charlie Chan at the Opera, The Lost Patrol, and Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff. His wife Yuyun's contribution offers expanded insight and interest. The depth and substance of each chapter is remarkable.

Each chapter has a detailed examination of the film, offering an informative, enlightening, and interesting look at an aspect of Karloff’s career that has been given little attention, despite it being a significant portion of his vast filmography.

A highly recommended study, the book can be purchased here: Karloff-East