Born in 1890 in London, Ernie Stanton was an English-American actor who transitioned from vaudeville to film. He is best remembered for his role in Mr. Wong in Chinatown (1939), where he contributed to the film's blend of mystery and humor. Stanton's background as an accomplished athlete, both as a baseball player and a boxer, added a unique flair to his performances. His work in cult cinema reflects a time when character actors brought depth to the genre, making him a notable figure in the landscape of exploitation films.
Mr. Wong in Chinatown
A pretty Chinese woman, seeking help from San Francisco detective James Lee Wong, is killed by a poisoned dart in his front hall, having time only to scrawl "Captain J" on a sheet of paper. She proves to be Princess Lin Hwa, on a secret military mission for Chinese forces fighting the Japanese invasion. Mr. Wong finds two captains with the intial J in the case, neither being quite what he seems; there's fog on the waterfront and someone still has that poison-dart gun...
