MovieChat Forums > The Fatal Hour (1940) Discussion > Does Mr. Wong Show Uncharacteristic Cowa...

Does Mr. Wong Show Uncharacteristic Cowardice at the End?


*****SPOILER ALERT*****

When Mr. Wong, with the murderer's gun trained on him, becomes aware that Det. Street is about to enter the room, he must be aware that if Street is taken by surprise (as he likely will be), then both of them are likely to be shot right then and there by the murderer. It would therefore be incumbent upon him to do something to prevent at least Street's death, even if he can't prevent his own. He could shout a warning, for example, while trying to dive away from gunfire.

He starts out as if he is trying to do something by saying "Just a minute," as if hoping to delay Street's entry into the room, but when it becomes clear that Street is coming in anyway, he doesn't do or say anything more. Given that Mr. Wong is always willing to take chances with his own life (skulking around in dark places with armed criminals known to be about), one would think that he would willingly take a bullet to warn his good friend Street before the door was opened. And not just to save Street, but to capture the murderer; for even if Wong died, the murderer would then be trapped in the room with an armed and forewarned Street out in the hallway, and the noise of the shot would bring witnesses, and the murderer would be caught. And one shot might not be enough to kill Wong, especially if Wong charged the murderer or dived away at an angle. It's a risk Wong would normally take even for an innocent stranger, let alone a good friend like Street. Does anyone have any thoughts on why the normally resourceful Wong would simply let the situation go from bad to disastrous? Was it cowardice? Or just muddled thinking in a panic situation? Either response would be uncharacteristic for Wong.

reply