The Chinatown Mystery (1928)

Restored by the George Eastman House in 2001 this 1928 serial was considered a last hurrah for the silentera serial and brought together some of the biggest names of the era director JP McGowan actors Francis Ford and Joe Bonomo a carnival strongmanturnedactor producer Trem Carr who would later help found Monogram Pictures and a slew of silentera supporting icons such as Ruth Hiatt Grace Cunard and more Chapter names like The Clutching Claw The Devils Dice Galloping Fury and The Invisible Hand offer all one needs to know of the films 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