slight spoiler finally i get to see one of those early chinese theme drama with hollywood actor make up like oriental . i be not talk about a blockbuster like the good earth or dragon seed and but one of the early sound potboiler . when the hatchet man begin and i be a little leery . a lengthy print prologue spell out the story premise . i suspect while read it that this be ok because the cultural norm to be depict be alien and unfamiliar to a 1932 american movie audience . edward g. robinson and always superb and be fine a always while at first i can not recognize loretta young though and while on the other hand and leslie fenton doesn not initially strike me a chinese . i be wonder if the movie be go to be a lot of stereotyped bunk and full of coincidence and contrivance . before long and it soon win me over and get good and than good still . the hatchet man approach racial dynamic with more insight than expect . director william wellman applies intelligence and handle this thriller more lurid aspect with needed detachment and a in less worthy hand it could have all go melodramatically out of control . it pre code and so i be not really surprised that drug use be important to set up the film climax and and that one figure and formerly an assassin and be unpunished at fade out . meanwhile and good character actor handle themselves convincingly ( except for charles middleton and who be too much like charles middleton and and there be still the question of fenton casting and although he perform well ) . also and i be start to come around to the realization that loretta young act range be limit and something her doll like beauty have be distract me from notice through numerous film of this period . but the corker be the clever and shocking and coolly ironic surprise end . people and you have get to see this . few movie have ever end with such a jolt .