Charlie Chan in Panama (1940)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Norman Foster

Writers:

Earl Derr Biggers (characters)
John Larkin (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

1 March 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Charlie Chan Defies the Enemies of America!!!

Plot:

Charlie shares an airplane flying over the Panama Canal with a plethora of red herrings, one of whom is a master German saboteur.

Plot Keywords:

Panama | Espionage | Saboteur | Racial Role Playing | Disguise

Cast

Sidney Toler	...	Charlie Chan
Jean Rogers	...	Kathi Lenesch (Baroness Kathi von Czardos)
Lionel Atwill	...	Cliveden Compton
Mary Nash	...	Miss Jennie Finch
Victor Sen Yung	...	Jimmy Chan (as Sen Yung)
Kane Richmond	...	Richard Cabot
Chris-Pin Martin	...	Sergeant Montero
Lionel Royce	...	Dr. Rudolph Grosser
Helen Ericson	...	Stewardess
Jack La Rue	...	Emil Manolo
Edwin Stanley	...	Governor D.C. Webster
Donald Douglas	...	Captain Lewis
Frank Puglia	...	Achmed Halide
Addison Richards	...	R.J. Godley
Edward Keane	...	Dr. Fredericks
Charles Stevens	...	Native Fisherman-Cameraman Spy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eddie Acuff	...	Dance Sailor Suspicious of Kathi (uncredited)
Jimmy Aubrey	...	Extra (drunk fisherman with cigar dangling from mouth at club) (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict	...	Nightclub / Dance Extra (uncredited)
Lane Chandler	...	Powerhouse Search Officer (uncredited)
Allen F. Davis	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum	...	Marine Officer (uncredited)
Edward Gargan	...	Plant Workman (uncredited)
Harold Goodwin	...	Military Police Corporal (uncredited)
Chuck Hamilton	...	Dance Extra (uncredited)
Alberto Morin	...	Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Philip Morris	...	Plainclothesman (uncredited)
Gloria Roy	...	Hostess (uncredited)
Charles Sherlock	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Max Wagner	...	Soldier (uncredited)

Directed by
Norman Foster

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Earl Derr Biggers		characters
John Larkin		writer
Lester Ziffren		writer

Produced by
Sol M. Wurtzel	....	producer

Cinematography by
Virgil Miller

Film Editing by
Fred Allen

Art Direction by
Richard Day
Chester Gore

Set Decoration by
Thomas Little

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Saul Wurtzel	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Joseph E. Aiken	....	sound
William H. Anderson	....	sound

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Helen A. Myron	....	wardrobe supervisor
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)

Music Department
Samuel Kaylin	....	musical director

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1940) (USA) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

66 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA High Fidelity Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:Approved

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Quotes:

Jimmy Chan: Pop, is he dead?
Charlie Chan: No heart strong enough to hold bullet.

Movie Connections:

Follows Charlie Chan in Paris (1935)

Soundtrack:

Vereda tropical

One of the best settings in the Chan series

Charlie Chan in Panama features a lush, thick setting that bleeds of Latin America and mixes it with a solid plot and a great and surprising payoff. The sets are fantastic, with lush foliage and ceiling fans everywhere and small and intimate town squares. The cemetary is also tremendous to look at. The plot centers around spies looking to sabotage the US military as it moves through the Panama Canal. Lionel Atwill lends his talents to the supporting cast while Sidney Toler as Chan is excellent as usual. Jimmy is his usually high strung self and the rest of the cast supplies the film with shady and suave characters. A great film to look at with a great mood and one of the best Toler Chans.

7.1/10