Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (1944)

Director:

Phil Rosen

Writers:

Earl Derr Biggers (characters)
George Callahan (writer)

Release Date:

14 February 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The screen's most daring sleuth!

Plot:

Charlie Chan is an agent of the U.S. government assigned to investigate the mysterious death of an inventor.

Plot Keywords:

Charlie Chan | Inventor | Invention | Secret Service | Investigation

Cast

Sidney Toler	...	Charlie Chan
Mantan Moreland	...	Birmingham Brown
Arthur Loft	...	Inspector Jones, Secret Service
Gwen Kenyon	...	Inez Arranto
Sarah Edwards	...	Mrs. Hargue, Housekeeper
George J. Lewis	...	Paul Arranto (as George Lewis)
Marianne Quon	...	Iris Chan
Benson Fong	...	Tommie Chan
Muni Seroff	...	Peter Laska
Barry Bernard	...	David Blake
Gene Roth	...	Luis Philipe Vega aka Von Vegan (as Gene Stutenroth)
Eddy Chandler	...	Lewis, Secret Service (as Eddie Chandler)
Lelah Tyler	...	Mrs. Winters

Runtime:

63 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (Certificate #9732) | USA:Not Rated (DVD)

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Monogram Pictures

Trivia:

First Charlie Chan film to be made by Monogram Pictures, after having been produced by 20th Century-Fox for several years.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Much is made over the fact that Dr. Melton, the murder victim, was left-handed. Yet, earlier, he was seen doing various things, such as taking notes, opening a door, and turning on the fatal light switch, all with his right hand.

Quotes:

Charlie Chan: Man who never leave wheelchair should never wear out shoeleather.

Movie Connections:

Followed by The Red Dragon (1945)

"When alibi pushed at me, always suspect motive in woodpile."

This first Monogram Charlie Chan film is a little tougher to enjoy than the prior 20th Century Fox films. For one, Sidney Toler's depiction of Chan is more abrupt and almost mean spirited at times. Music is used more frequently, but seems out of place, as when a dramatic score is used when Chan casually strolls to a taxi. Offsetting these points is the introduction of two new members of the Chan Clan, the film now revealing there are fourteen! offspring. Benson Fong joins the action as Number #3 son Tommy, and Marianne Quon is introduced as Number #2 daughter Iris. Mantan Moreland also joins the cast as Birmingham Brown, although his character has not been fully developed at this point.

The mystery involves the murder of a World War II scientist and inventor who has developed plans for a new torpedo. The cast of suspects is a varied lot, and as Charlie closes in on the killer, the killer himself is murdered. Charlie uses a ruse to flush out the second murderer, but somehow it seems contrived, as there is nothing in the film to lead up to the second killer's identity. Other guests are built up to seem more suspicious, such as Paul Arranto, confined to a wheelchair but who can actually walk. It's as if one of Charlie's own lines in the film can be used to describe the solution - "Explanation too perfect to be true".