The Shanghai Cobra (1945)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Phil Karlson

Writers:

Earl Derr Biggers (characters)
George Callahan (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

29 September 1945 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Charlie Chan at his best in his most thrilling adventure!

Plot:

Someone is attempting to steal radium stored in a bank. Cobra bites lead to a number of murders. Charlie investigates.

Plot Keywords:

Bank | Radium | Tunnel | Murder | Charlie Chan

Cast

Sidney Toler	...	Charlie Chan
Mantan Moreland	...	Birmingham Brown
Benson Fong	...	Tommy Chan
James Cardwell	...	Ned Stewart
Joan Barclay	...	Paula Webb
Addison Richards	...	John Adams
Arthur Loft	...	Bradford Harris
Janet Warren	...	Record Machine Operator
Gene Roth	...	Morgan (as Gene Stutenroth)
Joe Devlin	...	Taylor
James Flavin	...	H.R. Jarvis
Roy Gordon	...	Walter Fletcher
Walter Fenner	...	Police Inspector Harry Davis
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Andy Andrews	...	Patrolman Outside Joe's (uncredited)
George Chandler	...	Joe, Coffee Shop Owner (uncredited)
Cyril Delevanti	...	Detective Larkin (uncredited)
John Goldsworthy	...	Inspector Mainwaring (uncredited)
Stephen Gregory	...	Samuel Black (uncredited)
Karen Knight	...	Switchboard Supervisor (uncredited)
Mary Moore	...	Rita, Laundry Clerk (uncredited)
Paul Newlan	...	Big Bank Guard (uncredited)
Diane Quillan	...	Phone Operator (uncredited)
Jack Richardson	...	Letter Carrier (uncredited)
William Ruhl	...	Mr. Grey (uncredited)

Directed by
Phil Karlson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Earl Derr Biggers		characters
George Callahan		screenplay
George Callahan		story
George Wallace Sayre		screenplay

Produced by
James S. Burkett	....	producer

Cinematography by
Vincent J. Farrar		(as Vincent Farrar)

Film Editing by
Ace Herman

Art Direction by
Dave Milton		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Vin Taylor		(uncredited)

Production Management
Glenn Cook	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eddie Davis	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Tom Lambert	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Ray Mercer	....	photographic effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Mario Castegnaro	....	transparency shots (uncredited)

Music Department
Edward J. Kay	....	musical director

Other crew
Ron Ormond	....	technical director (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Monogram Pictures

Distributors

• Monogram Pictures (1945) (USA) (theatrical)
• Pathé Pictures International (1945) (UK) (theatrical)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)

Runtime:

64 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (Certificate #10989)

Company:

Monogram Pictures

Trivia:

Actual footage of the Japanese bombing of Shanghai is used in the flashback sequence.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: A building supposedly located in Washington, DC, has the California state flag flying from its flagpole.

Quotes:

Bradford Harris: [noticing Stewart who has come through a secret door] Where did you come from? I didn't see you come in?
Charlie Chan: [laconically] You can see us all go out.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Remington Steele: Dancer, Prancer, Donner and Steele (#4.9)" (1985)

An early hint of Phil Karlson's talent

The Shanghai Cobra starts out like gangbusters, with a rain soaked diner scene straight out of Shack Out on 101 or Gun Crazy (the first one). Unfortunately the film then proceeds to plod its weary way through a standard Chan formula that is only barely enlivened by the always wonderful Mantan Moreland. It's as if director Karlson blew half his budget in the first five minutes, just getting the set up the way he wanted it. Watch the beginning and think about The Phenix City Story.