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Monogram Pictures Corporation
Distributed: Monogram Pictures Corporation,
February 2, 1946
Production: Early to late September 1945
Copyright: Monogram Pictures Corporation, December 22, 1945;
LP74
Opened: New York, N.Y., December 27, 1945
Sound: Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording
Film: Black and white
Running Time: 64 minutes
Production Code Administration Certificate Number: 11289
Source: Based on the character
created by Earl Derr Biggers
Song: "My Heart Is Yours" (composer undetermined)
Producer: James S. Burkett
Director: Phil Rosen
Assistant Director: Eddie Davis
Original
Screenplay: George Callahan
Director of Photography: Vincent Farrar
Special Effects: Robert Clark
Technical Director:
Dave Milton
Editor: Ace Herman
Musical Director: Edward J. Kay
Sound Recording: Tom Lambert
Production Manager:
Glenn Cook
CAST:
Sidney Toler: Charlie Chan
Fortunio Bonanova: [Inspector] Luis Carvero
Benson
Fong: Tommy Chan
Robert E. Keane: Alfred Wyans
Willie Best: Chattanooga Brown
Carol Hughes: Marguerite Fontan
Marjorie Hoshelle: Countess Irena [Countess Irena Massack]
Barton Yarborough: Joseph Bradish
George Meeker:
Edmund Slade
Don Costello: Charles Massack
Charles Trowbridge: Prentiss
Mildred Boyd: Josephine
Jean Wong:
Iris Ling
Donald Dexter Taylor: Walter Dorn
Lucio Villegas: Chemist (not credited)
Toni Raimondo: Woman in Powder
Room
Richard Lopez: Bellboy
Augie Gomez: Cab Driver
In Mexico City, when an attempt is made to steal the papers of the mysterious Alfred Wyans,
his secretary, Dorn, who is working undercover for the United States government. At the U.S. embassy, he begs Prentiss to
send for Charlie Chan. The next day, Dorn is mysteriously shot during a luncheon party at Wyans' home. Before he dies, he
manages to type the following cryptic message: "TH E$M OST."
Chan arrives in Mexico City, accompanied by number three
son Tommy and his chauffeur and assistant Chattanooga Brown. He meets an old friend, Inspector Luis Carvero of the Mexico
City police with whom he had previously worked four years earlier while assisting the British government in Honduras. Luis
tells him that no gun was found at the scene of the murder and that, although the guests heard only one shot, two bullet holes
were discovered.
Chan tells Carvero that Wyans' papers relate to the discovery of a new, 95th element which could
be used to make a bomb much more powerful than an atomic bomb. Chan suspects one of the party guests, Who include Marguerite
Fontan, with whom Luis is in love; Edmund Slade, a former gunrunner; Joseph Bradish, an international smuggler; the Countess
Irena, a singer; and Charles Massack, a Nazi propagandist.
After he questions the guests, Chan accompanies Carvero
to the police lab and learns that the bullet that killed Dorn has no firing marks, indicating that it was not fired from a
conventional gun. Wyans complains to the police that his typewriter has been stolen, and Chan warns him to protect his papers.
Later, Chan disclosed that Marguerite had connections in Czechoslovakia, where the papers were stolen from the Allies
by Wyans. While all of the suspects are at dinner, Chan and Carvero search Wyans' baggage in the basement, but are interrupted
by others who have the same idea. After the suspects leave, Chan and Luis discover the missing typewriter.
Wyans tells
Massack that he knows how Dorn was killed, but as he tries to telephone Chan, he is shot in the same manner as Dorn. At the
nightclub where Irena sings, Chan reveals that she is not nobility and that she is married to Charles Masack, who spies for
several countries. Prompted by these revelations, Irena starts to reveal the secret, but she too is killed. Soon after, a
similar attempt is made on the life of Charlie Chan.
Chan tries to discover why a bottle of red indelible Chinese
"Red Dragon" ink was found on Dorn's desk. He asks if there are any Chinese artists of note in Mexico City. Carvero mentions
that there is one who frequents the many nightclubs in the city, seeking subjects to draw. Artist Iris Ling is found, who,
it turns out, had visited Wyans' apartment before his murder. She tells Chan that she had sold Wyans the ink to use on his
"banderillas" which, Chan surmises, were actually his typewriter ribbons. Chan and Carvero return to Wyans' home and retrieve
the ribbon that Dorn had removed from the typewriter before he was killed. Upon inspection, it is discovered that the secret
information is written on the ribbon in indelible ink.
CONCLUSION:
Chan
clears Marguerite from suspicion when he discloses that her uncle had discovered the secret new element. He then reveals that
Dorn had attempted to type the word "THERMOSTAT" as he was dying, explaining that Bradish committed the murders, using a remote
control device that was disguised as a thermostat that exploded devices containing a pair of bullets that he had secretly
planted on his victims.
NOTES: The film's working title was
Charlie Chan in Mexico. The title card reads, Charlie Chan in "The Red Dragon".
Adapted from: 'AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE CATALOG - Within Our Gates: Ethnicity in American
Feature Films, 1911-1960'
CHARLIE CHAN'S APHORISMS:
Even detective sometimes fall in love...quite often with suspect in murder case.
Murder is one way of discharging dangerous employee.
Police always dare to tell truth.
Puppy cannot fool old dog.
Assistants should be seen, not heard.
Good detective always look for something
unusual.
Hens sit often, but they lay eggs.
Must repeat old police slogan: "Unusual thing always very good
clue."
Nothing ever entirely disappear - something always remain.
Like Chinese army, Chinese ink
cannot be wiped out.
There is old saying: "Mother know best."
OTHER WORTHY
STATEMENTS:
Police even read your thoughts. (to Charles Massack)
No one here
seems to be what he or she pretend to be. (to assembled suspects)
Confucius could give answer to that. Unfortunately,
Confucius not here at moment. (in response to a question posed by Inspector Carvero)
Everyone here trying
to be too clever. (to assembled suspects)
While you on job, good idea slightly impossible. (to Tommy, commenting on his "good idea")
This
never died - not even corpse - it is reasonable facsimile of you and you. (to Tommy and Chattanooga Brown regarding a
dummy)
Number three son is thinking. Most unusual, but does not assist police. (to Inspector Carvero)
(Tommy: "How about looking for something unusual, Pop?") You always provide usual noise.
Elderly
detective do elderly Rumba. (to Iris Ling)
When I dance with charming lady, it makes me feel like youngster.
(to Iris Ling)
(Tommy: [regarding the typed "TH E$M OST"clue] "It still doesn't make sense, Pop.")
It make sense if you use sense.
Number three son Tommy like rooster who think sun come up just to hear
him crow. (to Inspector Carvero)
(There is old saying: "Mother know best.") But perhaps in this case, it best
mother know nothing whatsoever. (to Tommy who has just suggested that if his Pop will remain "quiet" to his girlfriend
back home in Honolulu about his flirtations with artist Iris Ling, he will not tell his mother about his father having danced
the rumba with the young Chinese artist)
REVIEW:
Variety, January 2, 1946
Monogram has entered the atomic bomb pix race with a stock detective trifle involving the vet Asiatic sleuth Charlie Chan.
Pic isn't a serious threat, the yarn being a draggy, obvious whodunit that will suit only nabe support.
Story involves
attempts to steal a scientist's plans for an atomic bomb, with various mysterious characters gathered in Mexico City to lift
the loot. One by one the assorted grifters are shot, with killer or weapon mysteriously absent. Chan finally discovers that
the shots are fired by remote control from a launching device, and nabs the murderer, while ending the threat to the precious
formula.
A cosmopolitan cast goes through the motions. Sidney Toler enacting Chan in his usually placid way; Fortunio
Bonanova playing a Mexican inspector; Benson Fong, Chan's irrepressible son, and Willie Best, the comic relief as servant.
Marjorie Hoshelle, as a nitery singer-suspect, handles a song well.
Production budget is modest and direction
so-so.
FILM NOTES:
PROBABLE DATE: Late fall
1945
DURATION: At least a week,
perhaps eight days
LOCATION: Mexico City, Mexico
PRENTISS' JOB TITLE AT THE U.S.
EMBASSY IN MEXICO CITY: First Attache
THE LOCATION OF ALFRED WYANS' RESIDENCE:
Hotel Miramar
THE REGISTRATION NUMBER ON PLANE ON WHICH CHARLIE CHAN ARRIVED IN MEXICO CITY:
XAR 11
THE TYPE OF PLANE: Douglas DC-3
THE NAME OF THE AIRLINE:
Aereo Mexico
THE ANSWER
GIVEN BY TOMMY WHEN ASKED HIS AGE IN SPANISH BY INSPECTOR CARVERO: "Diez y ocho..." ("Eighteen..." - However, Tommy's
Spanish during his spur of the moment conversation with the Inspector was perhaps a bit "flawed," as Tommy was certanly at
least a couple of years older than the age he gave. [Also, it would have also been easier for Tommy to hedge on his age
than to explain to Inspector Carvero why he was not in military uniform!])
THE CITY FROM WHICH CHARLIE CHAN,
SON TOMMY, AND CHATTANOOGA BROWN HAD BEGUN THEIR TRIP TO MEXICO CITY: Washington, D.C.
ACCORDING TO INSPECTOR CARVERO,
THE AMOUNT OF TIME, UPON CHARLIE CHAN'S ARRIVAL AT THE MEXICO CITY AIRPORT, SINCE WALTER DORN HAD BEEN KILLED:
"...one hour ago."
DEFINITION: banderilla
- (Spanish) A decorated barbed dart that is thrust into the bull's neck or shoulder muscles by a banderillero in a bullfight.
(Tommy Chan: "Banderillas - they use them in bullfights down here.")
AN IMPORTANT CLUE FOUND BY TOMMY CHAN ON ALFRED WYAN'S DESK: A bottle of "Red Dragon Chinese
Ink"
THE MESSAGE TYPED BY WALTER DORN
AFTER HE WAS SHOT: "TH E$M OST"
THE ELEMENTS MENTIONED BY CHARLIE
CHAN TO INSPECTOR CARVERO AS HAVING BEEN DISCOVERED DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ATOMIC BOMB: Plutonium and Neptunium
THE "NEW" ELEMENT ALSO MENTIONED BY CHARLIE CHAN: "...unknown 95th element"
THE ACTUAL 95TH ELEMENT: Americium,
discovered in 1944
CHARLIE CHAN'S HOTEL ROOM NUMBER: 724
THE PREVIOUS TIME, ACCORDING TO CHARLIE CHAN, THAT HE AND LUIS CARVERO HAD WORKED
TOGETHER: "Four years ago [1941] in Honduras, when we worked together to assist British government..."
ACCORDING TO ALFRED WYANS, THE
TYPE OF PASSPORT HE CARRIED: "I carry a neutral passport."
EDMUND SLADE'S STATED OCCUPATION: "I'm an agent. I work for
a firm that sells farm machinery..."
CHARLIE CHAN'S REPLY: "You have record as gun runner...It is also
known that you escape from one country because you suspected of murder."
JOSEPH BRADISH'S STATED OCCUPATION: "I'm only an oil salesman."
CHARLIE CHAN'S REPLY: You have record as international smuggler."
COUNTESS IRENA'S STATED CURRENT JOB: "...at present I'm an entertainer
at the Capitol Night Club."
CHARLIE CHAN'S REPLY: "At present."
ACCORDING TO CHARLIE CHAN, INFORMATION REGARDING CHARLES MASSACK: "You
are supposed to be importer...quite true. You are importer of propaganda for defeated Nazis.
ACCORDING TO CHARLIE CHAN, INFORMATION REGARDING MARGUERITE FONTAN: "You
are listed as tourist in Mexico City."
DEFINITION: rifling marks - The distinctively
unique marks produced on a bullet by its passage through a gun barrel. (Charlie Chan: "No rifling marks
on it.")
THE NUMBER OF ALFRED WYANS' SUITE
AT THE HOTEL MIRAMAR: 2041 (?)
THE COUNTRY WHERE THE PAPERS IN
ALFRED WYANS' POSSESSION WERE STOLEN, ACCORDING TO CHARLIE CHAN: "Chechoslovakia...where papers now in your possession
were stolen from Allied government."
THE NUMBER OF THE ROOM,
BELONGING TO MARGUERITTE FONTAN, THAT WAS SEARCHED BY CHARLIE CHAN AND INSPECTOR CARVERO: 705
CHATTANOOGA BROWN'S COUSIN: Birmingham Brown
THE NAME OF THE NIGHT CLUB WHERE COUNTESS IRENA CURRENTLY PERFORMED: Capitol
Night Club
THE NAME OF THE SONG SUNG BY COUNTESS
IRENA AT THE CAPITOL NIGHT CLUB: "My Heart Is Yours"
ACCORDING TO COUNTESS IRENA, THE LENGTH OF COUNTESS IRENA'S STAY THUS FAR IN MEXICO CITY:
"...three months..."
ACCORDING TO INSPECTOR CORDERO, WHEN AND WHERE COUNTESS
IRENA AND CHARLES MASSACK WERE MARRIED: "...six years ago (1939) in Berlin."
THE TEXT OF THE INCOMPLETE NOTE SHOWN TO CHARLIE CHAN BY COUNTESS IRENA, AS READ BY CHAN:
"To the police:
If I am murdered,
I Countess Irena,
solumnly swear that
the person who killed
Walter Dorn and
Alfred Wyans is..."
THE TEXT OF THE NOTE THAT JOSEPH
BRADISH SHOWED TO CHARLIE CHAN:
"Mr. Bradish:
If you
wish some
valuable information,
come to my dressing
room at the Club
Capitol tonight at
ten thirty.
Countess Irena"
TOMMY CHAN'S DESCRIPTION OF RED DRAGON INK: "...rare Chinese indelible
ink..."
ACCORDING TO INSPECTOR CARVERO, THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT CHINESE ARTIST IRIS LING HAD BEEN IN MEXICO
CITY: "...three weeks..."
THE NAMES OF THE NIGHTCLUBS SEARCHED BY CHARLIE CHAN AND INSPECTOR CARVERO WHILE LOOKING
FOR CHINESE ARTIST IRIS LING: Rio Rola, Ciro's, Sans Souci, Copacabana Club, La Vie Parisienne, 100 Flores
THE TYPE OF DANCE DANCED BY CHARLIE CHAN AND IRIS LING: Rumba
DEFINITION: rumba - (1)
A dance of Cuban origin, combining complex footwork with a pronounced movement of the hips. (2) A modern ballroom
adaptation of this dance. (3) Music for this dance or in this style. (Iris Ling: "...I would love to rumba.")
ACCORDING TO IRIS LING, WHEN SHE MET
ALFRED WYANS: "...two weeks ago."
ACCORDING TO IRIS LING, THE NATURE OF HER BUSINESS WITH ALFRED WYANS: "I
only sold him a bottle of Chinese ink."
ALFRED WYANS' MESSAGE ON THE TYPEWRITER RIBBON AS
READ BY THE LABORATORY CHEMIST: "Plutonium and Neptunium
are elements revealed by the bombardment of Uranium, but the 95th element, which releases all energy,..."
THE NAME OF MARGUERITTE FONTAN'S UNCLE: Joseph Fontan
CHARLIE CHAN'S DESCRIPTION OF JOSEPH FONTAN: "Man who discover 95th element and formula for atomic bomb..."
CHARLIE CHAN'S TRANSLATION OF WALTER DORN'S CRYPTIC MESSAGE, TYPED AS HE WAS DYING, AS REVEALED BY
INSPECTOR CARVERO: "Thermostat."
ACCORDING TO INSPECTOR CARVERO, THE NAMES OF
THE THREE SUSPECTS WHO WERE STAYING ON THE 5TH FLOOR OF THE HOTEL MIRAMAR: "Bradish, Massack, and Slade."
THE NAME OF TOMMY CHAN'S GIRLFRIEND IN HONOLULU: Evelyn
GLOSSARY:
banderillas - (Spanish) Decorated barbed darts
that are thrust into the bull's neck or shoulder muscles by a banderillero in a bullfight. Tommy Chan: "Banderillas
- they use them in bullfights down here."
rifling marks - The distinctively
unique marks produced on a bullet by its passage through a gun barrel.
Charlie Chan: "No rifling marks on
it."
rumba - (1)
A dance of Cuban origin, combining complex footwork with a pronounced movement of the hips. (2) A modern ballroom
adaptation of this dance. (3) Music for this dance or in this style.
Iris Ling: "...I would love to rumba."
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