Charlie Chan in the Chinese Cat
| The Chinese Cat | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Phil Rosen |
| Written by | Earl Derr Biggers (characters) George Callahan (screenplay) |
| Produced by | Phillip N. Krasne James S. Burkett |
| Starring | Sidney Toler Joan Woodbury Mantan Moreland |
| Cinematography | Ira H. Morgan |
| Edited by | John Link |
| Music by | David Chudnow |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Monogram Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 66 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Chinese Cat (also titled Murder in the Funhouse) is a 1944 mystery film starring Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan.
Plot
[edit]Mr. Manning is murdered in his study while the door is locked from the inside. Police close the case after 6 months. A girl contacts Charlie Chan to have a look before he leaves in 48 hours. Twins are involved in a diamond-smuggling ring after the Kohinoor Diamonds are stolen; one twin is killed and the other living twin masquerades as a ghost tricking Birmingham Brown. Mr. Manning had the largest stone stored in the secret compartment of a Chinese cat statue, and doublecrossed his associates. Movie ends in a carnival funhouse with police arresting the diamond-smuggling ring for three murders. Rival author of Manning Murder Solved book must now pay $20,000 to Chinese War Relief after a lost bet with Charlie Chan about the murderer's identity.
Cast
[edit]- Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan
- Mantan Moreland as Birmingham Brown, Taxi Driver
- Joan Woodbury as Leah Manning
- Benson Fong as Tommy Chan, #3 Son
- Ian Keith as Dr. Paul Recknik
- Sam Flint as Thomas Manning
- Betty Blythe as Mrs. Manning
- Cy Kendall as Webster Deacon
- John Davidson as twins Karl Karzos/Kurt Karzos
- Weldon Heyburn as Detective Lt. Harvey Dennis
- Anthony Warde as Catlen
- Jack Norton as hotel desk clerk
- Luke Chan as Wu Sang, curio shop owner
- George Chandler as hotel doorman (uncredited)
- Daisy Bufford as Carolina, the maid (uncredited)
Production
[edit]The film was the second Charlie Chan movie from Monogram. It was originally called Charlie Chan and the Perfect Crime and filming started on 4 January 1944.[1]
This is the film where Birmingham Brown is permanently hired as Charlie Chan's chauffeur. He is looking for a new job after the guilty criminals blow up his taxicab with a bomb.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Of Local Origin New York Times 10 Dec 1943: 31.
External links
[edit]- The Chinese Cat film details at The Charlie Chan Family Home
- Charlie Chan in the Chinese Cat at IMDb
- Charlie Chan in the Chinese Cat at the TCM Movie Database
- Charlie Chan in the Chinese Cat at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
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