Charlie Chan in the Chinese Cat
The Chinese Cat (also titled Murder in the Funhouse) is a 1944 mystery film starring Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan.
| 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 |
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
- Joan Woodbury as daughter Leah 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
- Charlie Chan Family
- 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 AllMovie
- Charlie Chan in the Chinese Cat at the American Film Institute Catalog