Castle in the Desert (1942)

Charlie Chan investigates apparent poisonings at a mystery mansion in the Mojave Desert.

Director:

Harry Lachman

Writers:

John Larkin (original screenplay), Earl Derr Biggers (character)

Stars:

Sidney Toler, Arleen Whelan, Richard Derr

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Sidney Toler	...	Charlie Chan
Arleen Whelan	...	Brenda Hartford
Richard Derr	...	Carl Detheridge
Douglass Dumbrille	...	Manderley (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Henry Daniell	...	Watson King
Edmund MacDonald	...	Walter Hartford
Victor Sen Yung	...	Jimmy Chan (as Sen Yung)
Lenita Lane	...	Lucy Manderley
Ethel Griffies	...	Madame Saturnia
Milton Parsons	...	Fletcher
Steven Geray	...	Dr. Retling (as Steve Geray)
Lucien Littlefield	...	Gleason

Storyline

Paul Manderley, eccentric historian, and his wife, descendant of the Borgias, live in an isolated castle-like mansion in the Mojave Desert. When a guest suddenly collapses, Charlie Chan is invited to stay. As the standard mystery-mansion props come into play, and all means of outside communication are sabotaged, it becomes evident that one of the inhabitants has access to poisons and is prepared to use them...

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Plot Keywords:

mansion | mojave desert | borgias | historian | chinese hero | 

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Taglines:

...a poison arrow whizzes past... as Charlie Chan opens the gate to his most baffling adventure!

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 February 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Charlie Chan in Castle in the Desert

Filming Locations:

Backlot, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

62 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The exterior of the hotel would later be dressed as the saloon for The Ox-Bow Incident.

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Goofs

Paul Manderley, supposedly an expert on the Italian Rennaissance, mispronounces Cesare Borgia's first name, making it sound like Caesar as in Julius Caesar.

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Quotes

Lily, Mme. Saturnia: You have enemies, Mr. Chan?
Charlie Chan: Man without enemies like dog without fleas.

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Connections

Follows Charlie Chan in Shanghai (1935)

User Reviews

"Man who fears death die a thousand times."

Lucy Manderley is the obvious suspect when two guests are seemingly murdered at Manderley Castle, located in the Mojave Desert. Her husband Paul is a mysterious recluse who stands to lose his $20 million dollar estate if it can be proved he is mentally unfit.

Charlie Chan has a lot to piece together in this brisk mystery. Number Two Son Jimmy Chan is on leave from the army to help out his "Pop". If at all possible, try to view the Chan films in the order that they were released, the continuity is amazing. It was in the prior "Charlie Chan in Rio" film that Jimmy received his military papers.

Ethel Griffies and Milton Parsons are on hand from "Dead Men Tell" and perform admirably, particularly Ms. Griffies as the amazingly accurate psychic Madame Saturna - "The stars never lie".

The funniest line in the film comes from Sidney Toler's Chan character, responding to son Jimmy's choice of a suit of armor for a disguise - "What has canned outpost observed?" My compliments to the writer of that line, I can't get it out of my head!

Keep an eye out at the hotel stop where Charlie boards his ride for Manderley Castle, the sign overhead states "Rooms 50 cents". Better get an early reservation!

This is an enjoyable film with a fine cast, and well worth your time. Give it a try.