Dark Alibi (1946)

Director:

Phil Karlson

Writers:

George Callahan (screenplay)
Earl Derr Biggers (based on characters created by)

Release Date:

25 May 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

THE MASTER OF MYSTERY EXPOSES A GENIUS OF CRIME! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

A public defender enlists Charlie to exonerate one of his clients, an ex-con falsely accused of bank robbery and murder, scheduled for execution in nine days.

Plot Keywords:

Fingerprints | Bank Robbery | Ex Con | Detective | Prison

Cast

Sidney Toler	...	Charlie Chan
Mantan Moreland	...	Birmingham Brown
Ben Carter	...	Benjamin Brown
Benson Fong	...	Tommy Chan
Teala Loring	...	June Harley
George Holmes	...	Hugh Kenzie
Joyce Compton	...	Emily Evans
John Eldredge	...	Anthony R. Morgan
Russell Hicks	...	Warden Cameron
Tim Ryan	...	Foggy
Janet Shaw	...	Miss Petrie
Edward Earle	...	Thomas Harley
Ray Walker	...	Danvers
Milton Parsons	...	Johnson
Edna Holland	...	Mrs. Foss
Anthony Warde	...	Jimmy Slade
George Eldredge	...	Brand
Meyer Grace	...	Punchy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frank Marlowe	...	Barker (uncredited)
Tom Quinn	...	Criminologist (uncredited)
William Ruhl	...	Thompson - Criminologist (uncredited)

Directed by
Phil Karlson

Writing credits
George Callahan		(screenplay)
Earl Derr Biggers		(based on characters created by)

Produced by
James S. Burkett	....	producer

Original Music by
Edward J. Kay		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
William A. Sickner

Film Editing by
Ace Herman

Art Direction by
Dave Milton		(uncredited)

Production Management
Glenn Cook	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Theodore Joos	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Tom Lambert	....	sound

Special Effects by
Larry Glickman	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Al Nicklin	....	second camera operator (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Richard C. Currier	....	supervising editor (as Richard Currier)

Music Department
Edward J. Kay	....	musical director
William A. Wilmarth	....	music mixer (uncredited)

Other crew
Dave Milton	....	technical director

Production Companies

• Monogram Pictures

Distributors

• Monogram Pictures (1946) (USA) (theatrical)
• Associated British Film Distributors (ABFD) (1946) (UK) (theatrical)
• Teakwood Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Included in "TCM Spotlight: Charlie Chan Collection")
• Pathé Pictures Ltd. (1946) (UK) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

"Charlie Chan in Dark Alibi" - USA (informal title)

Runtime:

61 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | UK:U

Company:

Monogram Pictures

Trivia:

Ben Carter and Mantan Moreland were vaudeville comedy partners and their three scenes together are from their regular routine. They had done a similar routine in another Chan film, The Scarlet Clue (1945).

Quotes:

Charlie Chan:You two not afraid?
Tommy Chan:Afraid of what, Pop?
Charlie Chan:That you sit down so often you get concussion of brain.
Tommy Chan:Pop, I got a swell idea!
Charlie Chan:Good. Save it for old age.

Movie Connections:

Follows Charlie Chan in Reno (1939)

no alibi needed here

if you miss this one. It was evident this series was coming to an end (as was Toler's life) in this unrealistic mystery that was held aloft by gimmicks.The comedy of Birmingham Brown (Mantan Moreland) was the only bright spot which carried this movie through to it's conclusion.Although a credible actor,Benson Fong playing Tommy Chan, is just plain flat. Tommy and Birmingham seem to have a free reign in what appears to be a maximum security prison.Much ado here about nothing.