The Trap (1946)

When a troupe of showgirls with their impresario and press agent vacation at a Malibu Beach resort, two of them are garroted. Charlie takes on the case assisted by Number Two Son Jimmy and faithful chauffeur Birmingham Brown.

Director:

Howard Bretherton

Writers:

Earl Derr Biggers (character), Miriam Kissinger (original screenplay)

Stars:

Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland, Victor Sen Yung

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sidney Toler	...	Charlie Chan
Mantan Moreland	...	Birmingham Brown
Victor Sen Yung	...	Jimmy Chan (as Victor Sen Young)
Tanis Chandler	...	Adelaide Brandt
Larry J. Blake	...	Rick Daniels (as Larry Blake)
Kirk Alyn	...	Patrol Sgt. Reynolds
Rita Quigley	...	Clementine
Anne Nagel	...	Marcia
Helen Gerald	...	Ruby
Howard Negley	...	Cole King, Impresario
Lois Austin	...	Mrs. Thorn
Barbara Jean Wong	...	San Toy
Minerva Urecal	...	Mrs. Weebles the Housekeeper
Margaret Brayton	...	Madge Mudge
Bettie Best	...	Winifred

Storyline

When a troupe of showgirls with their impresario and press agent vacation at a Malibu Beach resort, two of them are garroted. Charlie takes on the case assisted by Number Two Son Jimmy and faithful chauffeur Birmingham Brown.

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Plot Keywords:

press agent | beach | troupe | malibu | vacation | 

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Taglines:

Chan hunts the weirdest killer of his career! (original poster)

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 November 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

Charlie Chan in the Trap

Filming Locations:

Monogram Studios - 1725 Fleming Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$75,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Monogram Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

62 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was Sidney Toler's final film. Stricken with cancer during his last few films, he was so physically weak during shooting that he could hardly walk or say his lines coherently.

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Goofs

The chemical used on San Toy is initially referred to as chloroform but is later changed to ether.

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Quotes

Ruby: You can't quarrel with a lapdog.

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Connections

Follows Charlie Chan's Greatest Case (1933)

User Reviews

Toler's last Chan film is a big disappointment.

"The Trap" was Sidney Toler's last film as Chan. Too bad it is one of the worst. The script is very poor and so is the acting on all counts. (Well, okay. Sen Yung and Mantan Moreland are funny.) Toler acts like a sleep walker through the whole dreary thing. Granted he was ill. The production values are low even for Monogram. A better title was its working title, "Murder in Malibu" as it is set at a beach house in Malibu. But the whole thing is miserable and not fun at all.