The Scarlet Clue (1945)

Charlie discovers a scheme for the theft of government radar plans while investigating several murders.

Director:

Phil Rosen

Writers:

George Callahan (original screenplay), Earl Derr Biggers (based on the character created by)

Stars:

Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland, Ben Carter

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Sidney Toler	...	Charlie Chan
Mantan Moreland	...	Birmingham Brown
Ben Carter	...	Ben Carter
Benson Fong	...	Tommy Chan
Virginia Brissac	...	Mrs. Marsh
Robert Homans	...	Capt. Flynn (as Robert E. Homans)
Jack Norton	...	Willie Rand
Janet Shaw	...	Gloria Bayne
Helen Deverell	...	Diane Hall (as Helen Devereaux)
Victoria Faust	...	Hulda Swenson

Storyline

Charlie Chan investigates the theft of government radar papers (the laboratory is located in the same building as a radio station!) with the help of Number Three Son Tommy and comic sidekick Birmingham Brown.

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Plot Keywords:

radio station | chemical reaction | asian detective | wind tunnel | stabbed to death | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 May 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

Charlie Chan in the Scarlet Clue

Box Office

Budget:

$75,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Monogram Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

65 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At one point at the TV station, Sidney Toler appears to have actually gotten shocked, albeit accidentally, by a cyclometer, ad-libbing " . . . also keep finger out of same" in response.

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Goofs

Charlie tells the police chemist to blow the cigarette smoke into the beaker. It is not a beaker, but an Erlenmeyer flask the smoke is blown into it, while all are in the police laboratory.

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Quotes

Charlie Chan: Number three son have excellent head. Question have always been, "What it contain?"

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Connections

Follows Castle in the Desert (1942)

User Reviews

I Got a LIFT Out of This Chan Film

Famed detective and government agent Charlie Chan is back again for this Monogram film where Charlie is trailing a suspect who may be involved with plans to steal radar equipment/secrets from our government for foreign spies and who has just killed aboard a ship. Chan and detective friend trace suspect back to a radio show and from there on Charlie helps at least three more people get killed with his investigation. This is an interesting Chan vehicle and gives Sidney Toler plenty of screen time to hone his Chan skills. Benson Fong and Mantan Moreland are back once again and lift the mundane to the amusing with their comic routines. Moreland, again, steals his scenes and gives the film a lot of vitality it would otherwise not have. I particularly like a couple of routines he does in the film with a guy he knows and neither one lets the other finish the sentence. The comic timing was first-rate! As for the mystery, it is not too terribly confusing though when the end is told no real explanation as to why and who did crimes is revealed fully. I enjoyed many of the characterizations of the show people. I thought the means of death were very inventive, and I loved the whole thing with the elevator. Very clever.