Docks of New Orleans (1948)

After the partners in the LaFontaine Chemical Co. sign a legal agreement leaving their share to the surviving partner(s), two of them are murdered.

Director:

Derwin Abrahams

Writers:

Earl Derr Biggers (characters), Scott Darling (original screenplay) (as W. Scott Darling)

Stars:

Roland Winters, Virginia Dale, Mantan Moreland

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Roland Winters	...	Charlie Chan
Virginia Dale	...	Rene Blanchette
Mantan Moreland	...	Birmingham Brown
John Gallaudet	...	Capt. Pete McNalley
Victor Sen Yung	...	Tommy Chan (as Victor Sen Young)
Carol Forman	...	Nita Aguirre
Douglas Fowley	...	Grock
Harry Hayden	...	Oscar Swenstrom
Howard Negley	...	Andre Pereaux
Stanley Andrews	...	Theodore Von Scherbe
Emmett Vogan	...	Henri Castanaro
Boyd Irwin	...	Simon LaFontanne
Rory Mallinson	...	Thompson
George J. Lewis	...	Police Sgt. Dansiger

Storyline

The LaFontanne Chemical Company is shipping out a load of we're not sure what, disguised as something entirely different. Mr. Pereaux and Mr. Grock don't want that shipment to ever arrive anywhere, and they and a man named Aquirre mean to stop it at any cost. The ship's owner, Mr. Fontanne, smells a large rat and calls Chan in on the case, since the famous detective is in New Orleans because, well, because he felt like being in New Orleans, I guess. Chan gets what facts there are from LaFontanne, who is promply set upon by a gang who attempt to kidnap him, but fail. Mr. LaFontanne's partners come up with some insurance; just by chance they tell him, a partnership agreement (why they would have been running a company all this time without one is another large mystery which will not be solved) that bestows upon the living partners the portion owned by a deceased partner. Then the guy who invented the formula for the poison gas that the company is making but who was, in his opinion, ...

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Plot Keywords:

louisiana | smuggling | held at gunpoint | customs officer | 

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Genres:

Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The forty-third of forty-seven Charlie Chan movies.

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Goofs

The sound of Jimmy's violin is heard for a second on the soundtrack after he stops playing.

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Quotes

Charlie Chan: If matter not solved, it is will of fate, but still feel inclined to give fate small tussle.

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Connections

Remake of Mr. Wong, Detective (1938)

User Reviews

Another Winters Stinker

Charlie Chan (Roland Winters) is asked by one of the owners of a chemical plant to investigate the murders of some of his co-owners. The guy is worried he's next. At least, I think that's what the plot was about as it was convoluted and the movie was so dull I stopped caring early on.

Winters is absolutely terrible as Chan. I can't stress this enough. I hate everything about his performance. I especially hate how he delivers lines ("How long you have..uh...been...uh..shaking hands with trouble?"). There is nothing likable or appealing about Roland Winters performance in any of his Chan films. Mantan Moreland is in this as Birmingham Brown. The less said about him the better. Victor Sen Yung is Tommy Chan. Why they messed with the names I don't know but for all of the Toler Chan films he appeared in, Sen Yung played "Number Two Son" Jimmy. Benson Fong played "Number Three Son" Tommy, a totally different son. But when Winters took over the role of Chan, they kept Sen Yung on but changed his name from Jimmy to Tommy, even though he's still referred to as "Number Two Son!" Just another example of the shoddy writing and production at Monogram. This is an exceptionally boring Chan film. Attractive Carol Forman is about the only thing worth recommending about this one.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 March 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

Charlie Chan in Docks of New Orleans

Company Credits

Production Co:

Monogram Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

64 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1