The Shanghai Cobra ** (1945, Sidney Toler, Benson Fong, Mantan Moreland, Joan Barclay) – Classic Movie Review 9058

Director Phil Karlson’s 1945 low-budget Monogram Studios series thriller The Shanghai Cobra is an acceptable but slow paced and unatmospheric Charlie Chan entry.

Sidney Toler again stars as Charlie Chan, who this time investigates mysterious deaths apparently caused through snake bite. Three bank employees are found murdered with cobra venom, and it turns out a villain is trying to steal radium stored in their bank.

Also in the cast are Benson Fong, Mantan Moreland, Joan Barclay, James Flavin, Addison Richards, Walter Fenner, James Cardwell, and Arthur Loft.

The Shanghai Cobra is directed by Phil Karlson, runs 64 minutes, is made and released by Monogram Pictures, is written by George Callahan (original story and screenplay) and George Wallace Sayre (screenplay), is shot in back and white by Vince Farrar, is produced by James S Burkett, is scored by Edward J Kay (musical director) and is designed by Dave Milton.

The 34th of 47 Charlie Chan movies, it follows The Scarlet Clue (1945) and is followed by The Red Dragon (1945).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9058

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