Charlie Chan in the Secret Service ** (1944, Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland, Arthur Loft) – Classic Movie Review 9049

Director Phil Rosen’s 1944 comedy crime mystery thriller Charlie Chan in the Secret Service re-launches the franchise after 20th Century Fox axed the series following the 1942 Castle in the Desert.

Happily, Sidney Toler returns for the first in Charlie Chan’s films at cost-conscious Monogram Pictures studios as Charlie Chan (Toler) is recruited by the Secret Service and is assigned to track down the killer of a scientist inventor, George Melton (John Elliott).

Charlie Chan in the Secret Service is cheap looking but the admirable Toler stays cheerful and in command as the Asian American detective. Mantan Moreland is a minus as the supposedly comic cabbie, Birmingham Brown, in his first appearance. Even the original story by George Callahan is not as good as the Fox studio ones, though it is serviceable.

Also in the cast are Gwen Kenyon, Benson Fong, Arthur Loft, Sarah Edwards, Marianne Quon, Lelah Tyler, Gene Roth [Gene Stutenroth], Eddy Chandler [Eddie Chandler], George Lessey, George J Lewis, Barry Bernard, Davison Clark and Muni Seroff.

Charlie Chan in the Secret Service is directed by Phil Rosen, runs 63 minutes, is made by Monogram Pictures, is distributed by Monogram Pictures (1944) (US) and Associated British Film Distributors (1944) (UK), is written by George Callahan (original screenplay), is shot in black and white by Ira H Morgan, is produced by Philip N Krasne and James S Burkett, and is scored by Karl Hajos.

The 31st of 47 Charlie Chan movies, it follows Castle in the Desert (1942) and is followed by Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat (1944).

Originally, a ‘Buy War Bonds’ screen promo followed ‘The End’.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9049

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