Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (1944)
Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (1944) is the first Charlie Chan film produced by Monogram Pictures. Sidney Toler reprises his role as Inspector Charlie Chan. After Twentieth-Century Fox decided to cancel the series after Castle in the Desert (1942), Sidney Toler bought the production rights. He successfully shopped the rights for the series to Monogram.
Sidney Toler made eleven films for Twentieth-Century Fox before making another eleven films for Monogram Pictures. He would have made more films for Monogram but he died of intestinal cancer on February 12, 1947. Roland Winters would take over the role and play Charlie Chan in seven more films.
Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan from the Public Domain
This film (affiliate link) set the series off to a solid start. Sidney Toler was healthy at the time, so he could be an active participant both mentally and physically in the film. Benson Fong would join the series as “Number Three Son Tommy”. Although he would never be as funny as “Number Two Son Jimmy” played by Victor Sen Yung, Fong turned in solid performances as a helper and comic relief. Mantan Moreland also enters the series as Birmingham Brown, a chauffeur. In later films, he would be Inspector Chan’s driver and Tommy’s partner. Inspector Chan often referred to Tommy and Birmingham as his sitting assistants.
The film begins in the home of Dr. John Melton, the inventor of a new bomb. Melton is preparing for a dinner party with friends. Prior to the guests arriving, Dr. Melton dies under mysterious circumstances. The plans for the bomb have also disappeared. The Washington, D. C. police call the Secret Service, where Inspector Charlie Chan is doing work for the War Office. Charlie heads to the home to begin his investigation. Inspector Chan quickly realizes that a German agent is present among the guests. He must unmask the agent and recover the plans.
This film runs approximately 64 minutes. You can leave a comment or ask a question about this or any post on my Facebook page and Twitter profile.
Pin It){kind=link}
