San Francisco is the scene of Chan's newest and most baffling mystery!
1936-01-10
N/A
72 min
Allen Colby, heir to a huge fortune, is presumed drowned after an ocean liner sinks off the coast of Honolulu. Mysteriously, Colby reappears at his mansion only to be murdered soon after. When his body is discovered during a seance, everyone in attendance becomes a suspect, and it's up to Chan to find the murderer before he or she strikes again.
Again the author's fascination with all things occult features heavily in this quite gripping instalment of the "Charlie Chan" series. This one starts with the sinking of an ocean liner, and the presumed drowning of the millionaire "Allan Colby". Our sceptical detective is not convinced, and travels to San Francisco to investigate, It turns out, he was right - but only momentarily, for before the wealthy gent has any chance to explain what happened, he is stabbed and a hunt for the murderer is afoot. As you'd expect, there are loads of suspects when he arrives at the deceased man's mansion and medium "Carlotta" (Gloria Roy) succeeds in stirring everyone up nicely. It looks good, this film, plenty of wealthy Californian glamour to accompany a sparing script and a decently simmering plot. Herbert Mundin overcooks his role as the rather cowardly butler, and no "Jimmy" to foil his father's more earnest characteristics hold it back a little, but it is still quite a well built yarn with a conclusion worth staying around for and some stronger than usual supporting efforts, too.
