Charlie Chan in Panama

Among the war propaganda motion pictures made during the II World War, "Charlie Chan in Panama" is one of the best, and a fine entry in the Charlie Chan series, with Sidney Toler in the leading role. It is a likable and very amusing recreation of Panamá in the 1940s (and I may say rather accurate), with the Canal Zone US military bases, the swinging life of night clubs in the city of Panamá, the seedy port "cantinas" in the colonial section of the city, its Chinatown section, and the characteristic presence of people from all over the world, a trait still present today. Chan does not disappoint, as he works for the US Armed Forces and tries to discover who is trying to destroy the Panama Canal. A remake of "Marie Galante", much better than the original.

Although made before the U.S. had entered World War II, this one feels totally like a World War II picture. Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) goes undercover in Panama to root out a saboteur (and murderer) known as Ryner. Exceptionally good supporting cast, solid plot, and tense direction make this one of the better Toler Chan films. Victor Sen Yung is back as "Number Two Son" Jimmy Chan and is fun as always. His comical antics are dialed back a bit here to make room for the sabotage story, which is treated with the utmost seriousness. Lionel Atwill, Addison Richards, Jean Rogers, Mary Nash, and Jack La Rue are all very good. Interesting that Charlie doesn't show up until ten minutes into the movie. Good story and the saboteur's identity was a genuine surprise to me. Definitely a Charlie Chan film I would recommend.

In his last making of a Chan film, director Norman Foster re-makes the 1934 film `Marie Galante' with good success. Sidney Toler by now has five of the Chan series under his belt and he has clearly hit his stride in the role. Good supporting acting by Lionel Atwill and Sen Yung. George Zucco did much better as the suspicious scientist in `Charlie Chan in Honolulu` than does the Lionel Royce in this film. Jean Rogers is better remembered as Dale Arden in the `Flash Gordon' films.

By 1940, American audiences were being conditioned to the threat from saboteurs, such as Ryner, and a nation in arms. Chan exclaims `Intelligent defense of nation best guarantee for years of peace.' There are sufficient clues, cleverly disguised, and lots of misdirection, but the keen observer will be able to keep up with Chan during this case. Recommended.

As the title implies, the famous detective is in the country of Panama disguised as a hat salesman in order to expose a spy in the vicinity. Along for this ride is his son Jimmy (Victor Sen Yung) who, as usual, gets into some scrapes but, as always, is once again willing to help his Pop along on a case. I'll just now say this was quite exciting to watch during the hour and seven minutes it was running. So I say, give Charlie Chan in Panama a chance.

Disguised as humble Chinese hatter 'Fu Yuen', Charlie Chan assists the Secret Service way down in Panama, close to that so very important, narrow and vulnerable pathway between North and South America: the Panama Canal. And there are indications that there will be great danger for the US Fleet that is bound to pass through the Canal the next day: the dangerous international spy known only as "Ryner" probably is on the spot and planning something catastrophic - connected with anything from rats infected with bubonic plague to containers filled with nitroglycerin...!

Charlie very soon closes in on Ryner: he must have been on board the small airplane that takes passengers across the Canal, because one of his colleagues, who was also on the plane, dies right in Charlie's shop while they're discussing the case from a poisoned cigarette - but his cigarettes had been perfectly alright before he and the other passengers boarded the plane... And so we've got a shady night club owner, a young European fugitive singer without a passport, a strange scientist, an elderly lady teacher, an Egyptian who owns a tobacco shop - but Ryner's VERY clever, so Charlie (aided by son Jimmy even down in Panama - because while the cruise ship he was working on was stopping near the Canal, he took some photos of the forbidden military zone and ended up in jail...) has got to employ ALL his wits and cunningness in order to uncover him and save the US Fleet...

Another very nice piece of mystery entertainment, murder mixed with espionage this time - a GREAT challenge for fans who like to follow the story and find out the culprit even before the detective does; because in this case, for those who pay attention, it IS possible! Besides that, the Latin American atmosphere is very nice (it was hugely popular at the time), and the cast is great, so the movie flows very smoothly - but not without some sudden shock effects in between, of course... A great B movie classic, VERY worth watching.