Charlie Chan en Panamá

Sidney Toler did really well in this outing as Detective Charlie Chan, undercover in Panama City in order to help the U. S. Government capture spies. Since one of Charlie Chan's signature parts of his outfit is his Panama Hat, it was only logical that his cover be as a proprietor of a Panama Hat shop.

As in most Chan movies, we see very atmospheric locales, many shady characters, and Chan, ever calm, solving the mystery. Lionel Atwill is a part of the shady cast and does a great job. Victor Sen-Yung who plays #2 son, Jimmy will be a familiar face to TV watchers, he played Hop Sing the Chinese cook on Bonanza for years. He does a great job here as the over eager son who wants to help Charlie but usually ends up in the way. He does provide good comic relief in this story.

All in all, a good entry in the Chan series. The solution to the mystery is a little clearer than it often is in this series, many times with Charlie Chan films when he explains the solution at the end, you just have to throw up your hands and trust that Charlie knows what he is talking about, it isn't always very clear. The telling of the story makes sense, making this a good introduction to the series if you are new at it.

Recommended!!!

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.

back lot Hollywood provides a rather convincing Panama City of the 40's.Overall a fine plot of a mystery that works evenly with a surprise ending.One of Tolar's better movies, if not the best, with an excellent cast of characters.Well done !

We don't see Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan until ten minutes into this entry in Fox' long-running B series. First we are treated to a group taking a plane to the Canal Zone, talking about how it is a city of spies. As a result, when we see Lieutenant Chan of the Honolulu Police selling hats under an assumed name to one of the plane's passengers, exchanging recognition codes, we know we're in a spy thriller. When the buyer drops dead, we're happy to see familiar territory.

The pleasures of the old Charlie Chan series are many. Victor Sen Yung plays one of the great detective's innumerable offspring. Charlie speaks in proverbs. And, of course, there's the pleasure of the many character actors: Lionel Atwill and Jean Rogers and Mary Nash are near the top of the credits. Further down, we get Chris-Pin Martin and Kane Richmond. Even the uncredited payers include interesting names like Franklyn Farnum and Edward Gargan. That's because Charlie Chan pictures were a sure money-maker for Fox, and they spent their money cannily.

People nowadays think that the Charlie Chan series were an exercise in racism. I see them as just the opposite. Charlie is world-famous in the pictures, always the smartest man in the room, and his kids are thoroughly Americanized. How less racist can you be?