Dinheiro Sinistro

When a murder takes place on board ship, it's a good thing that Charlie Chan is there to solve it!

It's Sidney Toler's next to last appearance as the detective, and it's a pretty good entry in the Monogram series. Victor Sen Yung is present again as #2 son, Jimmy, and his comic timing with assistant Willie Best. The cast is well filled out, with Dick Elliott, Joseph Crehan, and Gloria Warren. Toler is looking tired, and the movie is directed to have him move as little as possible. He was suffering from the cancer that would eventually kill him. Longtime cast member Mantan Moreland told him he should be in the hospital, but Toler worked on; "Manny, if I go, all these people are out of a job."

And so he soldiered on. It's good that this one is a better mystery, and the cast was up to higher standards.

On board the S.S. Newcastle bound from Honolulu to Samoa, Charlie Chan is approached by a fellow passenger who reveals himself as Scott Pearson of the Treasure Department; he's on a strictly secret mission concerning 'hot' money on the islands, but there have already been two attempts made on his life and so he asks Charlie for help. Charlie suggests that the best place to observe all the other passengers is the lounge, where a party is being held for the crossing of the Equator - but the danger comes from OUTSIDE: through the blinds of a window, a knife shoots right into Pearson's back...

Together with Captain Black, Charlie goes through Pearson's secret papers, where a mysterious 'Lane' is mentioned - but who is he?? More or less EVERYBODY on board seems suspicious in some way: loud-mouthed 'cotton trader' Burke, a Swedish trader called Erickson and his Samoan wife, Rona Simonds who poses as a tourist, but there seems to be something wrong with her papers, and the ship's purser George Brace obviously covers up for her, strange ichthyologist Prof. Martin, Reverend Whipple and his ugly wife...

When they land in Samoa, things become even more complicated: we find out that Burke blackmails Rona, then that he himself also knows things he hasn't admitted - and then more knives come flying through the air... And finally, Charlie's favorite 'number two son' Jimmy and Chattanooga make a GREAT discovery!

A real treat for all fans of complicated crime movies - and a big joy for the fans of the 'Charlie Chan' series: Sen Yung (who'd been serving in the US Airforce Intelligence during the War!) is back again as Jimmy! Not that Benson Fong as 'Tommy', or the other 'members' of Charlie's large family who'd played his assistants in between, hadn't added a great lot of entertainment to the movies they'd played in; but Jimmy is - well, just Jimmy... Fresh and rash and self-confident as always, he and ever-frightened 'Chattanooga' Willie Best make an EXCELLENT duo here to lighten up the murderous plot!

There's a small turtle with a torch on his back in "Dangerous Money," but that's never explained.

Well, we never do find out about that turtle...

"Dangerous Money" takes place on board ship, where a treasury agent investigating the movement of counterfeit money tells Charlie (Sidney Toler) that two attempts have been made on his life.

Finally, one succeeds, thanks to a flying knife, which plays into other parts of the film as well.

Charlie investigates, with the "help" of Jimmy Chan (Victor Sen Yeung) and Chattanooga Brown (Willie Best). This time around, Charlie actually has a couple of real assignments for them. The film also features Gloria Warren as Rona Simmonds.

Jimmy and Chattanooga supply some of the humor and play off of one another well. The best is Chattanooga playing sick so that Jimmy can get the doctor's fingerprints.

Entertaining.

Definitely, one of the more ambitious Chan mysteries made by Monogram in the 40s, which relied more on deadly devices and chemicals to do in our hero, and just about anybody else. Film historians have long said the difference between Warner Oland and Sidney Toler is the fact Oland was a more methodical, thoughtful actor while Toler came off a tad more serious, slightly mysterious at times, matching the dark characters he was up against. Accordingly, the writers surrounded Toler with more atmosphere and, yes, innovative weapons.

The villain here employs a razor sharp knife gun. You have to admit, it's one insane weapon. For a welcome change of pace, Charlie, assisted by Number Two Son Jimmy (Victor Sen Yung) and Chattanooga (Willie Best) board an ocean liner bound for Somoa, trailing a counterfeting ring, and the MAIN man is a crafty killer. Appropriately, one of Charlie's colleagues is knifed in the back (catch the knife flying through the air!) and the hunt begins. The special effects ain't too bad, either.

Enough suspects to go around, and love all the brooding and guilty faces. Take your pick. The cast features some fine talent; Gloria Warren co-stars, known for her beautiful singing voice, also Rick Vallin (who would turn up many times on tv's SUPERMAN), Dick Elliot (as Burke), always looking guilty, Joseph Crehan as the police captain (a natural in this type of role) and John Harmon (Freddie), often cast in tv westerns, like BONANZA.

Special nod to comedian Willie Best as Chatanooga. Willie actually came to Hollywood and worked as a chauffeur. A staple in many classics, like GHOST BUSTERS opposite Bob Hope, who had nothing but praise for him.

Terry Morse directs this with style, and it shows, boasting some excellent sets to match. Looks like this production had a slightly higher budget. Morse was a well known film editor for years, nicknamed "the doctor," later gaining fame for directing GODZILLA.

Best dvd box is through Warner Brothers, the TCM Spotlight Charlie Chan Collection. 4 dvds, also featuring DARK ALIBI, THE TRAP and THE CHINESE RING. Released 2010. Thanks much to RETRO TV for running Charlie Chan Friday afternoons, and all the memories attached.

A foggy night on a cruise ship. Charlie Chan huddles at the rail with a man who confides that he is a government agent investigating hot money circulating in the islands. Already two attempts have been made on his life. Chan nods sagely.

It's an atmospheric opening that sets the scene nicely, reminiscent of the best Chan mysteries made several years earlier. Various characters slink by or stop to say hello as Chan and the agent talk....all suspects?

Moments later, sure enough, the government man is struck down in the ball room, victim of a knife thrown by an unseen hand. Chan takes on both the murder and the counterfeiting investigations.

Sidney Toler is fine once again as the famous detective. Sen Yung and Willie Best are along as Mr. Chan's assistants, and while this series entry has less comedy than usual, Yung and Best do manage to get some humor out of a pair of two-way radios they use in their efforts to spy on passengers and gather clues.

Overall, the plot is nothing special but manages to hold together for 66 minutes. The cast is solid and includes some familiar faces like ship captain Joseph Crehan. It's not the best Charlie Chan movie but certainly a decent late series entry.

Best movie prop ever: One of the suspects is a professor of ichthyology and he spends most of the movie carrying around a big book called simply FISH.