Charlie Chan no 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.

This spy adventure is one of Sidney Toler's best Chan films. It is a very clever and exciting mystery with a lot of local atmosphere including a crypt. The supporting cast is excellent. There is a lot of humor, action, and suspense through out. The story was filmed before as "Marie Galante" in 1934 with Spencer Tracy. This is a much better version.

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.

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?

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.