The Jade Mask ** (1945, Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland, Edwin Luke) – Classic Movie Review 9056

Director Phil Rosen’s 1945 thriller The Jade Mask again stars Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan, who this time investigates a married pair of killers (Frank Reicher, Edith Evanson) who try to prove their corpses are living on by the use of The Jade Mask.

The Jade Mask is a tolerable if rather tatty and low-voltage series entry. Mantan Moreland returns as chauffeur Birmingham Brown and Edwin Luke plays Number Four Son Eddie Chan, in the character’s only film appearance, and Frank Reicher is eccentric scientist Harper.

Also in the cast are Janet Warren, Edith Evanson, Hardie Albright, Cyril Delevanti, Alan (Al) Bridge, Ralph Lewis, Jack Ingram, Joe Whitehead, Danny Desmond and Henry Hall.

Edwin Luke is the real-life younger brother of Keye Luke, who played Number One Son throughout the Thirties.

The Jade Mask is directed by Phil Rosen, runs 66 minutes, is made and released by Monogram Pictures, is written by George Callahan (original screenplay), is shot in black and white by Harry Neumann, is produced by James S Burkett and is scored by Dave Torbett.

It was released on 26 January 1945.

The 37th of 47 Charlie Chan movies, it follows Black Magic (1944) and is followed by The Scarlet Clue (1945).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9056

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