Charlie Chan in Panama ** (1940, Sidney Toler, Jean Rogers, Lionel Atwill) – Classic Movie Review 9041

Director Norman Foster’s 1940 thriller Charlie Chan in Panama once more stars Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan, who this time is involved in the Second World War again, this time trying to stop ship bombers in the Panama Canal.

Charlie Chan in Panama is neatly made, and offers quite intriguing espionage thrills, as well as a strong character actor cast. But there is too much wartime stuff and it is all too evident that Charlie Chan is off his proper territory.

Also in the cast are Jean Rogers, Kane Richmond, Lionel Atwill, Mary Nash, Victor Sen Yung, Chris-Pin Martin, Jack La Rue, Edward Keane, Addison Richards, Frank Puglia, Don Douglas, Edwin Stanley, Helen Ericson and Lionel Royce.

Charlie Chan in Panama is directed by Norman Foster, runs 67 minutes, is made and released by 20th Century Fox, is written by John Larkin and Lester Ziffren, is shot in black and white by Virgil Miller, is produced by Sol M Wurtzel and is scored by Samuel Kaylin.

The 26th of 47 Charlie Chan movies, it follows City in Darkness (1939) and is followed by Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise (1940).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9041

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