Dark Alibi *** (1946, Sidney Toler, Benson Fong, Mantan Moreland, Teala Loring, Ben Carter) – Classic Movie Review 9066

Safe-crackings, faked fingerprints, framed jailbirds, shoot-outs and cell block riots are all relished here by esteemed B-movie director Phil Karlson, who gives this 1946 Charlie Chan entry Dark Alibi welcome pace and tension.

Sidney Toler is still fine as Charlie Chan and the busy movie keeps up a reasonable energy and invention for one in a series that had run so long.

Also in the cast are Benson Fong as Tommy Chan, Mantan Moreland as Birmingham Brown, Teala Loring, Ben Carter, George Holmes, Edward Earle, Russell Hicks, Joyce Compton, John Eldredge, William Ruhl, Milton Parsons, Ray Walker, Anthony Warde, Tim Ryan, Janet Shaw, Edna Holland and George Eldredge.

Dark Alibi is directed by Phil Karlson, runs 61 minutes, is made and released by Monogram Pictures, is written by George Callahan, is shot in black and white by William A Sickner, and is produced by James S Burkett.

Carter and Moreland were comedy partners, here performing their routine from vaudeville, as they did in The Scarlet Clue (1945).

The 40th of 47 Charlie Chan films, it follows The Red Dragon (1945) and is followed by Shadows Over Chinatown (1946).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9066

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