While the quality of this Charlie Chan film isn't quite up to the exceptional quality of most of the Twentieth-Century Fox Chan films, it does rank among the better films of the series produced by Monogram Pictures. Most of this is because the mystery itself is more interesting--more of a real mystery than you find in most of the films.
As usual, one of the Chan clan is on hand to provide help for their father. Tommy Chan (Benson Fong) actually is a bit more helpful and resourceful than usual. However, the acerbic tongue of Sidney Toler (as Charlie) is as cutting as ever as he makes many amusing comments about the "help" usually provided by Tommy and their driver, Birmingham.
This film begins with a man being convicted of robbery and murder. However, the man swears he didn't do it. Charlie is called in my the family to try to sort out how the man's finger prints could be at the crime scene and yet he be an innocent man. While the technology to fake prints isn't apparently possible, how Chan is able to piece it all together is pretty interesting and makes for an excellent plot.
By the way, Mantan Moreland and his old stage partner Ben Carter do a couple old comedy routines together throughout the film. They also did a similar scene in another Chan film, SCARLET CLUE. Many might find this and the antics of Moreland throughout the film an offensive Black stereotype in film, though they are pretty entertaining despite their political incorrectness.
As usual, one of the Chan clan is on hand to provide help for their father. Tommy Chan (Benson Fong) actually is a bit more helpful and resourceful than usual. However, the acerbic tongue of Sidney Toler (as Charlie) is as cutting as ever as he makes many amusing comments about the "help" usually provided by Tommy and their driver, Birmingham.
This film begins with a man being convicted of robbery and murder. However, the man swears he didn't do it. Charlie is called in my the family to try to sort out how the man's finger prints could be at the crime scene and yet he be an innocent man. While the technology to fake prints isn't apparently possible, how Chan is able to piece it all together is pretty interesting and makes for an excellent plot.
By the way, Mantan Moreland and his old stage partner Ben Carter do a couple old comedy routines together throughout the film. They also did a similar scene in another Chan film, SCARLET CLUE. Many might find this and the antics of Moreland throughout the film an offensive Black stereotype in film, though they are pretty entertaining despite their political incorrectness.