Review - The Trap, Released 11-30-46
Monogram is true to form showing a picture with such loose ends, and the saddest part of the story is how Sidney Toler got around the scenes, as he was obviously in failing health during the entire filming. There were scenes showing Charlie sitting in a chair, leaning against a car or not in a scene at all, when it would be better for continuity if he were to appear. The story is written well for a mystery, but not tied up well at all, for the sake of placing the characters where they should be. Too many unanswered questions for the movie to be professionally displayed; rather amateurish for a screenplay. Very sad for Sidney, as he lived only a few months beyond the release date; one could see he was hurting.
The story of The Trap could have been well presented on screen, but there are some imperfections that did need clarification throughout the movie. Writing the screenplay could have been better translated to the screen, in order to pull this final Sidney Toler movie off. For the sixty plus minutes the viewer is entertained as Charlie Chan goes about the task of solving the crime despite the intervention of son Jimmy Chan and other characters.
The premise is well established with the entertainment troupe vacationing at a rented house at a Malibu beachfront, and the squabbling occurs, because there were secrets to unfold early on, with the troupe of women. One could not spot the perpetrator throughout the movie, but the loose ends concerning the actual evidence was sketchy. Two people die during the movie and in the same manner, i.e. strangled by a robe's cord. One murder happens at the mansion where the troupe is staying and the other murder occurs on the oceanfront, body left on shore.
Worth a look at this movie because it was Sidney Toler's curtain call and the crimes are at least not readily obvious who did it. I liked the screenplay, the acting with all the characters each having lines, added something more to the plot, possible suspects.
The story of The Trap could have been well presented on screen, but there are some imperfections that did need clarification throughout the movie. Writing the screenplay could have been better translated to the screen, in order to pull this final Sidney Toler movie off. For the sixty plus minutes the viewer is entertained as Charlie Chan goes about the task of solving the crime despite the intervention of son Jimmy Chan and other characters.
The premise is well established with the entertainment troupe vacationing at a rented house at a Malibu beachfront, and the squabbling occurs, because there were secrets to unfold early on, with the troupe of women. One could not spot the perpetrator throughout the movie, but the loose ends concerning the actual evidence was sketchy. Two people die during the movie and in the same manner, i.e. strangled by a robe's cord. One murder happens at the mansion where the troupe is staying and the other murder occurs on the oceanfront, body left on shore.
Worth a look at this movie because it was Sidney Toler's curtain call and the crimes are at least not readily obvious who did it. I liked the screenplay, the acting with all the characters each having lines, added something more to the plot, possible suspects.