Stometer
Save your money for something good and enjoyable
Limerculer
A waste of 90 minutes of my life
Humaira Grant
It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
Brenda
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
hwg1957-102-265704
Another good Charlie Chan mystery with the detective being involved with murder, espionage and sabotage in Panama. Going undercover as a seller of Panama hats he has to discover who is the spy Ryner who is pulling the strings. Panama City is paranoid about spies but Charlie in his measured and intelligent way untangles the real from the false. Helping and hindering him is number two son Jimmy. The ending is suspenseful and surprising. Norman Foster directs with a steady hand.Sidney Toler is very good as usual as Chan and Sen Yung is lively as his son Jimmy. They are supported flawlessly by Lionel Atwill, Mary Nash, Chris-Pin Martin and Jack La Rue to name just a few of the fine cast. Chan utters several great Chan-isms as usual. Sixty-seven minutes of absorbing entertainment.
Lechuguilla
A master saboteur named Ryner is on the loose in the Panama Canal Zone, with evil intent. Naturally, "Ryner" now goes by another name, and could be either male or female. I counted eight suspects. And one of them is Ryner.This film has a delightful international flavor in the cast of characters, the visuals, and music. B&W lighting is competent and contributes to a noir style with lots of atmospheric shadows. Production design is surprisingly robust.The identity of the killer is not too hard to figure out. The plot takes lots of liberties with details. For example, hotel rooms are conveniently unlocked, so that Chan (Sidney Toler) and company can easily investigate. The foreign sabotage theme is a tad stale. Lord knows that writers got a lot of mileage out of it during the 1940s.Charlie's son Jimmy (Victor Sen Yung) keeps interfering in the investigation. He pops up numerous times, presumably as comic relief, but also to provide details that advance the plot. His idiocy is quite annoying, and every time he appears, I cringe.Though not one of the better stories in the Chan series, the film is still worth watching, but only for viewers enamored of the whodunit element.
Jim Tritten
In his last making of a Chan film, director Norman Foster re-makes the 1934 film `Marie Galante' with good success. Sidney Toler by now has five of the Chan series under his belt and he has clearly hit his stride in the role. Good supporting acting by Lionel Atwill and Sen Yung. George Zucco did much better as the suspicious scientist in `Charlie Chan in Honolulu` than does the Lionel Royce in this film. Jean Rogers is better remembered as Dale Arden in the `Flash Gordon' films.By 1940, American audiences were being conditioned to the threat from saboteurs, such as Ryner, and a nation in arms. Chan exclaims `Intelligent defense of nation best guarantee for years of peace.' There are sufficient clues, cleverly disguised, and lots of misdirection, but the keen observer will be able to keep up with Chan during this case. Recommended.
pbalos
back lot Hollywood provides a rather convincing Panama City of the 40's.Overall a fine plot of a mystery that works evenly with a surprise ending.One of Tolar's better movies, if not the best, with an excellent cast of characters.Well done !
