Charlie Chan in Panama

67 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

Charlie Chan in Panama is a 1940 mystery film starring Sidney Toler. It is an unaccredited remake of Jacques Deval's novel "Marie Galante", produced by 20th Century Fox in 1934, directed by Henry King.

Plot

Charlie Chan must stop a spy from destroying the Panama Canal, trapping a Navy fleet on its way to the Pacific after maneuvers in the Atlantic. As the U.S. fleet prepares to navigate the waters of the Panama Canal, Panama City becomes rife with spies.

A new group of suspects appears with the arrival of a sea plane bound for Balboa. Among the suspects are novelist Clivedon Compton, matronly school teacher Miss Jennie Finch, sinister scientist Dr. Rudolph Grosser, café proprietor Manolo, singer Kathi Lenesch (real name Kathi von Tzardas), cigarette salesman Achmed Halide, government engineer Richard Cabot and government agent Godley.

Upon landing, Godley goes to a hat shop owned by Fu Yuen, alias Charlie Chan, to enlist the sleuth's help in unmasking the deadly spy known only as Reiner. Just as Godley is about to divulge Reiner's real identity, he falls to the ground, dead, leaving Chan to expose Reiner before the spy can sabotage the canal.

As the other suspects are murdered, one by one, first Compton, then Manolo, Chan learns that the canal's Miraflores locks are to be blown up at ten that night. Chan then sequesters the suspects at the plant, forcing Miss Finch to expose herself as Reiner in order to escape death. With Reiner under arrest, the fleet sails safely through the locks to protect democracy.

Cast

• Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan
• Jean Rogers as Kathi Lenesch
• Lionel Atwill as Cliveden Compton
• Mary Nash as Miss Jennie Finch
• Victor Sen Yung as Jimmy Chan (as Sen Yung)
• Kane Richmond as Richard Cabot
• Chris-Pin Martin as Sergeant Montero
• Lionel Royce as Dr. Rudolph Grosser
• Helen Ericson as Stewardess
• Jack La Rue as Emil Manolo
• Edwin Stanley as Governor D.C. Webster
• Donald Douglas as Captain Lewis
• Frank Puglia as Achmed Halide
• Addison Richards as R.J. Godley
• Edward Keane as Dr. Fredericks
• Charles Stevens as Native Fisherman

References

External links

• Charlie Chan in Panama at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
• Charlie Chan in Panama at IMDb
• Charlie Chan in Panama at the TCM Movie Database
• Charlie Chan in Panama at AllMovie
• Copy of film at Internet Archive
• Charlie Chan in Panama Film details at The Charlie Chan Family Home