Charlie Chan e il drago rosso

This is one of the 'lighter' Charlie Chan movies - almost TOO light, considering that what everybody's after here is the formula for a new, enormously powerful atomic bomb... But let's leave that aside; the film is meant as a clever and entertaining detective story, and that's what it is.

It all starts when a detective disguised as the secretary of nuclear scientist Wyans is killed VERY mysteriously while sitting in front of his typewriter: there were no less than six suspects around (and one more suspicious than the other: a gun runner, a smuggler, a Nazi propagandist, a fake countess, a girl who denies her descent from Czechoslovakia...), there was only one shot heard, but two bullets fired (one in the victim's heart, and the other one in the wall) - and no trace of a gun anywhere! Now who could solve THIS mystery, AND find the very cleverly hidden formula, with the only evidence being a bottle of Chinese 'Red Dragon' ink? Only Charlie Chan, of course!

And amidst all the hard and dangerous detective work, Tommy and Birmingham's cousin Chattanooga (played by tall, thin Willie Best, the exact opposite to short, round-faced Mantan Moreland in appearance, but almost equally marvelous at playing 'scared') of course find time to entertain us with their clumsiness both at detecting and at romancing - and we get to see even Charlie himself doing a rumba with a pretty young Chinese artist! But the BEST laugh is kept for the final scene - see for yourself...

Starts off at the US Embassy in Mexico City. Scenery of street makes Mexico city look very nice. Walter Dorn wants to get Charlie Chan to go there regarding secret plans of a Mr Wyans which someone tried to rob twice. It is kind of confusing as to what countries are dealing with who for the plans.

At the airport Chattanooga Brown is Chan's driver. When they land in Mexico City he is with Chan's son Tommy and Charlie Chan. Brown is a cousin of Birmingham Brown. Birmingham is funnier though in other episodes. Chan is waiting for Dorn to pick them up and he is told Dorn is dead.

Walter Dorn is killed at a gathering at Wayan's apartment by a gunshot. There are many people invited there. Insp.Luis Carvero takes Chan there and they did not find anyone with a gun.

Charlie Chan has some doubts' about Inspector Carvero because the Inspector has has a relationship with one of the women where Dorn was killed and Chan thinks he might be biased.

People get shot but no gun visible. Chan has to figure out what is going on. He has figured out the new plan will make a atom bomb more explosive.

So more investigating needed.

"The Red Dragon" from 1945 finds Charlie (Sidney Toler), Tommy (Benson Fong), and Chattanooga Brown (Willie Best) investigating a crime in Mexico City. They have the help of the big cheese there, Inspector Cavero, Fortunio Bonanova.

In an attempt to steal atomic bomb documents, there have been some shootings - strange ones - two shots, one bullet, and no gun found. A perplexing case for Charlie.

Plenty of suspects, including Inspector Carvero's love interest, Margarite (Carol Hughes), a night club singer called the Countess Irena (Marjorie Hoshelle), and several others, all trying to get the documents from Alfred Wayans (Robert E. Keane).

Toler has one cute scene where he does the rhumba in a nightclub.

For comic relief there was Tommy and Chattanooga. Chattanooga was Birmingham's brother. They had some amusing scenes, but I prefer Mantan Moreland in the chauffeur role, and Sen Yung or Keye Luke. Moreland had an animated face, a cheerful demeanor, and great line delivery. Best had made his career playing the black stereotype, which is difficult to watch today, though he was good.

Some trivia - Marjorie Hoshelle, who played Countess Irena, was married to Jeff Chandler. She reminded me a bit of Lauren Bacall. Hoshelle and she and Chandler's two daughters, born in the late '40s, all died from cancer.

I know the whole film is un-pc, but I do like the Charlie Chan movies.

Stolen secret papers contain info on the mysterious 95th element, which could be used to build a giant atom bomb. Charlie Chan signs on to recover said papers—and also to track down the murderer who shot the secretary before snatching those vital documents.

Unfortunately, most of the picture is not as exciting as that sounds....however, this late entry in the Chan series is passably entertaining as well as short and sweet.

A mystery mechanism is used to commit multiple murders—one shot is always heard but two bullets are found. Can Chan solve the riddle before he too becomes a target?

Benson Fong is on hand again as Chan's #3 son Tommy, while Willie Best takes on chauffeur duties for this picture (as Chattanooga Brown, cousin to Mantan Moreland's Birmingham Brown). Tommy and Chattanooga manage most of the comic relief with mildly humorous exchanges such as:

Chattanooga: "My hair's getting tired." Tommy Chan: ""Your hair is tired?" Chattanooga: "Yeah, for the last 10 minutes it's been standing on end."

The fact that Sidney Toler dancing the rhumba is probably the highlight of the picture might tell you something.

Curious why willie best is playing birmingham's role (Chattanooga) benson fong as tommy (also played by victor sen yung) red dragon ink

I have no idea why, but instead of Mantan Moreland appearing in this film as Birmingham Brown, Willie Best is playing this role and he's referred to as Chattanooga Brown...a relative of Birmingham. Benson Fong appears as Tommy Chan and his role was occasionally played by Victor Sen Yung. As for Charlie, he's played by Sidney Toler, who played the role in 21 films from 1939-1946 (after he died, Roland Winters played Charlie for six more films).

In "The Red Dragon", Charlie, Tommy and Chattanooga are in Mexico City to assist Inspector Carvero (Fortunio Bonanova). He's got a group of suspects and all of them seem to be lying about who they are. Chan helps him figure out the truth about the folks. So what's the mystery? There are two things....stolen nuclear secrets AND a murder in which no weapon was found and two bullets came with one shot*. Can Charlie figure it all out once again??

This film is pretty typical of the quality of the Toler Charlie Chan films. I did miss Birmingham but still it's a good film...entertaining and worth seeing.

*Although you may not care, I have a handgun that can shoot two or three bullets with each shot. Some .410 shotgun shells (0 and 00 shot) fire 2 or 3 slugs with one shot.