FROM CHARLIE CHAN: “Truth win more friendship than lies.”

GREETINGS! As the rumblings of imminent war begin to be heard by the United States, Charlie Chan is sent to Panama Canal Zone by the U.S. Government to investigate possible threats to the passage of the U.S. Navy fleet as it is to pass through the Canal!

OUR CHAT ROOM: Our Chat Room can be accessed the same way that we accessed by going to our “Chat Room” link at charliechan.info, or use this direct link: http://www.charliechan.info/id17.html

THIS WEEK’S PRESENTATION: “Charlie Chan in Panama” (1940; 67 minutes); along with our “extra,” a Charlie Chan radio mystery, “The Landini Murder Case: More Accusations”. (1936; 15 minutes).

FEATURE INTRODUCTION: Charlie Chan, working with the U.S. government poses as a maker of Panama hats. Amidst a backdrop of suspicion, espionage, and murder, Chan seeks to thwart a plot that would destroy part of the Panama Canal, thus trapping the Navy fleet on its way to the Pacific.

FEATURE NOTES: “Charlie Chan in Panama” provides a glimpse at the stresses experienced by the United States in the stages that led to the eventual entry of our nation into World War II. At this point, the United States was "neutral" in the war which had already begun in both Europe and in the Far East. We note the hints throughout the movie as to the identities of the hostile nations, although no definite references are provided in the interest of appearing neutral.

CAST (as credited):

Sidney Toler: Charlie Chan (also posing as Fu Yuen)
Jean Rogers: Kathi Lenesch (also known as Kathi von Tzardas and Baroness von Tzardas)
Lionel Atwill: Clivedon Compton
Mary Nash: Miss Sarah Finch (billed as Miss Jennie Finch; alias Reiner)
Sen Yung: Jimmy Chan
Kane Richmond: Richard Cabot
Chris-Pin Martin: Lieutenant Montero (billed as Sergeant Montero)
Lionel Royce: Dr. Rudolph Grosser
Helen Ericson: Stewardess
Jack La Rue: [Emil] Manolo (alias Ramon Gonzalez)
Edwin Stanley: Governor [D.C.] Webster (also known as Colonel D.C. Webster)
Don Douglas: Captain Lewis
Frank Puglia: Achmed Halide
Addison Richards: [R.J.] Godley
Edward Keane: Dr. Fredericks

UNCREDITED CAST (alphabetical):

Eddie Acuff: Sailor
Jimmy Aubrey: Drunk at Club
Brooks Benedict: Nightclub Dancer
Lane Chandler: Officer at Powerhouse
Russell Custer:: Soldier
Alan Davis: Soldier
Alphonso DuBois: Waiter
Franklin Farnum: Marine Officer
Edward Gargan: Plant Workman
Harold Goodwin: Military Police Corporal
Sol Gorss: Soldier
Bobby Hale: Prisoner
Chuck Hamilton: Dancer
Alberto Morin: Hotel San Pablo Desk Clerk
Philip Morris: Plainclothesman
Anthony Natale: Street Vendor
Gloria Roy: Hostess
Charles Sherlock: Soldier
Bhogwan Singh: Prisoner
Charles Stevens: Spy on Dock
Sid Troy: Sailor
Max Wagner: Soldier
FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION ON OUR FEATURE: Please go to http://www.charliechan.info/id42.html

TRIVIA: Film footage containing sequences of U.S. Navy warships, including the USS ‘Arizona’ and USS ‘Lexington’ passing through the Panama Canal, is seen in this picture.

THIS WEEK’S TERM: blood and thunder novels - A term for popular adventure novels such as those in the pulp fiction realm.

Miss Finch: "...like one of those blood and thunder novels you write."

THIS WEEK’S IMAGE: Charlie Chan meets with Kathi Lenesch and Richard Cabot at the Miraflores powerhouse.



For a viewing of more than 500 images from ALL films in the Charlie Chan series and MORE, please visit our Gallery: http://www.charliechan.info/id448.html

IF YOU LACK A COPY OF OUR FILM: Often our features can be found online. Continued GREAT GOOD FORTUNE! “Charlie Chan in Panama” IS AVAILABLE online! You may access it above at “THIS WEEK’S PRESENTATION” and also at our Chat Room as a link.

OUR MONTHLY POLL: Please take a moment to cast your vote in our APRIL 2021 POLL, right here: May 2021 Poll

OUR APRIL POLL RESULT:

QUESTION: Do you think a Charlie Chan film could be made today?

Yes 75%
No 25%

DO YOU HAVE A POLL QUESTION? You are invited to suggest a Monthly Poll question! Send your ideas to: charliechanfamily@lyahoo.com.

OUR CCF CHAT ARCHIVE: Please take a look at our growing collection of CCF Chat Texts from previous years and this year: http://www.charliechan.info/id830.html

NEXT WEEK: “Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise”

OUR CHARLIE CHAN FAMILY NEWSLETTER for this year!

This is our third annual Charlie Chan Family Newsletter! It contains the work of a number of Charlie Chan Family members and friends. Thank you so much to Lou Armagno, aka, HonoluLou, who has put together and published yet another masterpiece! Please use this link to access this year's newsletter which covers the year 2020. Please enjoy!

AND… DON’T MISS THIS GREAT CHARLIE CHAN BLOG!: AND… DON’T MISS THIS GREAT CHARLIE CHAN BLOG!: A great blog site, The Postman on Holiday, is offered by our own Charlie Chan and Earl Derr Biggers expert, Lou Armagno which is: "A place to explore all things surrounding Detective Charlie Chan, his creator Earl Derr Biggers, and their connection with Hawaii, Cleveland, and mystery fiction." Updated each month, it can be found at this address: www.thepostmanonholiday.com

SO, REMEMBER, PLEASE JOIN US for this week’s feature, “Charlie Chan in Panama.”

THANK YOU SO MUCH…

Sincerely,

Rush Glick