FROM CHARLIE CHAN: “Dog cannot chase three rabbits at same time.”

GREETINGS! This week we move on to the second film in the Monogram Pictures era of the Charlie Chan film series with “The Chinese Cat.”

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: “The Chinese Cat” (1944; 65 minutes); along with our “extra,” a Charlie Chan radio mystery, (1936; 15 minutes).

FEATURE INTRODUCTION: Leah Manning enlists Charlie Chan's help in solving the murder of her stepfather, Thomas, who was found slain in his study. With no concrete leads, the police have given up and only Chan's deducing can refute a scandalous book that blames Mrs. Manning, Leah's mother, for the crime. Number Three Son, Tommy and Birmingham Brown assist the detective as the trail to the identity of Manning's killer leads to a ruthless diamond smuggling gang.

FEATURE NOTES: This was Monogram's second entry in the Charlie Chan series. The onscreen title is listed as “Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat.” The working title of the film was “Murder in the Funhouse.” The film's title, “The Chinese Cat,” is doubtless a "nod" to the 1941 Humphrey Bogart movie, The Maltese Falcon.

CAST (as credited):

Sidney Toler: Charlie Chan
Joan Woodbury: Leah Manning
Mantan Moreland: Birmingham Brown
Benson Fong: Tommy Chan
Ian Keith: Dr. Paul Reknik
Sam Flint: Thomas P. Manning
Cy Kendall: Webster Deacon [referred to as George Deacon in a newspaper headline]
Weldon Heyburn: Harvey Dennis
Anthony Ward: Catlen
John Davidson: Karl Karzos/Kurt Karzos
Dewey Robinson: Salos
Stan Jolley: Gannett
Betty Blythe: Mrs. [Thomas] Manning
Jack Norton: Hotel Desk Manager
Luke Chan: Wu Song

UNCREDITED CAST (alphabetical):

Fred Aldrich: Police Officer
Daisy Bufford: Carolina
George Chandler: Taxicab Dispatcher
Danny Desmond: Bellboy
Terry Frost: Police Officer Writing Ticket
FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION ON OUR FEATURE: Please go to http://www.charliechan.info/id49.html

THIS WEEK’S TERM: duck soup - An easily accomplished task or assignment.

Tommy Chan: "It'll be duck soup for a Chan!"

THIS WEEK’S IMAGE: Tommy Chan verifies that Webster Deacon has "flown the coop."



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, and this week we happily note that “The Chinese Cat” 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 JULY 2021 POLL, right here: July 2021 Poll

OUR JUNE POLL RESULT:

QUESTION: Have you watched all 40 of the existing movies from the Charlie Chan film series proper (those that were produced by Fox, 20th Century-Fox, and Monogram Pictures)?

Yes 87%
No 13%

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 (August 2): We will be sharing a viewing of “Meeting at Midnight” (also known as “Black Magic”)

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, “The Chinese Cat.”

THANK YOU SO MUCH…

Sincerely,

Rush Glick

I know I'm a week behind. However, I keep going over the start of this film and can't help wondering: Why does Kurt Karzos, one of the twin jewelers and member of the jewel ring, want to give Chan info about the Manning murder? He didn't ask for an exchange of money, and doesn't appear at all like he's one of the "Good Guys" in the film! Although the gang members--and his brother--do say he can't be trusted.

Things that keep one up at night, heh!