So many fish in fish market, even flower smell same. (Charlie Chan – “The Scarlet Clue”)

Greetings! Our film for this week’s Monday Evening Chat and Film Viewing will be: “The Scarlet Clue.”

Quick Synopsis: Charlie Chan of the Secret Service is searching for the killer of an enemy agent. The trail leads to a radio and television broadcast center, where Number Three Son, Tommy and assistant Birmingham Brown accompany the detective as he winds his way through a host of suspects and hidden dangers.

The Facts:
Monogram Pictures Corporation
Distributed: Monogram Pictures Corporation, May 11, 1945
Production: January 1945
Copyright: Monogram Pictures Corporation, April 1, 1945; LP13234
Opened: Strand, Brooklyn, N.Y., the week of May 10, 1945
Sound: Western Electric Recording
Film: Black and white
Length: 5,808 feet
Running Time: 65 minutes
Production Code Administration Certificate Number: 10732
Source: Based on the Charlie Chan character created by Earl Derr Biggers

Producer: James S. Burkett
Director: Phil Rosen
Assistant Director: Eddie Davis (not credited)
Original Screenplay: George Callahan
Director of Photography: William Sickner
Production Manager: William Strohbach
Editor: Richard Currier
Technical Director: Dave Milton
Musical Director: Edward J. Kay
Sound Recording: Tom Lambert

CAST:

Sidney Toler: Charlie Chan
Mantan Moreland: Birmingham Brown
Ben Carter: Ben Carter
Benson Fong: Tommy Chan
Virginia Brissac: Mrs. Marsh
Robert E. Homans: Captain Flynn
Jack Norton: Willie Rand
Janet Shaw: Gloria Bayne
Helen Devereaux: Diane Hall
Victoria Faust: Hulda Swenson (alias Janet Carter)
Milt Kibbee: Herbert Sinclair (not credited)
I. Stanford Jolley: Ralph Brett (alias Rolf Brott and Britt) (not credited)
Reid Kilpatrick: Wilbur Chester (not credited)
Charles Sherlock: Sergeant McGraw (not credited)
Leonard Mudie: Horace Karlos (not credited)
Frank Mayo: Hodge (not credited)
Emmett Vogan: Hamilton (not credited)
Crane Whitley: Cooper (not credited)
Charles Jordan: Nelson (not credited)
Charles Wagenheim: Rausch (not credited)
Tom Quinn: Chemist (not credited)
Kernan Cripps: Detective (not credited)
Notes: The working title of this film was “Robot Murder.” The title card reads: ‘Charlie Chan in "The Scarlet Clue"’. ‘Hollywood Reporter’ production charts include Harry Bradley and William Gould in the cast, but their participation in the released film has not been confirmed. ‘Hollywood Reporter’ production charts also note that director of photography William Sickner was borrowed by Monogram from Universal to work on this film. The minor role of actor "Horace Carlos" is obviously based on film actor Boris Karloff, while the film's killer wears a mask modeled on actor Rondo Hatton. Modern sources add the following actors to the cast: Charles Jordan (Nelson) and Kernan Cripps (Detective).

Where: Our Charlie Chan family Chat Room, located at charliechan.info.
When: Monday evening, August 24, beginning at 5:00 Eastern time.
EVEN IF you cannot access a copy of the above-noted film, please do join us anyway, as you will NOT be left out of our ongoing chat and festivities. Also, as is our custom, new comers are offered the seat of honor at our humble table. Many of our films, such as this week’s entry, may be found available for viewing online through such outlets as YouTube, etc.
To find a copy of our film online: Go to YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS0FRoiznqA

THE NEW ADVENTURES OF CHARLIE CHAN: If you don’t yet have a set of these 39 wonderful half-hour crime dramas starring J. Carrol Naish and James Hong, please consider obtaining one. “The New Adventures of Charlie Chan” was produced in 1957 and takes place in many exotic locales around the world, mainly Europe. Many of the episodes were actually shot on location, offering us a glimpse of parts of the world as they were nearly 60 years ago, and we can also see how some places are much the same to this day. All this and 39 worthy mysteries as well! On occasion, we will be focusing on some of these adventures during our Monday Evening Chats, and “The New Adventures of Charlie Chan” can be found for sale throughout the Internet. Please take some time ad take a look at our information on “The New Adventures of Charlie Chan” at our Charlie Chan Family Home. I have nearly completed the task of documenting each of the stories, and, hopefully, that may be completed by summer’s end!

Take care, have a happy, safe Monday, and let’s gather as we always do this evening for a Chan-filled night of a fine movie, sharing, and fun!

Sincerely,
Rush Glick

I just finished reading your email and discovered the link at the end re: the Naish videos. You made my day Rush! I had no idea these existed and will buy them shortly. What a treat to discover more Chan episodes. Thanks for all you do for us. It is deeply appreciated.