“Tiger going away from village is never feared.” (Charlie Chan – “Dangerous Money”

Greetings, as we enter a new week and a new month! Our film for this week’s Monday Evening Chat and Film Viewing is “Dangerous Money,” which aired on TCM two weeks ago, starring Sidney Toler with Victor Sen Yung as Number Two son, Jimmy, along with the return of Birmingham Brown’s cousin, Chattanooga as portrayed by Willie Best!

Quick Synopsis: Aboard a passenger ship in the South Seas, undercover agent Scott Pearson tells Charlie Chan that he is being sent to Samoa to investigate the sudden appearance of money and artworks stolen from Philippine banks during the Japanese invasion. Later, while the passengers gather in the salon for a ceremony to celebrate the crossing of the equator, Pearson is stabbed in the back and killed. Chan, along with Number Two Son, Jimmy, and assistant Chattanooga Brown, works to find the killer who lurks among the passengers.

The Facts:
Monogram Pictures Corporation
Distributed: Monogram Pictures Corporation October 12, 1946
Production: Mid- to late June 1946
Copyright: Monogram Pictures Corporation: September 29, 1946; LP656
Sound: Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording
Film: Black and white
Running Time: 66 minutes
Production Code Administration Certificate Number: 11824
Source: Based on character created by Earl Derr Biggers.

Producer: James S. Burkett
Director: Terry Morse
Assistant Director: Wesley Barry
Second Assistant Director: Kenny Cossler (not credited)
Screenplay: Miriam Kissenger
Script Supervisor: Ilona Vas (not credited)
Director of Photography: William Sickner
Assistant Cameraman: Aron Hower (not credited)
Technical Director: Dave Milton
Supervising Film Editor: Richard Currier
Editor: William Austin
Musical Director: Edward J. Kay
Recording: Tom Lambert
Makeup: Harry Ross
Hairdresser: Alma Armstrong (not credited)
Production Manager: Glenn Cook
Operator: William Margulies (not credited)
Loader: Travers Hill (not credited)
Still Man: George Hommel (not credited)
Sound Mixer: Tom Lambert (not credited)
Recorder: Dean Spencer (not credited)
Mike Man: Luke Johnson (not credited)
Cable Man: Harold Bavaird (not credited)
Prop Man: Sam Gordon (not credited)
Second Prop Man: Tod Mossman (not credited)
Grip: Harry Lewis (not credited)
Set Dresser: Ray Boltz (not credited)
Wardrobe Man: Harry Bourne (not credited)
Wardrobe Woman: Nanette Smith (not credited)
Gaffer: John Lee (not credited)
Electrical: M.H. Serotto (not credited)
Special Effects: Augie Lohman (not credited)
Casting - Parts: Fred Messinger (not credited)
Casting - Bits: Rose Alexander (not credited)
Casting - Extras: Bert Hampton (not credited)

CAST:

Sidney Toler: Charlie Chan
Gloria Warren: Rona Simmonds
Victor Sen Young: Jimmy Chan
Rick Vallin: Tao Ericson
Joseph Crehan: Captain Black
Willie Best: Chattanooga Brown
John Harmon: Freddie Kirk
Bruce Edwards: Harold Mayfair
Dick Elliot: P.T. Burke
Joe Allen, Jr.: George Brace
Amira Moustafa: Laura Ericson
Tristam Coffin: Scott Pearson
Alan Douglas: Mrs. Whipple (alias for Joseph Murdock)
Selmer Jackson: Ship's Doctor
Dudley Dickerson: Big Ben
Rito Punay: Pete
Elaine Lange: Mrs. Cynthia Martin
Emmett Vogan: Professor Henry Martin
Leslie Dennison: Reverend Whipple (alias for Theodore M. Lane)
Jerry Groves: Polynesian (not credited)
Kit Carson: Seaman (not credited)
Mavis Russell: Freddie Kirk's Assistant (not credited)
Don McCracken: Junior Officer (not credited)

Notes: The film's working title was “Hot Money.” The title card reads, ‘Charlie Chan in "Dangerous Money"’. ‘Hollywood Reporter’ news items add the following information about the production: Prior to his appearance in this film, Rick Vallen served a term in the U.S. Coast Guard. Restaurateur "Don the Beachcomber" gave technical advice on the South Sea Islands. It was the wish of Jack De Witt, the actual writer of the screenplay, to credit his wife, Miriam Kissinger as the writer.

Where: Our Charlie Chan family Chat Room, located at charliechan.info.

When: Monday evening, October 5, 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: Good news! “Dangerous Money” may be viewed online at DailyMotion: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x16ejog_charlie-chan-in-dangerous-money-1946_shortfilms

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 “soon”!

Please have a safe, happy Monday, and let’s gather, as always, for another Monday of Chan, mystery, Chan, discussion, Chan, and…FUN…and Chan!

Sincerely,
Rush Glick