The Shanghai Chest

Plot synopsis:
As Victor Armstrong visits his uncle, Judge Wesley Armstrong, in San Francisco, he is knocked unconscious by an unknown attacker. When he wakes up he finds out his uncle has been stabbed to death. The judge's private secretary, Phyllis Powers, finds the two men and calls the police to the scene. When Victor wakes up he has the knife that stabbed his uncle in his hand.
In another part of the city, Tommy Chan and his chauffeur Birmingham, discover a man trying to burglar his way into a house as they are walking home from the movies. They make a citizens arrest of the man, who turns out to be the house owner, district attorney Frank Bronson, trying to climb in through the window. Tommy, Who is the son of private detective Charlie Chan, and his chauffeur are put in jail because of their unlawful action.
Bronson is head of investigating the judge's murder, and hears from the judge's butler, Bates, that Victor wasn't allowed into the judge's home, and had to climb in through the window in the same way Bronson did. In an interview with the police, Phyllis also tells them that she her Victor, who is her boyfriend, argued with the judge about the purchase Victor had made of some stock worth $30,000.
Phyliis also heard how the judge contacted his lawyer Ed Seward and asked for a meet the following day, in order to update his will, to exclude Victor. This information gives Victor the most plausible motive for murdering the judge.
Famous detective Chan visits Bronson, his old acquaintance, to apologize for his son and Birmingham and their behavior the other night. At his visit, Chan overhears that two sets of fingerprints were found on the knife used to kill the judge; one set belonging to Victor and one to hardened criminal Tony Pindello.
Chan happens to know that Pindello was executed for another murder at San Quentin six months earlier. Pindello got his death sentence from Judge Armstrong. Chan is then asked by police investigator Ruark to help the police out on the case.
When district attorney Bronson is shot and killed soon after, Pindello's fingerprints are again found on the scene, on Bronson's desk. While investigating the case at judge Armstrong's office, Chan and Ruark catch the judge's clerk Walter Somervale looking through the judge's files.
The two men also find out that Seward, the judge's attorney, defended Pindello in the trial which ultimately sent him to the gallows. From the judge's documents they find that Seward is also working on a commission against racketeering.
A letter addressed to Victor, to be opened in case the judge died, states that the judge had found evidence that Pindello may have been innocent of the murder for which he was convicted, and that Bronson was to be informed of this.
Chan and Ruark go to find Tony's buried body, but finds his coffin has been dug up and removed. Fearing that Pindello's murder trial is connected to the judge's murder and racketeering, Chan sees to it that all the jurors involved in the ruling is taken into protective custody for the time being. They locate everyone but one, Thomas Cartwright, who is attacked in his home and killed before the policemen get there. Pindello's fingerprints are once again found on the murder scene.
Chan looks into the fingerprints and learns that it is in fact possible to forge someone else's prints. He gathers Phyllis, Victor and Seward at the judge's home to confront them about the fake fingerprints.
When all are gathered in the judge's study, the power is cut and everything turns dark. They are locked in by an unknown man holding a gun, but manage to break out again, and find all documents related to the racketeering, insurance fraud and Pindello gone.
Chan discovers that Pindello has a brother, Joseph, who got a letter from Tony when he was in jail, saying he was about to be sentenced to death for a murder he didn't commit. Chan tells everyone that Joseph, to revenge his brother, Joseph was planning on killing everyone involved in the wrong sentencing of his brother, and dug up his brother's coffin.
While Chan explains this, Joseph enters the room with a gun and explains that his real purpose for digging up the coffin was simply to give his brother a proper burial. Joseph is then overpowered by Seward, who grabs Joseph's gun.
Chan goes on to explain the real murderer is Seward, because he was involved in an insurance scam with Pindello and wanted all the money for himself, thus framing Pindello for a murder to get rid of him.
Seward, sure to get away now that he has a gun, explains how he copied Pindello's prints to lead the police on a false trail. Chan tells Seward that the gun isn't loaded, since he gave it to Joseph earlier, and that it was all part of a set-up. Seward tries to flee but is stopped by Birmingham and arrested.

Tags: mystery, murder, flashback

Review:
Doing Things in the Most Convoluted Way. Roland Winters carries this off better than in his first couple efforts.
There's a little more pizazz to this offering.
Several men are killed who were associated with the conviction and execution of a hoodlum.
Apparently, he was innocent of the crime.
This brings into play someone who is seeking revenge.
Since it is thought that he has no relatives or close associates, finding the guy is pretty hard.
Once again, we have the poor guys, alone in their offices, with the windows open.
They are attacked from behind and left to die.
There is a red herring in the barrel that is never dealt with.
A man who is the nephew of a judge is to be disinherited and becomes a suspect.
He is cleared very quickly (a weakness in the plot--but then he is abundantly unattractive as a person) because of some findings.
We pretty much never see him again.
The problem with the whole thing is the circumlocutory mess that must be gone through to find our guy.
There is an exhumation of a grave, done in about five minutes.
It's hard to tell who is who in the fabric of things.
When the solution comes my response was "Huh!" And, of course, the two hangers on are there again to participate..
Not very good but strangely enjoyable Chan mystery.
A mysterious figure sneaks into a judge's study and stabs him.
Another stealthy figure enters the room--he answers the phone when it rings and is promptly conked on the head by the shadowy murderer, who then flees.It's the judge's nephew who wakes up on the floor and pulls the knife out of the body right at the moment the cops walk in.
It looks bad for him--until a recently executed criminal's fingerprints are found on the knife.
The plot thickens when a district attorney is murdered next and the same dead man's fingerprints are found....Soon enough, Charlie Chan is on the case, with assistance once again from number two son Tommy and chauffeur Birmingham Brown.
Chan thinks the case has something to do with an insurance racket; Tommy doesn't actually help much but Birmingham is called on to climb through several windows.Roland Winters is getting comfortable as Charlie Chan but there's really not much to the role...he reads the lines just fine but the script doesn't give him a whole lot of personality.
Victor Sen Yung and Mantan Moreland are familiar and amusing as Tommy and Birmingham but they don't have much new to offer either.Tim Ryan adds a little color as a police lieutenant who joins forces with Chan.
And an actress named Deannie Best is actually kind of good as the murdered judge's slinky secretary.Overall the picture is oddly watchable...nothing much happens but at least the story keeps on moving.
A typical scene is the one where our main characters go to a cemetery to dig up the executed criminal's body: Of course they go at night, of course the grave is empty, of course Birmingham and Tommy are scared...but it's all done and past before we even have a chance to be bothered by how silly it all is..
Another great title let down by a poor script, low budget, and mostly bad acting.
This film has Tim Ryan as police Lt. Mike Ruark, whom Chan calls, "Lt. Mike".
Overall, it is annoying rather than endearing.
Tim Ryan is credited with "additional dialogue".
If only he came up with better words.
Watch a Warner Oland Chan instead..
Watch a Warner Oland Chan instead..
Excrement.
Charlie Chan (Roland Winters) must prove the innocence of a deeply stupid man (John Alvin) who puts his fingerprints all over a murder weapon.
Contrived mess of a mystery with particularly weak writing, even for Monogram.
Winters is terrible as Chan.
I can't stress that enough.
Mantan Moreland and Victor Sen Yung are back playing buffoonish comic relief sidekicks Birmingham and Tommy.
There's nothing to recommend about this one.
If you're a Charlie Chan completist, I suppose you should at least try it.
If you're new to Charlie Chan films, please don't let this or any of the Roland Winters movies be your first.
As a matter of fact, avoid all of the Monogram movies until you've seen the far superior Fox movies first..
Delightful Chan mystery old fashioned fun.
This is one of the most entertaining of the later Charlie Chan films, with Roland Winters obviously enjoying himself in the role of the famed detective.
The mystery is clever enough to hold up until the final revelation of who done it, with many humorous and atmospheric scenes leading up to the finale.The low brow Forties humor may not appeal to all modern viewers , but for die-hard Chan fans, such priceless moments as well meaning Number Two son Tommy and nervous chauffeur Birmingham ending up in jail, after attempting to apprehend a supposed crook ,who turns out to be a respectable citizen, are what make these Monogram Chan movies so much fun.
Milton Parsons turns in one of his patented undertaker performances as an evasive mortician questioned by Chan, with a very funny bit by a pretty Asian receptionist, who responds to Charlie's polite greeting in his native language with a beaming, " I'm sorry, but I do not speak Chinese." The slightest hint of parody lurks beneath such classic moments as a suspect who had much to gain, being found over a dead relative ,holding the murder weapon; a faintly suspicious butler, and a mysterious figure in black creeping around the various murder scenes.This is a thoroughly enjoyable old mystery, with plenty of atmosphere and laughs for Charlie Chan devotees..
Surprisingly entertaining Charlie Chan mystery..
With the franchise slowly coming to an end, SHANGHAI CHEST actually has what it takes to make more than a few Chan fans happy.
There seems to be more humorous moments thanks to #2 son Tommy(Victor Sen Young)and manservant/chauffeur Brimingham(Mantan Moreland); even Roland Winters as the fabled detective seems more relaxed...but to no avail for there is only to be one more movie in the mystery series.
Vic Armstrong(John Alvin)argues with his Uncle the Judge Wes Armstrong(Pierce Watkins)over a plea for money.
Vic has wasted away a $30,000 inheritance and is upset his uncle won't loan him money.
The Judge actually wants to take his nephew out of his will.
As Vic goes to confront his elder, he walks into a darkened room to answer a ringing telephone; he is then knocked out while his uncle lays on the floor with a knife in his back.
Secretary Phyllis(Deannie Best)hears the scuffle on the phone and summons the police.
When the lights come on there of course stands Vic with the bloody knife in his hand.
Oh gee, someone save this man about to be wronged.
Hire famous detective Charlie Chan to find the real killer.
Other players: Tim Ryan, Russell Hicks, Philip Van Zant and Olaf Hytten..
"Sometimes muddy waters when stirred sufficiently bring strange things to surface.".
Forged fingerprints in a Charlie Chan film were used as recently as 1946 in "Dark Alibi", six movies prior to "The Shanghai Chest".
The same gimmick is used here again, this time with the fingerprints of a man who's been dead for six months.
The prints are found at the scene of three murders, all of the victims having had some connection to the man who was sentenced to death for murder himself.
But that may have been a frame up; the man, Tony Pandello may in fact have been innocent, and someone is out for vengeance.Roland Winters portrays Inspector Charlie Chan in this 1948 Monogram release.
Continuity in the later Monogram films seems to have fallen apart completely, as Victor Sen Yung appears as Number #2 Son Tommy, contrary to his introduction in earlier 20th Century Fox and Monogram movies as Number #2 Son Jimmy.
Mantan Moreland is Chan chauffeur Birmingham Brown.
In a jail scene, Birmingham and Tommy are released from the lock up, and in the next cell is Willie Best, appearing under his own name.
Willie appeared in the Chan film "Red Dragon" as Birmingham's cousin Chattanooga Brown.In typical Chan fashion, the murderer revealed at the end is a surprise, having been a trusted aide of the first murder victim.
But the case is wrapped up neatly by Charlie; he outwits the villain, who did all of his dirty work in the dark of night in garb reminiscent of The Shadow..
Fair entry.
Compared to some other Monogram-produced Charlie Chan films I've watched, "The Shanghai Chest" is a cut above.
The extremely prolific, and also series regular, director William "One Shot" Beaudine shoots this one with what could, at certain moments, if one squints hard enough, even be described as sort of a "style": flashbacks, tilted camera angles, montages.
The plot is also fairly intriguing (although Chan once again pulls the guilty party like a rabbit out of his hat, with absolutely no evidence supporting his theory).
The low budget is tolerably camouflaged.
Even the comedy is funnier than usual, like for example in a short exchange between Mantan Moreland and an uncredited Willie Best.
My favorite Chan line: "Statement has earmarks of extreme truthfulness"!
An average entry in the series!
Somewhat disappointing!.
Roland Winters (Charlie Chan), Mantan Moreland (Birmingham Brown, Chan's chauffeur), Deannie Best (Phyllis), John Alvin (Vic Armstrong), Victor Sen Young (Tommy Chan), Tim Ryan (Lieutenant Ruark), Pierre Watkin (Judge Armstrong), Russell Hicks (District Attorney Bronson), Philip Van Zandt (Tony Pindello), George Eldredge (Finley), Willie Best (Willie), Tristam Coffin (Ed Seward), Milton Parsons (Grail the undertaker), Edward Coke (Cartwright), Olaf Hytten (Bates the butler), Erville Alderson (Walter Somervale), Charlie Sullivan (Officer Murphy), Paul Scardon (custodian), William Ruhl (jailer), Lois Austin (landlady), Chabing (Miss Lee), John Shay (Stacey).Directed by WILLIAM BEAUDINE.
Screenplay by W.
Scott Darling and Sam Newman.
Additional dialogue by Tim Ryan.
Based on the character created by Earl Derr Biggers.
Photographed by William Sickner.
Production supervisor: Glenn Cook.
Edited by Ace Herman.
Supervising film editor: Otho Lovering.
Musical director: Edward J.
Kay. Art director: David Milton.
Assistant director: Wesley Barry.
Recorded by Frank McWhorter.
Produced by James S.
Burkett.Copyright 11 July 1948 by Monogram Pictures Corp.
No recorded New York opening.
U.S. release: 11 July 1948.
U.K. release through Associated British-Pathé: July 1949 (sic).
Theatrically released in Australia by British Empire Films.
7 reels.
5,884 feet.
65 minutes.
Sydney opening as a support to Smart Woman at the Victory: 16 July 1949.
. SYNOPSIS: A masked intruder fatally knives Judge Armstrong in his study, just before his nephew Vic arrives.
Vic is knocked unconscious by the hidden murderer, who escapes.
When Vic recuperates he finds his uncle's body, and is accused by Police Lieutenant Ruark.
Ruark calls in Chan on the case, and Vic is released for insufficient evidence, though his girl Phyllis admits he had a quarrel with his uncle, who planned to have Attorney Lewis cut Vic out of his will.
Fingerprints of Tony Pindello, supposedly executed six months prior at San Quentin, are found on the murder weapon.
New evidence in the hands of the late judge, who presided at the trial, and district attorney Bronson indicates Pindello's innocence, but Bronson is killed by the same criminal, leaving Pindello's fingerprints.
Cartwright, a Pindello juror, is also a victim of the killer.
A masked man rifles the judge's safe for papers on the case and locks up Chan, Phyllis, Ruark and Lewis.
Chan, his chauffeur Birmingham, and son Tommy discover Pindello's body missing from his grave.NOTES: Number 44 of the series.COMMENT: Average Chan mystery for the fans, slickly directed, with a good cast (including Milton Parsons in his customary role) and more gloss than is generally to be found in Monogram productions.
The story also provides a rare opportunity to see the lovely Deannie Best, but what it has to do with a chest — any chest, Shanghai or otherwise, beats me!Some great performances highlight this otherwise mediocre entry in the series: Deannie Best (in her final — and only credited — movie appearance), Tris Coffin, John Alvin, Milton Parsons and Olaf Hytten.
A great line-up, but, despite the promise of a plot variation on Agatha Christie's The A.B.C. Murders, too much footage is taken up with low comedy from the Mantan Moreland plus Victor Sen Yung team, and similar marking-time padding.