It's not clear to me what the trap is that's suggested by the title of this film, other than Charlie Chan's instruction to Sergeant Reynolds (Kirk Alyn) to guard the distance between a Malibu beach house and a nearby cabana.
You know Charlie Chan is in for a rough investigation when it involves nine women, soon to be minus two, all members of an acting troupe on vacation in Malibu. Accompanying them are "Maestro" Cole King, press agent Rick Daniels, and physical culture therapist George Brandt. Only one thing is certain, murder victim Marcia was uniformly hated by everyone in the company.
Victor Sen Young is here as Number #2 son Jimmy, attempting to romance a cute Chinese girl named San Toy, while Chan chauffeur Birmingham Brown (Mantan Moreland) actually shows off his driving skill in a car chase.
This is not a well regarded Charlie Chan film, for actor Sidney Toler it was his last portrayal of the Chinese detective. For me, the most interesting aspect of the film is when a former address of the killer is revealed to be 14 Rue Madeline, Paris, France. That would put it right across the street from the following year's (1947) James Cagney war and espionage film - "13 Rue Madeleine"!
You know Charlie Chan is in for a rough investigation when it involves nine women, soon to be minus two, all members of an acting troupe on vacation in Malibu. Accompanying them are "Maestro" Cole King, press agent Rick Daniels, and physical culture therapist George Brandt. Only one thing is certain, murder victim Marcia was uniformly hated by everyone in the company.
Victor Sen Young is here as Number #2 son Jimmy, attempting to romance a cute Chinese girl named San Toy, while Chan chauffeur Birmingham Brown (Mantan Moreland) actually shows off his driving skill in a car chase.
This is not a well regarded Charlie Chan film, for actor Sidney Toler it was his last portrayal of the Chinese detective. For me, the most interesting aspect of the film is when a former address of the killer is revealed to be 14 Rue Madeline, Paris, France. That would put it right across the street from the following year's (1947) James Cagney war and espionage film - "13 Rue Madeleine"!