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Charlie Chan in Panama (1940)
Espionage and Sabotage
Charlie Chan in Panama, 1940 film
Photography is banned in the Panama Canal Zone by the US Army. Two soldiers watch a fisherman on a dock. They stop him, he dives into the water. People talk about themselves. Some will fly instead of traveling by ship across the Zone. They view the Panama Canal from the air. A store sells Panama hats. Washington received a tip about sabotage. One enemy agent, Reiner, is believed to be in Panama. The man who gave this tip soon collapses in the hat store. Cigarette smoking? The police arrive. Fu Yen is taken into custody. That ship's steward is later released. Charlie Chan deduces how the poisoning happened. Chan looks at the airplane passenger list. Jimmy Chan watches Dr. Grosser leave, then goes to his rooms to look around. Chan visits Manolo's Cabaret. That singer is curious about the arrival of the fleet! She doesn't want to answer questions. Charlie Chan's identity is revealed, he leaves the Cabaret. Jimmy tells what he found in Dr. Grosser's room. But those rats are now missing!
Charlie Chan asks for information about a British novelist, then goes to a hotel and finds a surprise there. Chan finds a hidden passport and a military map. Next there is a visitor who tells about her background. Jimmy opens a closet door and finds a surprise! Charlie calls the military police. Jimmy lights a cigarette and offers one to Manolo, who throws it down and quickly leaves. Chan found the murder weapon. They go to the graveyard and search a tomb. Who locked the door? The US Navy is sending its ships through the canal to reinforce the Pacific fleet. Can they break out of the tomb? Someone opens the door. There is a shot, Manolo is stopped! They go to search the power house to search for a bomb. The locks won't work without power. The building is evacuated. Chan holds the group and explains why he did this. It works, the guilty party is revealed! (Were you surprised too?)
This is a good mystery story whose location adds to the drama. Is the least suspicious person likely to be the guilty party? The story tells of the culture of the era. A business suit and hat in that hot damp climate? Note how World War II is reflected in this story. The "Sherlock Holmes" movies would also be placed in a modern setting.