The Chinese Cat

The Chinese Cat

Krasne-Burkett Productions
Distributed: Monogram Pictures Corporation, May 20, 1944
Production: January 11 to January 19, 1944
Copyright: Monogram Pictures Corporation, April 15, 1944; LP12667
Sound: Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording
Film: Black and white
Length: 5,824 feet
Running Time: 65 minutes
Source: Based on the character created by Earl Derr Biggers

Producers: Phillip N. Krasne and James S. Burkett
Director: Phil Rosen
Assistant Director: Bobby Ray (not credited)
Original Screenplay: George Callahan
Director of Photography: Ira Morgan

Production Manager: Dick L'Estrange

Music Supervision: David Chudnow

Music Score: Alexander Lazlo
Film Editors: Fred Allen and Martin Cohn (latter not credited)

Sound Recording: Tom Lambert
Sound Recording: Tom Lambert

Art Direction: Dave Milton

Set Decorations: Tommy Thompson

CAST:

Sidney Toler: Charlie Chan
Joan Woodbury: Leah Manning
Mantan Moreland: Birmingham Brown
Benson Fong: Tommy Chan
Ian Keith: Dr. Paul Reknik
Cy Kendall: Webster Deacon [referred to as George Deacon in a newspaper headline]
Weldon Heyburn: Harvey Dennis
Anthony Ward: Catlen
John Davidson: Karl Karzos/Kurt Karzos
Dewey Robinson: Salos
Stan Jolley: Gannett
Betty Blythe: Mrs. [Thomas] Manning
Jack Norton: Hotel Desk Manager
Luke Chan: Wu Song
Sam Flint: Thomas P. Manning (not credited)

George Chandler: Taxicab Dispatcher

Danny Desmond: Bellboy (not credited)

Terry Frost: Policeman Writing Ticket (not credited)

When Thomas Manning, the second husband of a wealthy socialite, is murdered in his locked study, the police are baffled and, months later, with the case at a seeming dead end, the district attorney decides to drop the case.

Charlie Chan, who is spending a couple of days in San Francisco after having completed government work there before heading on to his next assignment in Cleveland, is approached by Manning's step-daughter Leah, who asks for help in solving the crime. Rumors, caused in large part by a book written by an eminent criminologist, Dr. Paul Reknik, have cast a shadow of suspicion both over her family as well as her love relationship with police detective Harvey Dennis who had been working on the case. While Leah and Chan carry on their conversation, a man secretly eavesdrops.

Chan agrees to review the case, and despite his protests, number three son Tommy ignores his studies at the University of California to assist his father. By chance, the detective takes a taxicab whose driver is Birmingham Brown, who had been involved in Chan's recent murder case in Washington, D.C. ("Charlie Chan in the Secret Service"). Brown, while terrified of danger and dead bodies, ends up chauffeuring the detective around town and assisting, in his unique way, Chan and Tommy with the investigation.

Chan and Tommy proceed to a book shop to purchase a copy of Dr. Reknik's book, "Murder By Madame," which details the known facts of the Manning murder case, while presenting the conclusion that it was Mrs. Manning, Leah's mother, who had murdered her husband. While at the shop, the same man from the hotel lobby is tailing the detective and his son. The man, named Catlin, then returns to the hideout of a gang of jewel thieves which is located in a fun house at a pier amusement park. Catlin reports Chan's activities to the gang including Karl Karzos, whose twin brother Kurt, sneaks out and secretly sets up a meeting with Charlie Chan.

By the time Chan arrives at the meeting location, he finds that Kurt has been strangled. Soon after, Detective Dennis, who had been alerted by Leah, arrives at the scene and identifies Kurt Karzos as a fence specializing in stolen gems. After Chan invites Dennis to join the investigation, the two men, searching the room, notice several loaves of stale bread with small Chinese statuettes inside.

The next day, Chan pays a visit to Dr. Reknik to discuss his book and his theory, with which the detective disagrees. Chan comments that the person who killed Kurt Karzos wore gloves, noting that Retnik is wearing a similar one on his left hand. The criminologist explains that he wears it to protect a bad burn received in a fire. Leaving, Chan adds, "May interest you to know murderer of Thomas Manning also wore gloves."

Chan then proceeds to the Manning house to examine the scene of the murder, which, he is told, has been left untouched since the police had made their investigation months earlier. While there, he finds a statuette matching those found at the scene of the Karzos murder. Chan also notes that something rather large has recently been removed from where it had been originally positioned on Manning's desk, as indicated by the absence of dust at that location.

In another room of the house, after ascending a flight of hidden stairs, Chan is confronted by Manning's business partner, Webster Deacon, who vehemently objects to the reopening of the Manning case, claiming that it will hurt his business. As he leaves, the detective comments on the large diamond sported by Deacon on his ring finger. Returning to the study, Chan makes an exact tracing of the clean spot on deck.

After narrowly escaping the explosion of a hidden bomb that was placed in Birmingham's taxi by the jewel thieves, Chan then visits the shop of artisan Wu Song. Chan is familiar with the artisan's work, and, as it turns out, Wu Song had indeed crafted the statuettes found at both the Karzas murder and in Manning's study. Wu Song shows Chan that each statue contains a hidden compartment, and as he opens one, a large diamond is revealed. The other two are found to contain diamonds as well. When Tommy casually notices a rather large statue of a cat, Chan keenly realizes its importance. Wu Song demonstrates that the cat statue also contains a hidden compartment. Chan then compares the drawing that he had made in Manning's study with the cat sculpture's base, finding it to be an exact match. Records show that a matching cat sculpture was sold to the Sea Tide Art Company.

Chan visits Deacon at his office, and questions him about the Sea Tide Art Company which he owns. Deacon, pretending to get documents that prove he no longer owns that company, flees out the back door. While in the office, Chan and Tommy find another of the statuettes that had contained diamonds, but it is empty. Jumping into Birmingham's car, Chan and Tommy pursue Deacon to the pier where the Sea Tide Art Company and the jewel thieves' fun house hideout are both located. By the time they arrive, they find Deacon strangled.

Chan, Tommy, and Birmingham return to Chan's hotel room. When Tommy passes out, Chan opens the door and discovers that someone has been trying to pump deadly oxyzone gas into the room through the keyhole.

Deciding to examine the cat statue, Chan returns to the Manning house. After Mrs. Manning produces the statue, the detective opens the secret compartment, revealing a famous diamond that had been stolen the year before.

Going to the fun house, Chan is captured by members of the gang who, knowing that the detective has the diamond, demand that he turn it over to them. When Tommy stumbles upon this dangerous scene, the thieves begin to pummel him, intending to coerce Chan into revealing the location of the diamond. At this moment, Birmingham suddenly appears at the door, and Chan shouts to him to run away with the diamond, thus convincing the gang that Brown has it. As the thieves chase Birmingham, Chan helps Tommy, who has been severely weakened by his ordeal, to hide under a desk in the gang's office. Chan then escapes.

Detective Dennis, learning that Chan has gone to the fun house, goes there himself. In the meantime, Chan and Birmingham lead the gang on a chase through the fun house. Returning to the thieves' office, Chan and Birmingham take out two members of the gang, with a recovered Tommy coming out of hiding to finish the job with a well-aimed spray from a fire extinguisher.

CONCLUSION:

Dennis and Leah arrive, and Chan explains (so that Dennis will receive the credit for solving the case) that Manning and Deacon were partners in the theft of the famous diamond. When Manning had double-crossed the gang, keeping the diamonds for himself, Deacon killed him. To prove his supposition, Chan produces the gun that was used to murder Manning, bearing the initials "WD." Chan continues that Deacon had killed Kurt Karzos after descovering that he was about to betray him. Chan then pulls the murder gloves from Catlin's pocket, concluding that it was he who had killed Deacon to prevent him from leading Chan to the hideout.

NOTES: This was Monogram's second entry in the Charlie Chan series. The onscreen title is listed as Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat. The working title of the film was Murder in the Funhouse. Although a Hollywood Reporter production chart places Danny Desmond in the cast, his participation in the film has not been confirmed.

Adapted from: 'AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE CATALOG - Within Our Gates: Ethnicity in American Feature Films, 1911-1960'

CHARLIE CHAN'S APHORISMS:

Authors sometimes take strange liberties.

Bull in china shop is gentle creature compared to detective who make pass at man wearing glasses.

Expert is merely man who make quick decision - and is sometimes right.

Fear of future is wrong for young people in love.

Once you have large family, all other troubles mean nothing.

Dog cannot chase three rabbits at same time.

OTHER WORTHY STATEMENTS:

Murder is my business. (to Birmingham Brown)

(Tommy: "Pop, I've got a case that will knock your hat off!") Can remove hat without assistance, thank you.

Chan family always keep promises. (to Leah Manning)

Any detective will tell you, all mystery novels most horrible. (to Leah Manning)

(Tommy: "...Didn't I get you a swell case?") Every time you appear, I have swell case of assorted troubles.

Your assistance about as welcome as water in a leaking ship. (to Tommy)

Tommy: "But, you've always said that two men can find a clue quicker than one.") Where is other man? Do not see other man.

You talk like rooster who think sun come up just to hear him crow. (to Tommy)

Bottleneck of progress is number three son, Tommy. (to Harvey Dennis)

(Harvey Dennis: "We worked on it [the Manning case] for six months and got nowhere.") Perhaps I work little while and get somewhere.

Peculiar trait in Chan family - children all think Pop pretty good. (to Paul Retnik)

(Tommy: "Why, gosh, Pop, are you a mind reader") If mind not too small. (touching Tommy's head)

Fear you are weak limb, to which no family tree may point with pride. (to Tommy)

You are smart enough to keep eyes open? (Tommy: "You bet!") Do likewise - keep mouth shut.

You put two and two together and get result bigger than national debt. (to Tommy)

How you feeling? (to Tommy after he was overcome by gas) (Tommy: "My head seems to be spinning.") Then you're all right - everything back to normal.

Never start anything unless I see end of road. (to Paul Reknik)

(Paul Reknik: "How are you coming along [on the case] to date?") Did not say which end of road I could see.

Manning case like modern highway - sooner or later come to detour. (to Tommy)

Like puppy who come to smell subway third rail, you will receive complete information in few moments. (to Tommy as he unknowingly walks into the hands of the gang of jewel thieves)

(Birmingham: "Mr. Chan, I ruined your flashlight.") Even trade - his light out, too. (regarding a crook knocked out by Birmingham using Chan's flashlight)

You are like turtle. After everything all over, you stick head out and find truth right under your very nose. (to Tommy)

FILM NOTES:

THE PROBABLE DATE OF CHARLIE CHAN'S INVOLVEMENT: Early March 1944 (The Manning murder had occurred "six months before.")

DURATION: Three days

LOCATION: San Francisco, California

THE DATE OF THOMAS MANNING'S MURDER: October 8, 1943

THE NEWSPAPER SHOWN: 'Star Dispatch'

THE OCTOBER 8 NEWSPAPER HEADLINE, STORY, AND PARTIAL TEXT:

"THOMAS P. MANNING

MYSTERIOUSLY SLAIN"

"Wealthy Socialite's Second

Husband Shot Behind

Locked Doors"

"October 8 - Thomas Manning, realtor and chess expert, last

night was mysteriously shot to death behind the locked door of

his own study, while other members of his family were outside the

room. Mrs. Manning, wife of the victim, told police that shots were

heard frpm the study."

THE OCTOBER 30 NEWSPAPER STORY AND PARTIAL TEXT:

"District Attorney

Grills Mrs. Manning"

"October 30. - The District Attorny's office today affirmed

reports that mrs. Thomas Manning has for the past week under-

gone severe questioning in an effort to find some solution to the

[strange] murder of her husband who was found shot to death in

[the] family home three weeks ago. Whether Mrs. Manning's quest-

[tioning] revealed any new new evidence was not disclosed by authorities."

THE NOVEMBER 21 NEWSPAPER STORY AND PARTIAL TEXT:

"MANNING MURDER

BAFFLES POLICE"

"November 21. - Police authorities today admitted that no prog-

ress has been made in solving the murder the mudrer last month of Thomas Manning. Detctive Lieutenant Harvey Dennis, in charge of the

investigation, revealed that despite several minute searches of the

Manning home, the murder gun is still mysteriously missing, and

a motive for the crime has not yet been discovered."

THE JANUARY 15 NEWSPAPER STORY AND PARTIAL STORY:

"District Attorney Drops

Manning Case"

"January 15. - The District Attorny's office announced last

[night] that after several months of investigation the mysterious

murder of Thomas Manning will be entered in Police records as

[unsolved]. Lack of evidence, motive, witnesses, and failure to find

[---] the murder weapon, say officials, compels the closing of the

investigation."

THE NAME OF CHARLIE CHAN'S HOTEL: Hotel Francis

BIRMINGHAM BROWN'S TAXI DRIVER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 670

BIRMINGHAM BROWN'S YELLOW CAB TAXICAB NUMBER: 605

THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER OF BIRMINGHAM BROWN'S CAB: 51 840 (?)

THE WORDING ON THE "ON DUTY" SIGN ATOP BIRMINGHAM BROWN'S CAB:

"DeSoto

SKY-VIEW"

CHARLIE CHAN'S ROOM NUMBER AT THE FRANCIS HOTEL: 538

TOMMY CHAN'S PROBABLE COLLEGE: University of California, Berkeley

CHARLIE CHAN'S NEXT DESTINATION: Cleveland, Ohio

CHARLIE CHAN'S PLANNED TIME OF DEPARTURE FROM SAN FRANCISCO: "...48 hours from midnight tonight." (stated on the day of agreeing to take on the Manning murder case)

THE TITLE AND AUTHOR OF THE BOOK THAT WAS WRITTEN ABOUT THE MANNING MURDER: "Murder By Madame," by Dr. Paul Reknik

THE STATUS OF TOMMY CHAN'S ALLOWANCE, ACCORDING TO CHARLIE CHAN: "...paid for next three months."

THE PRICE OF THE BOOK "MURDER BY MADAM," BY PAUL REKNIK: $2.00

CHARLIE CHAN'S CAB FARE AS OWED TO BIRMINGHAM BROWN: $4.90

THE "OLD FRIEND" MENTIONED BY CHARLIE CHAN: Captain Harvey Dennis of the San Francisco Police, father of Harvey Dennis, also of the San Francisco Police. Charlie Chan had worked with the former "years ago."

CHARLIE CHAN'S BET WITH DR. PAUL REKNIK: $2,000 (at 10 to 1 odds) Loser to donate the money to "Chinese war relief." If Dr. Reknik lost, he would contribute $20,000.

ANOTHER FRIEND OF CHARLIE CHAN: Wu Song, an artisan and owner of a curio shop in San Francisco.

THE STOLEN DIAMONDS: Stolen from the "famous Kellinor collection" a year ago in Chicago.

THE LICENSE NUMBER OF BIRMINGHAM BROWN'S SECOND CAR: 81V 515

THE LICENSE NUMBER OF WALTER DEACON'S CAR: 2A 3758

THE NAME OF THE REALTY COMPANY OWNED JOINTLY BY THOMAS MANNING AND WEBSTER DEACON: Manning-Deacon Realty Company

THE NAME AND LOCATION OF THE TRADING COMPANY JOINTLY OWNED BY DEACON AND MANNING: Sea Tide Art Company, located at Shore End Pier

THE NEWSPAPER HEADLINE, STORY, AND PARTIAL TEXT:

"GEORGE DEACON

IS MURDERED"

"Body Is Discovered

By Charlie Chan;

Police Baffled"

"George Deacon, junior partner in the Manning-Deacon Realty

[Company was] found dead today under suspicious circumstances."

THE POISONOUS GAS USED AGAINST CHARLIE CHAN, TOMMY, AND BIRMINGHAM: Oxyzone

THE NAME OF THE PUZZLE GIVEN TO CHARLIE CHAN BY SON TOMMY: "Battle of Algiers"

THE DIAMOND HIDDEN INSIDE OF THOMAS MANNING'S "CHINESE CAT": The Kellinor diamond

THE LOCATION OF THE DIAMOND SMUGGLING GANG'S HIDEOUT: The funhouse at Shore End Pier.

THE TORTURE METHOD MENTIONED BY CHARLIE CHAN THAT THE DIAMOND SMUGGLING GANG USED ON SON TOMMY: "Third degree"

THE TIME, ACCORDING TO HARVEY DENNIS, THAT CHARLIE CHAN WAS TO MEET HIM AT THE MANNING HOME: "He said he'd be here by nine o'clock (p.m.)."

THE TIME AS HARVEY DENNIS AND LEAH MANNING LEFT THE MANNING RESIDENCE FOR THE GANG HIDEOUT AT SOUTH END PIER: 9:30 p.m.

THE OFFICIAL CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST THE DIAMOND SMUGGLING GANG ACCORDING TO CHARLIE CHAN: "Grand larceny and murder."

THE INITIALS ON THE MANNING MURDER GUN: "W.D." (Walter Deacon)

THE APPROXIMATE TIME OF THE SOLUTION OF THE MANNING MURDER CASE: about 10 p.m.

GLOSSARY:

jitterbugging - The performing of a strenuous dance to quick-tempo swing or jazz music and consisting of various two-step patterns embellished with twirls and sometimes acrobatic maneuvers.

The Chinese Cat - Birmingham Brown: "A jitterbugging skeleton! Now I've seen everything!"

oxyzone - A ficticious deadly gas.

The Chinese Cat - Charlie Chan: "Oxyzone - very deadly gas!"

third degree - Mental or physical torture used to obtain information or a confession from a prisoner.

The Chinese Cat - Charlie Chan: "You see? Third degree not work."

For a complete list from all films, please visit our Charlie Chan Glossary.


		The Chinese Cat Krasne-Burkett Productions Distributed: Monogram Pictures Corporation, May 20, 1944 Production: January 11 to January 19, 1944 Copyright: Monogram Pictures Corporation, April 15, 1944; LP12667 Sound: Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording Film: Black and white Length: 5,824 feet Running Time: 65 minutes Source: Based on the character created by Earl Derr Biggers Producers: Phillip N. Krasne and James S. Burkett Director: Phil Rosen Assistant Director: Bobby Ray (not credited) Original Screenplay: George Callahan Director of Photography: Ira Morgan Production Manager: Dick L'Estrange Music Supervision: David Chudnow Music Score: Alexander Lazlo Film Editors: Fred Allen and Martin Cohn (latter not credited) Sound Recording: Tom Lambert Sound Recording: Tom Lambert Art Direction: Dave Milton Set Decorations: Tommy Thompson CAST: Sidney Toler: Charlie Chan Joan Woodbury: Leah Manning Mantan Moreland: Birmingham Brown Benson Fong: Tommy Chan Ian Keith: Dr. Paul Reknik Cy Kendall: Webster Deacon [referred to as George Deacon in a newspaper headline] Weldon Heyburn: Harvey Dennis Anthony Ward: Catlen John Davidson: Karl Karzos/Kurt Karzos Dewey Robinson: Salos Stan Jolley: Gannett Betty Blythe: Mrs. [Thomas] Manning Jack Norton: Hotel Desk Manager Luke Chan: Wu Song Sam Flint: Thomas P. Manning (not credited) George Chandler: Taxicab Dispatcher Danny Desmond: Bellboy (not credited) Terry Frost: Policeman Writing Ticket (not credited) When Thomas Manning, the second husband of a wealthy socialite, is murdered in his locked study, the police are baffled and, months later, with the case at a seeming dead end, the district attorney decides to drop the case. Charlie Chan, who is spending a couple of days in San Francisco after having completed government work there before heading on to his next assignment in Cleveland, is approached by Manning's step-daughter Leah, who asks for help in solving the crime. Rumors, caused in large part by a book written by an eminent criminologist, Dr. Paul Reknik, have cast a shadow of suspicion both over her family as well as her love relationship with police detective Harvey Dennis who had been working on the case. While Leah and Chan carry on their conversation, a man secretly eavesdrops. Chan agrees to review the case, and despite his protests, number three son Tommy ignores his studies at the University of California to assist his father. By chance, the detective takes a taxicab whose driver is Birmingham Brown, who had been involved in Chan's recent murder case in Washington, D.C. ("Charlie Chan in the Secret Service"). Brown, while terrified of danger and dead bodies, ends up chauffeuring the detective around town and assisting, in his unique way, Chan and Tommy with the investigation. Chan and Tommy proceed to a book shop to purchase a copy of Dr. Reknik's book, "Murder By Madame," which details the known facts of the Manning murder case, while presenting the conclusion that it was Mrs. Manning, Leah's mother, who had murdered her husband. While at the shop, the same man from the hotel lobby is tailing the detective and his son. The man, named Catlin, then returns to the hideout of a gang of jewel thieves which is located in a fun house at a pier amusement park. Catlin reports Chan's activities to the gang including Karl Karzos, whose twin brother Kurt, sneaks out and secretly sets up a meeting with Charlie Chan. By the time Chan arrives at the meeting location, he finds that Kurt has been strangled. Soon after, Detective Dennis, who had been alerted by Leah, arrives at the scene and identifies Kurt Karzos as a fence specializing in stolen gems. After Chan invites Dennis to join the investigation, the two men, searching the room, notice several loaves of stale bread with small Chinese statuettes inside. The next day, Chan pays a visit to Dr. Reknik to discuss his book and his theory, with which the detective disagrees. Chan comments that the person who killed Kurt Karzos wore gloves, noting that Retnik is wearing a similar one on his left hand. The criminologist explains that he wears it to protect a bad burn received in a fire. Leaving, Chan adds, "May interest you to know murderer of Thomas Manning also wore gloves." Chan then proceeds to the Manning house to examine the scene of the murder, which, he is told, has been left untouched since the police had made their investigation months earlier. While there, he finds a statuette matching those found at the scene of the Karzos murder. Chan also notes that something rather large has recently been removed from where it had been originally positioned on Manning's desk, as indicated by the absence of dust at that location. In another room of the house, after ascending a flight of hidden stairs, Chan is confronted by Manning's business partner, Webster Deacon, who vehemently objects to the reopening of the Manning case, claiming that it will hurt his business. As he leaves, the detective comments on the large diamond sported by Deacon on his ring finger. Returning to the study, Chan makes an exact tracing of the clean spot on deck. After narrowly escaping the explosion of a hidden bomb that was placed in Birmingham's taxi by the jewel thieves, Chan then visits the shop of artisan Wu Song. Chan is familiar with the artisan's work, and, as it turns out, Wu Song had indeed crafted the statuettes found at both the Karzas murder and in Manning's study. Wu Song shows Chan that each statue contains a hidden compartment, and as he opens one, a large diamond is revealed. The other two are found to contain diamonds as well. When Tommy casually notices a rather large statue of a cat, Chan keenly realizes its importance. Wu Song demonstrates that the cat statue also contains a hidden compartment. Chan then compares the drawing that he had made in Manning's study with the cat sculpture's base, finding it to be an exact match. Records show that a matching cat sculpture was sold to the Sea Tide Art Company. Chan visits Deacon at his office, and questions him about the Sea Tide Art Company which he owns. Deacon, pretending to get documents that prove he no longer owns that company, flees out the back door. While in the office, Chan and Tommy find another of the statuettes that had contained diamonds, but it is empty. Jumping into Birmingham's car, Chan and Tommy pursue Deacon to the pier where the Sea Tide Art Company and the jewel thieves' fun house hideout are both located. By the time they arrive, they find Deacon strangled. Chan, Tommy, and Birmingham return to Chan's hotel room. When Tommy passes out, Chan opens the door and discovers that someone has been trying to pump deadly oxyzone gas into the room through the keyhole. Deciding to examine the cat statue, Chan returns to the Manning house. After Mrs. Manning produces the statue, the detective opens the secret compartment, revealing a famous diamond that had been stolen the year before. Going to the fun house, Chan is captured by members of the gang who, knowing that the detective has the diamond, demand that he turn it over to them. When Tommy stumbles upon this dangerous scene, the thieves begin to pummel him, intending to coerce Chan into revealing the location of the diamond. At this moment, Birmingham suddenly appears at the door, and Chan shouts to him to run away with the diamond, thus convincing the gang that Brown has it. As the thieves chase Birmingham, Chan helps Tommy, who has been severely weakened by his ordeal, to hide under a desk in the gang's office. Chan then escapes. Detective Dennis, learning that Chan has gone to the fun house, goes there himself. In the meantime, Chan and Birmingham lead the gang on a chase through the fun house. Returning to the thieves' office, Chan and Birmingham take out two members of the gang, with a recovered Tommy coming out of hiding to finish the job with a well-aimed spray from a fire extinguisher. CONCLUSION: Dennis and Leah arrive, and Chan explains (so that Dennis will receive the credit for solving the case) that Manning and Deacon were partners in the theft of the famous diamond. When Manning had double-crossed the gang, keeping the diamonds for himself, Deacon killed him. To prove his supposition, Chan produces the gun that was used to murder Manning, bearing the initials "WD." Chan continues that Deacon had killed Kurt Karzos after descovering that he was about to betray him. Chan then pulls the murder gloves from Catlin's pocket, concluding that it was he who had killed Deacon to prevent him from leading Chan to the hideout. NOTES: This was Monogram's second entry in the Charlie Chan series. The onscreen title is listed as Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat. The working title of the film was Murder in the Funhouse. Although a Hollywood Reporter production chart places Danny Desmond in the cast, his participation in the film has not been confirmed. Adapted from: 'AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE CATALOG - Within Our Gates: Ethnicity in American Feature Films, 1911-1960' CHARLIE CHAN'S APHORISMS: Authors sometimes take strange liberties. Bull in china shop is gentle creature compared to detective who make pass at man wearing glasses. Expert is merely man who make quick decision - and is sometimes right. Fear of future is wrong for young people in love. Once you have large family, all other troubles mean nothing. Dog cannot chase three rabbits at same time. OTHER WORTHY STATEMENTS: Murder is my business. (to Birmingham Brown) (Tommy: "Pop, I've got a case that will knock your hat off!") Can remove hat without assistance, thank you. Chan family always keep promises. (to Leah Manning) Any detective will tell you, all mystery novels most horrible. (to Leah Manning) (Tommy: "...Didn't I get you a swell case?") Every time you appear, I have swell case of assorted troubles. Your assistance about as welcome as water in a leaking ship. (to Tommy) Tommy: "But, you've always said that two men can find a clue quicker than one.") Where is other man? Do not see other man. You talk like rooster who think sun come up just to hear him crow. (to Tommy) Bottleneck of progress is number three son, Tommy. (to Harvey Dennis) (Harvey Dennis: "We worked on it [the Manning case] for six months and got nowhere.") Perhaps I work little while and get somewhere. Peculiar trait in Chan family - children all think Pop pretty good. (to Paul Retnik) (Tommy: "Why, gosh, Pop, are you a mind reader") If mind not too small. (touching Tommy's head) Fear you are weak limb, to which no family tree may point with pride. (to Tommy) You are smart enough to keep eyes open? (Tommy: "You bet!") Do likewise - keep mouth shut. You put two and two together and get result bigger than national debt. (to Tommy) How you feeling? (to Tommy after he was overcome by gas) (Tommy: "My head seems to be spinning.") Then you're all right - everything back to normal. Never start anything unless I see end of road. (to Paul Reknik) (Paul Reknik: "How are you coming along [on the case] to date?") Did not say which end of road I could see. Manning case like modern highway - sooner or later come to detour. (to Tommy) Like puppy who come to smell subway third rail, you will receive complete information in few moments. (to Tommy as he unknowingly walks into the hands of the gang of jewel thieves) (Birmingham: "Mr. Chan, I ruined your flashlight.") Even trade - his light out, too. (regarding a crook knocked out by Birmingham using Chan's flashlight) You are like turtle. After everything all over, you stick head out and find truth right under your very nose. (to Tommy) FILM NOTES: THE PROBABLE DATE OF CHARLIE CHAN'S INVOLVEMENT: Early March 1944 (The Manning murder had occurred "six months before.") DURATION: Three days LOCATION: San Francisco, California THE DATE OF THOMAS MANNING'S MURDER: October 8, 1943 THE NEWSPAPER SHOWN: 'Star Dispatch' THE OCTOBER 8 NEWSPAPER HEADLINE, STORY, AND PARTIAL TEXT: "THOMAS P. MANNING MYSTERIOUSLY SLAIN" "Wealthy Socialite's Second Husband Shot Behind Locked Doors" "October 8 - Thomas Manning, realtor and chess expert, last night was mysteriously shot to death behind the locked door of his own study, while other members of his family were outside the room. Mrs. Manning, wife of the victim, told police that shots were heard frpm the study." THE OCTOBER 30 NEWSPAPER STORY AND PARTIAL TEXT: "District Attorney Grills Mrs. Manning" "October 30. - The District Attorny's office today affirmed reports that mrs. Thomas Manning has for the past week under- gone severe questioning in an effort to find some solution to the [strange] murder of her husband who was found shot to death in [the] family home three weeks ago. Whether Mrs. Manning's quest- [tioning] revealed any new new evidence was not disclosed by authorities." THE NOVEMBER 21 NEWSPAPER STORY AND PARTIAL TEXT: "MANNING MURDER BAFFLES POLICE" "November 21. - Police authorities today admitted that no prog- ress has been made in solving the murder the mudrer last month of Thomas Manning. Detctive Lieutenant Harvey Dennis, in charge of the investigation, revealed that despite several minute searches of the Manning home, the murder gun is still mysteriously missing, and a motive for the crime has not yet been discovered." THE JANUARY 15 NEWSPAPER STORY AND PARTIAL STORY: "District Attorney Drops Manning Case" "January 15. - The District Attorny's office announced last [night] that after several months of investigation the mysterious murder of Thomas Manning will be entered in Police records as [unsolved]. Lack of evidence, motive, witnesses, and failure to find [---] the murder weapon, say officials, compels the closing of the investigation." THE NAME OF CHARLIE CHAN'S HOTEL: Hotel Francis BIRMINGHAM BROWN'S TAXI DRIVER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 670 BIRMINGHAM BROWN'S YELLOW CAB TAXICAB NUMBER: 605 THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER OF BIRMINGHAM BROWN'S CAB: 51 840 (?) THE WORDING ON THE "ON DUTY" SIGN ATOP BIRMINGHAM BROWN'S CAB: "DeSoto SKY-VIEW" CHARLIE CHAN'S ROOM NUMBER AT THE FRANCIS HOTEL: 538 TOMMY CHAN'S PROBABLE COLLEGE: University of California, Berkeley CHARLIE CHAN'S NEXT DESTINATION: Cleveland, Ohio CHARLIE CHAN'S PLANNED TIME OF DEPARTURE FROM SAN FRANCISCO: "...48 hours from midnight tonight." (stated on the day of agreeing to take on the Manning murder case) THE TITLE AND AUTHOR OF THE BOOK THAT WAS WRITTEN ABOUT THE MANNING MURDER: "Murder By Madame," by Dr. Paul Reknik THE STATUS OF TOMMY CHAN'S ALLOWANCE, ACCORDING TO CHARLIE CHAN: "...paid for next three months." THE PRICE OF THE BOOK "MURDER BY MADAM," BY PAUL REKNIK: $2.00 CHARLIE CHAN'S CAB FARE AS OWED TO BIRMINGHAM BROWN: $4.90 THE "OLD FRIEND" MENTIONED BY CHARLIE CHAN: Captain Harvey Dennis of the San Francisco Police, father of Harvey Dennis, also of the San Francisco Police. Charlie Chan had worked with the former "years ago." CHARLIE CHAN'S BET WITH DR. PAUL REKNIK: $2,000 (at 10 to 1 odds) Loser to donate the money to "Chinese war relief." If Dr. Reknik lost, he would contribute $20,000. ANOTHER FRIEND OF CHARLIE CHAN: Wu Song, an artisan and owner of a curio shop in San Francisco. THE STOLEN DIAMONDS: Stolen from the "famous Kellinor collection" a year ago in Chicago. THE LICENSE NUMBER OF BIRMINGHAM BROWN'S SECOND CAR: 81V 515 THE LICENSE NUMBER OF WALTER DEACON'S CAR: 2A 3758 THE NAME OF THE REALTY COMPANY OWNED JOINTLY BY THOMAS MANNING AND WEBSTER DEACON: Manning-Deacon Realty Company THE NAME AND LOCATION OF THE TRADING COMPANY JOINTLY OWNED BY DEACON AND MANNING: Sea Tide Art Company, located at Shore End Pier THE NEWSPAPER HEADLINE, STORY, AND PARTIAL TEXT: "GEORGE DEACON IS MURDERED" "Body Is Discovered By Charlie Chan; Police Baffled" "George Deacon, junior partner in the Manning-Deacon Realty [Company was] found dead today under suspicious circumstances." THE POISONOUS GAS USED AGAINST CHARLIE CHAN, TOMMY, AND BIRMINGHAM: Oxyzone THE NAME OF THE PUZZLE GIVEN TO CHARLIE CHAN BY SON TOMMY: "Battle of Algiers" THE DIAMOND HIDDEN INSIDE OF THOMAS MANNING'S "CHINESE CAT": The Kellinor diamond THE LOCATION OF THE DIAMOND SMUGGLING GANG'S HIDEOUT: The funhouse at Shore End Pier. THE TORTURE METHOD MENTIONED BY CHARLIE CHAN THAT THE DIAMOND SMUGGLING GANG USED ON SON TOMMY: "Third degree" THE TIME, ACCORDING TO HARVEY DENNIS, THAT CHARLIE CHAN WAS TO MEET HIM AT THE MANNING HOME: "He said he'd be here by nine o'clock (p.m.)." THE TIME AS HARVEY DENNIS AND LEAH MANNING LEFT THE MANNING RESIDENCE FOR THE GANG HIDEOUT AT SOUTH END PIER: 9:30 p.m. THE OFFICIAL CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST THE DIAMOND SMUGGLING GANG ACCORDING TO CHARLIE CHAN: "Grand larceny and murder." THE INITIALS ON THE MANNING MURDER GUN: "W.D." (Walter Deacon) THE APPROXIMATE TIME OF THE SOLUTION OF THE MANNING MURDER CASE: about 10 p.m. GLOSSARY: jitterbugging - The performing of a strenuous dance to quick-tempo swing or jazz music and consisting of various two-step patterns embellished with twirls and sometimes acrobatic maneuvers. The Chinese Cat - Birmingham Brown: "A jitterbugging skeleton! Now I've seen everything!" oxyzone - A ficticious deadly gas. The Chinese Cat - Charlie Chan: "Oxyzone - very deadly gas!" third degree - Mental or physical torture used to obtain information or a confession from a prisoner. The Chinese Cat - Charlie Chan: "You see? Third degree not work." For a complete list from all films, please visit our Charlie Chan Glossary.