The Scarlet Clue

The Scarlet Clue

Monogram Pictures Corporation
Distributed: Monogram Pictures Corporation, May 11, 1945
Production: January 1945
Copyright: Monogram Pictures Corporation, April 1, 1945; LP13234
Opened: Strand, Brooklyn, N.Y., the week of May 10, 1945
Sound: Western Electric Recording
Film: Black and white
Length: 5,808 feet
Running Time: 65 minutes
Production Code Administration Certificate Number: 10732
Source: Based on the Charlie Chan character created by Earl Derr Biggers

Producer: James S. Burkett
Director: Phil Rosen
Assistant Director: Eddie Davis (not credited)
Original Screenplay: George Callahan
Director of Photography: William Sickner

Production Manager: William Strohbach
Editor: Richard Currier

Technical Director: Dave Milton
Musical Director: Edward J. Kay
Sound Recording: Tom Lambert

CAST:

Sidney Toler: Charlie Chan
Mantan Moreland: Birmingham Brown
Ben Carter: Ben Carter
Benson Fong: Tommy Chan
Virginia Brissac: Mrs. Marsh
Robert E. Homans: Captain Flynn
Jack Norton: Willie Rand
Janet Shaw: Gloria Bayne
Helen Devereaux: Diane Hall
Victoria Faust: Hulda Swenson (alias Janet Carter)
Milt Kibbee: Herbert Sinclair (not credited)
I. Stanford Jolley: Ralph Brett (alias Rolf Brott and Britt) (not credited)
Reid Kilpatrick: Wilbur Chester (not credited)
Charles Sherlock: Sergeant McGraw (not credited)
Leonard Mudie: Horace Carlos (not credited)

Frank Mayo: Hodge (not credited)

Emmett Vogan: Hamilton (not credited)

Crane Whitley: Cooper (not credited)

Charles Jordan: Nelson (not credited)

Charles Wagenheim: Rausch (not credited)

Tom Quinn: Chemist (not credited)

Kernan Cripps: Detective (not credited)

On the trail of a spy ring intent on stealing government radar plans, Charlie Chan, working as a federal agent, enlists the aid of Captain Flynn of the New York City police. Unfortunately, Flynn follows Chan's lead to one of the spies, named Rausch, too closely, causing the spy to be killed by his mysterious boss.

Discovering that the murderer escaped in the stolen car of radio performer Diane Hall, Chan and his two assistants, number three son Tommy and chauffeur Birmingham Brown, go to the Cosmo Radio Center. There, they find a footprint identical to the bloody impression left by the murderer at the scene of the crime.

Meanwhile, Ralph Brett, the studio manager, telephones the leader of the spy ring, who uses a Western Union teletype machine to communicate with him. The message warns Brett to be more careful or meet the same fate as the murdered Rausch.

Later, Chan goes to the Hamilton Laboratory, which is located in the same building as the radio center. He is told of many unsuccessful attempts to break in and steal the radar plans from the laboratory's safe. Chan then places phony radar plans in the safe in the event that the spies are more successful in the future.

After actress Gloria Bayne attempts to blackmail Brett, having found his matches in Diane's recovered car, she is killed suddenly by an unidentified poison. Realizing that Chan may now be onto him, Brett telephones his boss, asking for help in escaping. The instructions that are teletyped to Brett lead him to his death via a service elevator with a trap door.

Upon finding the murdered studio manager, Chan has a voice impersonator call the spy leader, who, thinking that Brett is still alive, instructs him to use the service elevator once again. However, as Chan and Tommy step out of the gimmicked elevator, Birmingham suddenly has the floor drop out from beneath him. Holding on for his life and calling out for help, Chan and Tommy rescue him. Chan then questions the people who had worked with Brett and Gloria, but receives no useful information.

Later, actor Willie Rand dies suddenly while performing on a live television show. He had just told Chan that he may have uncovered some important information. The detective soon finds, through laboratory analysis, that both Gloria Bayne and Willie Rand had been killed by a poisonous gas that was activated by a reaction to the nicotine inhaled though cigarette smoke.

CONCLUSION:

Chan, Tommy, and Birmingham search the building and the spy leader's office is eventually found. The mysterious leader, trying to escape, is killed when the trap door in the service elevatoraccidentally opens. In the basement of the building, Chan and his assistants find the lifeless body of Mrs. Marsh, the ruthless radio sponsor who was also the mysterious leader of the spy ring.

NOTES: The working title of this film was Robot Murder. The title card reads: Charlie Chan in "The Scarlet Clue". Hollywood Reporter production charts include Harry Bradley and William Gould in the cast, but their participation in the released film has not been confirmed. Hollywood Reporter production charts also note that director of photography William Sickner was borrowed by Monogram from Universal to work on this film. The minor role of actor "Horace Carlos" is obviously based on film actor Boris Karloff, while the film's killer wears a mask modeled on actor Rondo Hatton. Modern sources add the following actors to the cast: Charles Jordan (Nelson) and Kernan Cripps (Detective).

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

CHARLIE CHAN'S APHORISMS:

Contents of safe are only secure so long as someone outside watching safe.

What detective needs is great patience.

Suspect everyone on general principle.

So many fish in fish market, even flower smell same.

OTHER WORTHY STATEMENTS:

(Tommy: "You know we have to look after you.") You look after me until I'm out of sight.

(Tommy: "...no trouble is too big for us.") Some of your trouble too big for me.

Number three son have excellent head. Question have always been, what it contain. (to Capt. Flynn)

(Tommy: "Well, I had an idea, but it's gone now.") Possibly could not stand solitary confinement.

(Tommy: "When it comes to detective work, I know my Ps and Qs.") But are you familiar with rest of alphabet?

(Capt. Flynn: "Hey, it looks like the place has been robbed!") Looks in this case not deceiving.

(Mrs. Marsh: "It's an outrage!") Murder also outrage.

REVIEW:

Variety, May 16, 1945

Somewhat on a better plane than prior attempts by Monogram to capitalize on its Charlie Chan series, "The Scarlet Clue" is a whodunit that should please fans of this type of film fare.

Picture actually has suspense, and the well-written script keeps viewers guessing as to the actual murderer. Acting, too, is better than average, probably because main members of the cast have better material than in several previous pix. Sidney Toler, as Chan, plods along to a successful solution of the killings with able support from Benson Fong, in the role of his son, and Mantan Moreland, who supplies the comedy relief. Helen Devereaux handles her role capably as do the other supporting actors.

Yarn deals with plot to steal radar plans from the Government, causing the death of several people by remote control. Chan and his side center their activities in the radar plant which is also in the building where a radio station is located. Film gathers momentum and the denouement actually catches the viewers off guard.

FILM NOTES:

PROBABLE DATE: Spring 1945

DURATION: Two days

POSSIBLE LOCATION: New York City

THE ADVERTISED SPECIALTY OF THE "MARINE CAFE": Fish dinners

THE TYPE OF BUSINESS LOCATED NEXT DOOR TO THE "MARINE CAFE": A delicatessen

CHARLIE CHAN'S "OLD FRIEND": Captain Flynn (Charlie Chan: "Most happy to meet old friend.")

THE LENGTH OF TIME CHARLIE CHAN WAS IN TOWN BEFORE BEING TELEPHONED BY CAPT. FLYNN: One hour

THE NAME OF THE SECOND OFFICER WORKING WITH CAPT. FLYNN: Hodge

ACCORDING TO CAPT. FLYNN, THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT HE AND HODGE HAD BEEN TRAILING RAUSCH FROM THE TRAIN STATION: "...seven hours."

THE FACTS OF RAUSCH'S DEATH, ACCORDING TO CAPT. FLYNN: "Stabbed within the last twenty minutes."

CAPT. FLYNN'S PRECINCT: 12th

THE CAR LICENSE PLATE NUMBER NOTED BY CHARLIE CHAN: 9B2X54 (the car belonging to Dianne Hall that was used by the murderer of Rausch)

THE NAME OF THE RADIO AND TELEVISION STUDIO: Cosmo Radio Center

THE LOCATION OF THE TELEVISION STATION OFFICES AS WELL AS THOSE OF THE HAMILTON RESEARCH LABORATORY: 10th floor

ACCORDING TO CHARLIE CHAN THE TYPES OR RESEARCH CARRIED ON AT HAMILTON LABORATORY: "Radar, radio."

THE NAME OF BIRMINGHAM BROWN'S UNCLE: Nicodemus Brown

TWO "MUG SHOTS" AND PRISON INFORMATION FOR NICODEMUS BROWN AND BIRMINGHAM BROWN SHOWN IN THIS FILM:

Nicodemus Brown

Birmingham Brown

BIRMINGHAM BROWN'S MARITAL STATUS: Divorsed and paying allimony

THE RADIO BROADCAST STUDIO WHERE CHARLIE CHAN SPOKE WITH DIANE HALL: Studio C

THE TIME AS DIANE HALL'S CAR WAS NOTED AS MISSING: 8:30 p.m.

ACCORDING TO TOMMY CHAN, THE CITY FROM WHICH CHARLIE CHAN AND COMPANY HAD COME: New York (this could point to the Cosmo Radio Center being, perhaps in neighboring Brooklyn)

A FACT ABOUT THE BLOODY SHOE PRINT FOUND IN THE HALLWAY OF THE COSMO RADIO CENTER, AS NOTED BY CHARLIE CHAN: "Right shoe."

RALPH BRETT'S POSITION AT COSMO RADIO CENTER: Studio manager

THE TYPE OF MACHINE THAT WAS USED BY THE LEADER OF THE SPY RING TO COMMUICATE WITH GANG MEMBERS: A Teletype machine

RALPH BRETT'S TELEPHONE STATEMENTS WITH THE SPY LEADER'S TELETYPED ANSWERS:

Brett: "He (Rausch) was ready to blab because Charlie Chan was after him, too. But he can't talk now - he's dead."

Teletyped Message: "FOOL CHAN CAME HERE TONIGHT TO SEE DIANE HALL WHY"

Brett: "I borrowed Diana's car last night to go to meet Rausch."

Teletyped Message: "IDIOT WHY TAKE CAR OF SOMEONE AT YOUR OWN BUILDING USE YOUR HEAD BEFORE YOU LOSE IT"

THE NUMBER DIALED BY RALPH BRETT FOR INFORMATION: 123

THE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR WHICH RALPH BRETT WAS SEEKING THE ADDRESS: HArding 2535 (used by Ralph Brett to reach the head of the spy gang)

THE NAME GIVEN TO INFORMATION OPERATOR BY RALPH BRETT IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE ADDRESS CONNECTED WITH THE SPY LEADER'S TELEPHONE NUMBER: "...Inspector Grady, Precinct Station 27."

THE ADDRESS OF THE OFFICE BELONGING TO THE ABOVE TELEPHONE NUMBER: 211, Algard Building

THE INFORMATION ON GLORIA BAYNE, AS READ BY CAPT. FLYNN: "Radio actress, small time, until she made a hit on Mrs. Marsh's program. She used to be a gold digger, but she's a hard worker. No record."

THE INFORMATION ON DIANE HALL, AS READ BY CAPT. FLYNN: "Radio actress from legitimate stage, New York. Came here two months ago. Nothing definite on her except that she lives with Gloria Bayne."

THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT DIANE HALL HAD WORKED AT COSMO RADIO CENTER: 2 months

THE PRODUCT ADVERTISED DURING MRS. MARSH'S RADIO SHOW: Marsh's Mellow (waffle) Mix

CHARLIE CHAN'S ACQUAINTANCE: Mr. Hamilton (scientist experimenting with radar)

HAMILTON'S PAST GOVERNMENT WORK, ACCORDING TO HIMSELF: "Right here we began the work that today allows our night fighters to hunt down and destroy enemy airplanes without even seeing them." (radar)

RALPH BRETT'S SECOND TELEPHONE MESSAGE TO THE SPY LEADER'S TELETYPED ANSWER:

Brett: "Listen. Gloria Bayne, an actress here, knows that I used Diana Hall's car last night. She's blackmailing me. What'll I do?"

Teletyped Message: "STOP WORRYING ABOUT HER"

NAME OF THE MAN MET BY RALPH BRETT AT THE ALGARD BUILDING: Cooper

RALPH BRETT'S FINAL TELEPHONE MESSAGE TO THE SPY LEADER WITH THE LEADER'S TELETYPED ANSWER:

Brett: "Listen. Charlie Chan knows all about the Rausch murder. He's after me. You've got to protect me! What do I do?"

Teletyped Message: "USE SERVICE ELEVATOR COME SEVENTH FLOOR IF NO ONE IN HALL COME TENTH FLOOR WILL GET YOU AWAY"

THE NUMBER OF THE OFFICE IN WHICH THE SPY RING LEADER HAD A HIDDEN SWITCH TO RELEASE A TRAP DOOR ON THE ELEVATOR: 702

ACCORDING TO WILLIE RAND, THE LENGTH OF TIME SINCE HE HAD SEEN RALPH BRETT LISTENING TO CHAN'S CONVERSATION THROUGH THE DOOR TO BRETT'S OFFICE: "About twenty minutes ago."

FOLLOWING RALPH BRETT'S DISAPPEARENCE, THE LENGTH OF TIME, ACCORDING TO CAPT. FLYNN, SINCE HE WAS LAST SEEN: "...eight hours..."

ACCORDING TO CHARLIE CHAN, THE LOCATION WHERE RALPH BRETT HAD LAST BEEN SEEN ALIVE: "...on second floor of Cosmo Building."

ALIASES USED BY COOPER IN THE PAST: Carper, Cauper

WHEN AND WHERE, ACCORDING TO CHARLIE CHAN, HE HAD PREVIOUSLY ARRESTED COOPER: "Six years ago in Singapore..." (1939)

THE NAME OF THE RADIO IMPERSONATOR USED BY CHARLIE CHAN TO IMITATE RALPH BRETT ON THE TELEPHONE: Mr. Dixon

THE TELETYPED MESSAGE RECEIVED BY CHARLIE CHAN FROM THE SPY LEADER (AFTER DIXON HAD IMITATED BRETT ON THE PHONE): "USE SERVICE ELEVATOR COME SEVENTH FLOOR IF I NOT THERE COME TENTH FLOOR" (italicized words as read by Charlie Chan)

THE TELEVISION STUDIO AT COSMO RADIO CENTER USED TO BROADCAST WILLIE RAND'S ACT: Television Studio Number 1

THE TIME REMAINING TO "AIR," ACCORDING TO THE TELEVISION DIRECTOR: "We go on in twenty seconds."

THE TELEVISION CALL LETTERS AS ANNOUNCED BY THE MASTER OF CERIMONIES: "This is television experimental station WXK9X..."

WILLIE RAND'S TELEVISION ACT, AS INTRODUCED BY THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES: "...presenting ace comedian Willie Rand in his own conception of 'The Dance of the Spirit.'"

THE TELEVISION ACT THAT WAS SWITCHED TO QUICKLY IN "TELE-STUDIO 2" AFTER WILLIE RAND SUDDENLY BECAME ILL: Miguel Moreno and his Marimba Band

WILBUR CHESTER'S OFFICE NUMBER: 702 (with hidden control for elevator trap door used by spy gang head)

THE POISON USED TO KILL BOTH GLORIA BAYNE AND WILLIE RAND: A combination of gas in capsules and nicotine in a smoked cigarette. The capsules were broken by a shortwave radio signal.

ACCORDING TO THE CORONER, THE FACTS REGARDING THE POISON USED BY THE KILLER: "...alone, either the gas or the cigarette is harmless...The combination of gas and nicotine becomes a poison and kills instantly."

THE NUMBER OF THE OFFICE USED BY SPY GANG HEAD: 703 (with Teletype machine and high-frequency shortwave radio transmitter used to break hidden gas capsules)

ALIASES OF RALPH BRETT: Rolf Brott and Britt (as he was known in France)

ACCORDING TO HERSELF, THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT JANET CARTER, GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATOR, HAD WORKED UNDERCOVER AT THE COSMO RADIO CENTER: "I came here a month ago on Mr. Chan's orders."

GLOSSARY:

battle-ax (or battle-axe) - (slang) A woman held to be antagonistic or overbearing.

Willie Rand: "Oh-oh. the battle-ax."

gold digger - (informal) A woman who seeks money and expensive gifts from men.

Capt. Flynn: "She used to be a gold digger..."

radar - (1) A method of detecting distant objects and determining their position, velocity, or other characteristics by analysis of very high frequency radio waves reflected from their surfaces. (2) The equipment used in such detection.

Hamilton: "All of my radar equipment has been taken away by the government."

Teletype - Trademark name of a device that can send typed messages over telephone lines to a receiving device.

A Teletype machine was used by the gang leader to communicate with gang members.

zoot suit - (slang) A man's suit popular during the early 1940s, characterized by full-legged, tight-cuffed trousers and a long coat with wide lapels and heavily padded, wide shoulders.

Birmingham Brown: "Look at that zoot suit he's got on."

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

ADVERTISEMENT:

Linden Theatre (location unknown)

August 18, 1945


		The Scarlet Clue Monogram Pictures Corporation Distributed: Monogram Pictures Corporation, May 11, 1945 Production: January 1945 Copyright: Monogram Pictures Corporation, April 1, 1945; LP13234 Opened: Strand, Brooklyn, N.Y., the week of May 10, 1945 Sound: Western Electric Recording Film: Black and white Length: 5,808 feet Running Time: 65 minutes Production Code Administration Certificate Number: 10732 Source: Based on the Charlie Chan character created by Earl Derr Biggers Producer: James S. Burkett Director: Phil Rosen Assistant Director: Eddie Davis (not credited) Original Screenplay: George Callahan Director of Photography: William Sickner Production Manager: William Strohbach Editor: Richard Currier Technical Director: Dave Milton Musical Director: Edward J. Kay Sound Recording: Tom Lambert CAST: Sidney Toler: Charlie Chan Mantan Moreland: Birmingham Brown Ben Carter: Ben Carter Benson Fong: Tommy Chan Virginia Brissac: Mrs. Marsh Robert E. Homans: Captain Flynn Jack Norton: Willie Rand Janet Shaw: Gloria Bayne Helen Devereaux: Diane Hall Victoria Faust: Hulda Swenson (alias Janet Carter) Milt Kibbee: Herbert Sinclair (not credited) I. Stanford Jolley: Ralph Brett (alias Rolf Brott and Britt) (not credited) Reid Kilpatrick: Wilbur Chester (not credited) Charles Sherlock: Sergeant McGraw (not credited) Leonard Mudie: Horace Carlos (not credited) Frank Mayo: Hodge (not credited) Emmett Vogan: Hamilton (not credited) Crane Whitley: Cooper (not credited) Charles Jordan: Nelson (not credited) Charles Wagenheim: Rausch (not credited) Tom Quinn: Chemist (not credited) Kernan Cripps: Detective (not credited) On the trail of a spy ring intent on stealing government radar plans, Charlie Chan, working as a federal agent, enlists the aid of Captain Flynn of the New York City police. Unfortunately, Flynn follows Chan's lead to one of the spies, named Rausch, too closely, causing the spy to be killed by his mysterious boss. Discovering that the murderer escaped in the stolen car of radio performer Diane Hall, Chan and his two assistants, number three son Tommy and chauffeur Birmingham Brown, go to the Cosmo Radio Center. There, they find a footprint identical to the bloody impression left by the murderer at the scene of the crime. Meanwhile, Ralph Brett, the studio manager, telephones the leader of the spy ring, who uses a Western Union teletype machine to communicate with him. The message warns Brett to be more careful or meet the same fate as the murdered Rausch. Later, Chan goes to the Hamilton Laboratory, which is located in the same building as the radio center. He is told of many unsuccessful attempts to break in and steal the radar plans from the laboratory's safe. Chan then places phony radar plans in the safe in the event that the spies are more successful in the future. After actress Gloria Bayne attempts to blackmail Brett, having found his matches in Diane's recovered car, she is killed suddenly by an unidentified poison. Realizing that Chan may now be onto him, Brett telephones his boss, asking for help in escaping. The instructions that are teletyped to Brett lead him to his death via a service elevator with a trap door. Upon finding the murdered studio manager, Chan has a voice impersonator call the spy leader, who, thinking that Brett is still alive, instructs him to use the service elevator once again. However, as Chan and Tommy step out of the gimmicked elevator, Birmingham suddenly has the floor drop out from beneath him. Holding on for his life and calling out for help, Chan and Tommy rescue him. Chan then questions the people who had worked with Brett and Gloria, but receives no useful information. Later, actor Willie Rand dies suddenly while performing on a live television show. He had just told Chan that he may have uncovered some important information. The detective soon finds, through laboratory analysis, that both Gloria Bayne and Willie Rand had been killed by a poisonous gas that was activated by a reaction to the nicotine inhaled though cigarette smoke. CONCLUSION: Chan, Tommy, and Birmingham search the building and the spy leader's office is eventually found. The mysterious leader, trying to escape, is killed when the trap door in the service elevatoraccidentally opens. In the basement of the building, Chan and his assistants find the lifeless body of Mrs. Marsh, the ruthless radio sponsor who was also the mysterious leader of the spy ring. NOTES: The working title of this film was Robot Murder. The title card reads: Charlie Chan in "The Scarlet Clue". Hollywood Reporter production charts include Harry Bradley and William Gould in the cast, but their participation in the released film has not been confirmed. Hollywood Reporter production charts also note that director of photography William Sickner was borrowed by Monogram from Universal to work on this film. The minor role of actor "Horace Carlos" is obviously based on film actor Boris Karloff, while the film's killer wears a mask modeled on actor Rondo Hatton. Modern sources add the following actors to the cast: Charles Jordan (Nelson) and Kernan Cripps (Detective). Adapted from: 'AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE CATALOG - Within Our Gates: Ethnicity in American Feature Films, 1911-1960' CHARLIE CHAN'S APHORISMS: Contents of safe are only secure so long as someone outside watching safe. What detective needs is great patience. Suspect everyone on general principle. So many fish in fish market, even flower smell same. OTHER WORTHY STATEMENTS: (Tommy: "You know we have to look after you.") You look after me until I'm out of sight. (Tommy: "...no trouble is too big for us.") Some of your trouble too big for me. Number three son have excellent head. Question have always been, what it contain. (to Capt. Flynn) (Tommy: "Well, I had an idea, but it's gone now.") Possibly could not stand solitary confinement. (Tommy: "When it comes to detective work, I know my Ps and Qs.") But are you familiar with rest of alphabet? (Capt. Flynn: "Hey, it looks like the place has been robbed!") Looks in this case not deceiving. (Mrs. Marsh: "It's an outrage!") Murder also outrage. REVIEW: Variety, May 16, 1945 Somewhat on a better plane than prior attempts by Monogram to capitalize on its Charlie Chan series, "The Scarlet Clue" is a whodunit that should please fans of this type of film fare. Picture actually has suspense, and the well-written script keeps viewers guessing as to the actual murderer. Acting, too, is better than average, probably because main members of the cast have better material than in several previous pix. Sidney Toler, as Chan, plods along to a successful solution of the killings with able support from Benson Fong, in the role of his son, and Mantan Moreland, who supplies the comedy relief. Helen Devereaux handles her role capably as do the other supporting actors. Yarn deals with plot to steal radar plans from the Government, causing the death of several people by remote control. Chan and his side center their activities in the radar plant which is also in the building where a radio station is located. Film gathers momentum and the denouement actually catches the viewers off guard. FILM NOTES: PROBABLE DATE: Spring 1945 DURATION: Two days POSSIBLE LOCATION: New York City THE ADVERTISED SPECIALTY OF THE "MARINE CAFE": Fish dinners THE TYPE OF BUSINESS LOCATED NEXT DOOR TO THE "MARINE CAFE": A delicatessen CHARLIE CHAN'S "OLD FRIEND": Captain Flynn (Charlie Chan: "Most happy to meet old friend.") THE LENGTH OF TIME CHARLIE CHAN WAS IN TOWN BEFORE BEING TELEPHONED BY CAPT. FLYNN: One hour THE NAME OF THE SECOND OFFICER WORKING WITH CAPT. FLYNN: Hodge ACCORDING TO CAPT. FLYNN, THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT HE AND HODGE HAD BEEN TRAILING RAUSCH FROM THE TRAIN STATION: "...seven hours." THE FACTS OF RAUSCH'S DEATH, ACCORDING TO CAPT. FLYNN: "Stabbed within the last twenty minutes." CAPT. FLYNN'S PRECINCT: 12th THE CAR LICENSE PLATE NUMBER NOTED BY CHARLIE CHAN: 9B2X54 (the car belonging to Dianne Hall that was used by the murderer of Rausch) THE NAME OF THE RADIO AND TELEVISION STUDIO: Cosmo Radio Center THE LOCATION OF THE TELEVISION STATION OFFICES AS WELL AS THOSE OF THE HAMILTON RESEARCH LABORATORY: 10th floor ACCORDING TO CHARLIE CHAN THE TYPES OR RESEARCH CARRIED ON AT HAMILTON LABORATORY: "Radar, radio." THE NAME OF BIRMINGHAM BROWN'S UNCLE: Nicodemus Brown TWO "MUG SHOTS" AND PRISON INFORMATION FOR NICODEMUS BROWN AND BIRMINGHAM BROWN SHOWN IN THIS FILM: BIRMINGHAM BROWN'S MARITAL STATUS: Divorsed and paying allimony THE RADIO BROADCAST STUDIO WHERE CHARLIE CHAN SPOKE WITH DIANE HALL: Studio C THE TIME AS DIANE HALL'S CAR WAS NOTED AS MISSING: 8:30 p.m. ACCORDING TO TOMMY CHAN, THE CITY FROM WHICH CHARLIE CHAN AND COMPANY HAD COME: New York (this could point to the Cosmo Radio Center being, perhaps in neighboring Brooklyn) A FACT ABOUT THE BLOODY SHOE PRINT FOUND IN THE HALLWAY OF THE COSMO RADIO CENTER, AS NOTED BY CHARLIE CHAN: "Right shoe." RALPH BRETT'S POSITION AT COSMO RADIO CENTER: Studio manager THE TYPE OF MACHINE THAT WAS USED BY THE LEADER OF THE SPY RING TO COMMUICATE WITH GANG MEMBERS: A Teletype machine RALPH BRETT'S TELEPHONE STATEMENTS WITH THE SPY LEADER'S TELETYPED ANSWERS: Brett: "He (Rausch) was ready to blab because Charlie Chan was after him, too. But he can't talk now - he's dead." Teletyped Message: "FOOL CHAN CAME HERE TONIGHT TO SEE DIANE HALL WHY" Brett: "I borrowed Diana's car last night to go to meet Rausch." Teletyped Message: "IDIOT WHY TAKE CAR OF SOMEONE AT YOUR OWN BUILDING USE YOUR HEAD BEFORE YOU LOSE IT" THE NUMBER DIALED BY RALPH BRETT FOR INFORMATION: 123 THE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR WHICH RALPH BRETT WAS SEEKING THE ADDRESS: HArding 2535 (used by Ralph Brett to reach the head of the spy gang) THE NAME GIVEN TO INFORMATION OPERATOR BY RALPH BRETT IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE ADDRESS CONNECTED WITH THE SPY LEADER'S TELEPHONE NUMBER: "...Inspector Grady, Precinct Station 27." THE ADDRESS OF THE OFFICE BELONGING TO THE ABOVE TELEPHONE NUMBER: 211, Algard Building THE INFORMATION ON GLORIA BAYNE, AS READ BY CAPT. FLYNN: "Radio actress, small time, until she made a hit on Mrs. Marsh's program. She used to be a gold digger, but she's a hard worker. No record." THE INFORMATION ON DIANE HALL, AS READ BY CAPT. FLYNN: "Radio actress from legitimate stage, New York. Came here two months ago. Nothing definite on her except that she lives with Gloria Bayne." THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT DIANE HALL HAD WORKED AT COSMO RADIO CENTER: 2 months THE PRODUCT ADVERTISED DURING MRS. MARSH'S RADIO SHOW: Marsh's Mellow (waffle) Mix CHARLIE CHAN'S ACQUAINTANCE: Mr. Hamilton (scientist experimenting with radar) HAMILTON'S PAST GOVERNMENT WORK, ACCORDING TO HIMSELF: "Right here we began the work that today allows our night fighters to hunt down and destroy enemy airplanes without even seeing them." (radar) RALPH BRETT'S SECOND TELEPHONE MESSAGE TO THE SPY LEADER'S TELETYPED ANSWER: Brett: "Listen. Gloria Bayne, an actress here, knows that I used Diana Hall's car last night. She's blackmailing me. What'll I do?" Teletyped Message: "STOP WORRYING ABOUT HER" NAME OF THE MAN MET BY RALPH BRETT AT THE ALGARD BUILDING: Cooper RALPH BRETT'S FINAL TELEPHONE MESSAGE TO THE SPY LEADER WITH THE LEADER'S TELETYPED ANSWER: Brett: "Listen. Charlie Chan knows all about the Rausch murder. He's after me. You've got to protect me! What do I do?" Teletyped Message: "USE SERVICE ELEVATOR COME SEVENTH FLOOR IF NO ONE IN HALL COME TENTH FLOOR WILL GET YOU AWAY" THE NUMBER OF THE OFFICE IN WHICH THE SPY RING LEADER HAD A HIDDEN SWITCH TO RELEASE A TRAP DOOR ON THE ELEVATOR: 702 ACCORDING TO WILLIE RAND, THE LENGTH OF TIME SINCE HE HAD SEEN RALPH BRETT LISTENING TO CHAN'S CONVERSATION THROUGH THE DOOR TO BRETT'S OFFICE: "About twenty minutes ago." FOLLOWING RALPH BRETT'S DISAPPEARENCE, THE LENGTH OF TIME, ACCORDING TO CAPT. FLYNN, SINCE HE WAS LAST SEEN: "...eight hours..." ACCORDING TO CHARLIE CHAN, THE LOCATION WHERE RALPH BRETT HAD LAST BEEN SEEN ALIVE: "...on second floor of Cosmo Building." ALIASES USED BY COOPER IN THE PAST: Carper, Cauper WHEN AND WHERE, ACCORDING TO CHARLIE CHAN, HE HAD PREVIOUSLY ARRESTED COOPER: "Six years ago in Singapore..." (1939) THE NAME OF THE RADIO IMPERSONATOR USED BY CHARLIE CHAN TO IMITATE RALPH BRETT ON THE TELEPHONE: Mr. Dixon THE TELETYPED MESSAGE RECEIVED BY CHARLIE CHAN FROM THE SPY LEADER (AFTER DIXON HAD IMITATED BRETT ON THE PHONE): "USE SERVICE ELEVATOR COME SEVENTH FLOOR IF I NOT THERE COME TENTH FLOOR" (italicized words as read by Charlie Chan) THE TELEVISION STUDIO AT COSMO RADIO CENTER USED TO BROADCAST WILLIE RAND'S ACT: Television Studio Number 1 THE TIME REMAINING TO "AIR," ACCORDING TO THE TELEVISION DIRECTOR: "We go on in twenty seconds." THE TELEVISION CALL LETTERS AS ANNOUNCED BY THE MASTER OF CERIMONIES: "This is television experimental station WXK9X..." WILLIE RAND'S TELEVISION ACT, AS INTRODUCED BY THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES: "...presenting ace comedian Willie Rand in his own conception of 'The Dance of the Spirit.'" THE TELEVISION ACT THAT WAS SWITCHED TO QUICKLY IN "TELE-STUDIO 2" AFTER WILLIE RAND SUDDENLY BECAME ILL: Miguel Moreno and his Marimba Band WILBUR CHESTER'S OFFICE NUMBER: 702 (with hidden control for elevator trap door used by spy gang head) THE POISON USED TO KILL BOTH GLORIA BAYNE AND WILLIE RAND: A combination of gas in capsules and nicotine in a smoked cigarette. The capsules were broken by a shortwave radio signal. ACCORDING TO THE CORONER, THE FACTS REGARDING THE POISON USED BY THE KILLER: "...alone, either the gas or the cigarette is harmless...The combination of gas and nicotine becomes a poison and kills instantly." THE NUMBER OF THE OFFICE USED BY SPY GANG HEAD: 703 (with Teletype machine and high-frequency shortwave radio transmitter used to break hidden gas capsules) ALIASES OF RALPH BRETT: Rolf Brott and Britt (as he was known in France) ACCORDING TO HERSELF, THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT JANET CARTER, GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATOR, HAD WORKED UNDERCOVER AT THE COSMO RADIO CENTER: "I came here a month ago on Mr. Chan's orders." GLOSSARY: battle-ax (or battle-axe) - (slang) A woman held to be antagonistic or overbearing. Willie Rand: "Oh-oh. the battle-ax." gold digger - (informal) A woman who seeks money and expensive gifts from men. Capt. Flynn: "She used to be a gold digger..." radar - (1) A method of detecting distant objects and determining their position, velocity, or other characteristics by analysis of very high frequency radio waves reflected from their surfaces. (2) The equipment used in such detection. Hamilton: "All of my radar equipment has been taken away by the government." Teletype - Trademark name of a device that can send typed messages over telephone lines to a receiving device. A Teletype machine was used by the gang leader to communicate with gang members. zoot suit - (slang) A man's suit popular during the early 1940s, characterized by full-legged, tight-cuffed trousers and a long coat with wide lapels and heavily padded, wide shoulders. Birmingham Brown: "Look at that zoot suit he's got on." For a complete list from all films, please visit our Charlie Chan Glossary. ADVERTISEMENT: Linden Theatre (location unknown) August 18, 1945