3 months ago

The Chinese Cat (also titled Murder in the Funhouse) is a 1944 mystery film starring Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan.

Plot
Mr. Manning is murdered in his study while the door is locked from the inside. Police close the case after 6 months. A girl contacts Charlie Chan to have a look before he leaves in 48 hours. Twins are involved in a diamond-smuggling ring after the Kohinoor Diamonds are stolen; one twin is killed and the other living twin masquerades as a ghost tricking Birmingham Brown. Mr. Manning had the largest stone stored in the secret compartment of a Chinese cat statue, and doublecrossed his associates. Movie ends in a carnival funhouse with police arresting the diamond-smuggling ring for three murders. Rival author of Manning Murder Solved book must now pay $20,000 to Chinese War Relief after a lost bet with Charlie Chan about the murderer's identity.

Cast
Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan
Mantan Moreland as Birmingham Brown, Taxi Driver
Joan Woodbury as Leah Manning
Benson Fong as Tommy Chan, #3 Son
Ian Keith as Dr. Paul Recknik
Sam Flint as Thomas Manning
Betty Blythe as Mrs. Manning
Cy Kendall as Webster Deacon
John Davidson as twins Karl Karzos/Kurt Karzos
Weldon Heyburn as Detective Lt. Harvey Dennis
Anthony Warde as Catlen
Jack Norton as hotel desk clerk
Luke Chan as Wu Sang, curio shop owner
George Chandler as hotel doorman (uncredited)
Daisy Bufford as Carolina, the maid (uncredited)
Production
The film was the second Charlie Chan movie from Monogram. It was originally called Charlie Chan and the Perfect Crime and filming started on 4 January 1944.[1]

This is the film where Birmingham Brown is permanently hired as Charlie Chan's chauffeur. He is looking for a new job after the guilty criminals blow up his taxicab with a bomb.

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