Some things I liked some I did not.

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

I strongly disagree with the multiple negative reviews on this film. It is a fast moving story, with the usual fine performance by Toler and good comic support from Jimmy and Birmingham. Also, this movie does not look "cheap," in any way, contrary to a frequently voiced grumble in those negative reviews. Sets are good and well dressed. Monogram did themselves proud here. This film is a jewel!

Just viewed this movie couple of minutes ago from the latest release of this one and 3 others made by Roland Winters(which I will watch very soon). I must say that the review by xnet95 was right on. I now have 38 of the total of 44 Charlie Chan movies that were made with Sidney Toler, Warner Oland and Roland Winters and this right is not very good. Did I still enjoy, yes because I am a CC fan. But the movie is not very good, script is awful, story is not fully made so one can make some logical sense out of it. And yes, what Chinatown. Except for a couple quick scenes it could be Shadows Over "Anywhere" which would make more sense. But at last, as a fan of this series I still am glad I have it. I would not recommend this to a non CC fan. But as we are aware, this is a Monogram picture which was known for very low production values.

I really liked this Chan, it kept my interest all the way through. I found the plot complex, not hard to follow. I think that is why I really enjoyed it, there is a lot going on with lots of characters coming and going. Some people on here claimed the plot didn't make sense but let us be fair, a mystery isn't a mystery if you know what is going to happen from one scene to the next. I really have no complaints, this is one I want to watch again very soon. One thing I appreciate about the Chan movies is the fact that the producers tried to give you something a bit different from one film to the next. Sure, they recycle themselves after a while but some Chans really stand out...like this one. I just relax and watch all the events as they occur and let Charlie explain it all at the end! I guess some folks just like predictable films and turn up their noses at anything that doesn't follow the herd.

You'll find all sorts of gems by noodling around in films of the 30s and 40s. Some absolute treasures await you in unlikely places. One of these is in various experiments in the detective story that were being conducted at the time.And sometimes a series in this period yields riches in how it evolves. But I can tell you that except in one respect this film is so poor in content and interest, you should avoid it. I'm not talking about production values here or even questions about the sense of the mystery. We've never let them get in the way before if there is a core that rewards. Everyone seems tired here (except for that one element I'll mention below). Toler was in his seventies and can merely grimace. The Confucianisms that were clever in a few Chan movies are rote and childish here. The plot bumps about until it tumbles down all the stairs allotted to it.The one bright light is Mantan Mooreland. The series is, after all, about how one race, the Chinese, have gifts — inscrutable insight and some wisdom. Its always been peppered by the caveat of race by the comical black man. Mantan plays this man, the childish chauffeur (usually called a driver).He's terrified, a coward. And he's ignorant. Combining these two with minstrel characteristics and you get a stuttering, bug eyed foil that easily is well over the line in offensive.And yet. He is such an artist. His timing is so sublime, that you have to just watch him in awe. He's a star, a great actor. If we don't burden Brando by thinking that he is actually his characters, why should we do so here?He's in more watchable films, and just as appealing in how he connects. But if you happen to accidentally be watching this, he'll give some relief.Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.