Review
Black Magic, released 8-19-44
This movie was above average for the Monogram series entries, in that it had intrigue throughout the film, plenty of red-herrings, murder, shady business dealings with psychics, and it was acted out by all participants in an exceptional manner, each member maintaining integrity to the plot. The contrived humor from some characters is a bit much to tolerate. What was maybe funny then, is simply lost on the audience today, or so pitifully stereotypical, that it finds little to do with the story of Charlie Chan solving the crime.
It is a nice change of pace for Frances Chan to appear in the film, both from her professionalism and her being pleasing to the eye. Why they thought Mantan Moreland was an add-on I do not understand, but you probably had to be there. The actors are not recognizable in popularity, except the star, Toler. Sidney held up well in this film, no signs yet of any physical ailments, which were to plague him later.
The story could be told today, since there are charlatans out there now, taking people's money by conjuring up dead relatives with or without visual trickery. The manner in which the killer succeeds is worth a watch. Revenge is the catalyst along with jealousy. The killer holds a couple responsible for adultery and seeks retribution, succeeding, but caught by Charlie Chan in the end.
There is the usual police officer, skeptical of all Charlie's methods, but ready to insist on his help to solve the crimes. Chan tells the widow she runs a shady business, but is looking ultimately for her killer and her husband's. The seances are conducted in a rigged room, where the basement is complete with a couple of ex-vaudevillians, in costume, plus an assortment of effects used to fool the clients. Charlie has to solve a problem of no evidence of a bullet killing the husband, the drug used to help the hypnotist for the wife off the ledge of a building, the weapon used to murder, the unique disappearing bullet source, and the motive stemming from incidents a decade in the past.
A careful watch will bring all the clues to fruition, as Charlie Chan succeeds in his pursuit of the vengeful killer.
It is a nice change of pace for Frances Chan to appear in the film, both from her professionalism and her being pleasing to the eye. Why they thought Mantan Moreland was an add-on I do not understand, but you probably had to be there. The actors are not recognizable in popularity, except the star, Toler. Sidney held up well in this film, no signs yet of any physical ailments, which were to plague him later.
The story could be told today, since there are charlatans out there now, taking people's money by conjuring up dead relatives with or without visual trickery. The manner in which the killer succeeds is worth a watch. Revenge is the catalyst along with jealousy. The killer holds a couple responsible for adultery and seeks retribution, succeeding, but caught by Charlie Chan in the end.
There is the usual police officer, skeptical of all Charlie's methods, but ready to insist on his help to solve the crimes. Chan tells the widow she runs a shady business, but is looking ultimately for her killer and her husband's. The seances are conducted in a rigged room, where the basement is complete with a couple of ex-vaudevillians, in costume, plus an assortment of effects used to fool the clients. Charlie has to solve a problem of no evidence of a bullet killing the husband, the drug used to help the hypnotist for the wife off the ledge of a building, the weapon used to murder, the unique disappearing bullet source, and the motive stemming from incidents a decade in the past.
A careful watch will bring all the clues to fruition, as Charlie Chan succeeds in his pursuit of the vengeful killer.