IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
Charlie Chan investigates apparent poisonings at a mystery mansion in the Mojave Desert.Charlie Chan investigates apparent poisonings at a mystery mansion in the Mojave Desert.Charlie Chan investigates apparent poisonings at a mystery mansion in the Mojave Desert.
Douglass Dumbrille
- Paul Manderley
- (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Victor Sen Yung
- Jimmy Chan
- (as Sen Yung)
Steven Geray
- Dr. Retling
- (as Steve Geray)
Oliver Blake
- Wigley - Hotel Owner
- (uncredited)
George Chandler
- Bus Driver
- (uncredited)
Paul Kruger
- Bodyguard
- (uncredited)
Tex Phelps
- Prospector
- (uncredited)
Eric Wilton
- Wilson
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis was the last Charlie Chan movie produced by "20th Century Fox Studios," for America's entry into World War II in December 1941, shortly after this movie was filmed, made the studio cut back on film productions for the war effort.
- GoofsPaul Manderley, supposedly an expert on the Italian Rennaissance, mispronounces Cesare Borgia's first name, making it sound like Caesar as in Julius Caesar.
- Quotes
Lily, Mme. Saturnia: You have enemies, Mr. Chan?
Charlie Chan: Man without enemies like dog without fleas.
- ConnectionsEdited into Who Dunit Theater: Charlie Chan Castle in the Desert (2021)
Featured review
Enjoyable Chan mystery with average plot but plenty of atmosphere
Lucy Manderley makes a brusque announcement: "Two things we never discuss in this house—my family and Paul's accident." –Her husband Paul wears a mask that covers half of his face; Lucy herself is descended from the Borgias of Renaissance Italy, renowned for power and poison. "This house" is the Manderley estate, a lonely medieval-style castle stuck out in the desert.
Charlie Chan is on hand at said estate—but the urgent invitation he answered was apparently a fake. Has Mr. Chan been summoned to witness a murder or provide an alibi? Sidney Toler is steady as always as he attempts to find out.
Eerie music, dimly lit castle sets and some good shadowy camera work create an appropriately spooky atmosphere for this fairly standard but highly enjoyable Chan mystery.
Among the entertaining cast on hand at the old dark castle are Douglass Dumbrille as the odd Mr. Manderley and Lenita Lane as his nervous wife; Henry Daniell as mysterious sculptor Watson King; and Ethel Griffies as Madame Saturnia, a spooky soothsayer whose predictions all involve death.
Sen Yung also offers assistance as Jimmy Chan. On a week's leave from the Army, Jimmy tells his Pop that "What I'd like now is the relaxation of a good murder case." He finds a suit of armor a good hiding place to spy from, but keeps getting pushed over and tumbling down flights of stairs .
The plot involves a couple of murders by poison—pointing suspicion at Lucy Manderley, the only possibly-unbalanced Borgia in the group. Other elements adding to the mystery include a sleeping potion like the one Shakespeare's Juliet took, and the early disappearance of the only vehicle's distributor, leaving the entire group stranded and cut off.
Overall, it's a fairly standard Charlie Chan: a decent mystery plot featuring a few chills, a fair mix of comedy, and a bit of action as well. Very entertaining for fans.
Charlie Chan is on hand at said estate—but the urgent invitation he answered was apparently a fake. Has Mr. Chan been summoned to witness a murder or provide an alibi? Sidney Toler is steady as always as he attempts to find out.
Eerie music, dimly lit castle sets and some good shadowy camera work create an appropriately spooky atmosphere for this fairly standard but highly enjoyable Chan mystery.
Among the entertaining cast on hand at the old dark castle are Douglass Dumbrille as the odd Mr. Manderley and Lenita Lane as his nervous wife; Henry Daniell as mysterious sculptor Watson King; and Ethel Griffies as Madame Saturnia, a spooky soothsayer whose predictions all involve death.
Sen Yung also offers assistance as Jimmy Chan. On a week's leave from the Army, Jimmy tells his Pop that "What I'd like now is the relaxation of a good murder case." He finds a suit of armor a good hiding place to spy from, but keeps getting pushed over and tumbling down flights of stairs .
The plot involves a couple of murders by poison—pointing suspicion at Lucy Manderley, the only possibly-unbalanced Borgia in the group. Other elements adding to the mystery include a sleeping potion like the one Shakespeare's Juliet took, and the early disappearance of the only vehicle's distributor, leaving the entire group stranded and cut off.
Overall, it's a fairly standard Charlie Chan: a decent mystery plot featuring a few chills, a fair mix of comedy, and a bit of action as well. Very entertaining for fans.
helpful•50
- csteidler
- Nov 8, 2012
- How long is Castle in the Desert?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Charlie Chan in Castle in the Desert
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 2 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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