The Trap (1946) User Reviews

Amateurish, convoluted and great fun

[csteidler · 7/10 · 24 May 2018]

An acting troupe rents an oceanfront mansion to stay in while they get ready for the show. Before you know it, the star of the show has disappeared and a fellow actress is found murdered. The situation seems grim.

Luckily, one of the cast members named San Toy has an idea: "I met a detective. The world's greatest detective. His name is Jimmy Chan. Great Chinese detective. He'll protect his countrywoman."

Soon Jimmy Chan is on the case, accompanied by associate Birmingham Brown, and you know that Charlie Chan himself cannot be far behind. Sidney Toler moves a little slowly but is wise as ever in his final appearance as the great detective. Sen Yung and Mantan Moreland are energetic if not exactly inspired as Jimmy and Birmingham.

The supporting cast is pretty standard and features an assortment of young women who seem to be designated by type (the French one, the hysterical one, the cute flirty sarcastic one). The suspects, of course, all accuse each other of murder and lesser crimes, and it's up to Mr. Chan eventually to sort it all out.

The whole thing appears to have been put together pretty quickly, and I'm not at all sure the plot makes any sense...but it's undeniably fast moving and contains a bit of humor. There are also some great shots of oceanfront highway and beach in the picture's opening moments. For those who are not sticklers for tight plot or strong production values, this picture is actually a lot of fun.

Sidney Toler's swan song

[binapiraeus · 7/10 · 23 March 2014]

Sadly, this is one of the weakest Charlie Chan movies (though even at that, it provides good, average B movie entertainment) - and even much more sadly, it was the last film that Sidney Toler could finish before he died. There are moments where it's obvious that he struggles with his fatal disease; which makes the whole thing even more sad, but also increases enormously our respect for this great actor who gave everything literally until the end.

The story is somewhat confused, the movie seems like it's been done hastily (perhaps because Sidney Toler didn't have much time left?); and the hysterical crowd of 'bathing beauties' certainly tends to go on the audience's nerves, even though they display the latest and most daring bikini fashion of the time. There's a variety troupe on holiday at the seaside, and it becomes clear very soon that the 'star' of the group is SO unsympathetic that sooner or later she WILL be killed... But first it's one of the other girls' turn, whom shrew Marcia blackmails into stealing papers from another girl's trunk (threatening that she'll reveal that the girl is under age), so that she can blackmail the other one, too, whose husband seems to have a dark past. The little girl is strangled, and her Chinese colleague San Toy (one of the few nice girls of the troupe) calls on her friend Jimmy Chan for help - in somewhat of a confusion, so that Birmingham, who picks up the phone, is under the impression that Jimmy has been murdered!

So he and Charlie haste to the beach house, where they soon catch an intruder: Jimmy, who found the paper with the address on Birmingham's desk! No need to say that Charlie is immensely relieved; but now he's in the middle of a murder case, of course - and, as was to be expected, the next day on the beach the body of hated Marcia is found... Now everybody starts accusing each other, some of the girls get fits of hysteria - and Charlie, together with his two assistants, tries to make head or tail of the whole muddled case.

As I said before, this movie certainly isn't among the better Charlie Chans - but it's our last opportunity to see our beloved trio Sidney Toler - Sen Yung - Mantan Moreland together; so let's just enjoy the jokes and the suspense, and laugh and let's be entertained by them once more...

A weaker Chan but OK

[Panamint · 6/10 · 21 February 2015]

"The Trap" has an OK mystery plot and an unusual Chan locale- the beach, literally on the beach itself. And there is some fine photography of the California coast.

Toler is noticeably tired in this, his last film. In fact at least one scene is performed by Mr. Toler while sitting down, most likely due to fatigue and illness; otherwise he is almost entirely stationary and standing. However, he somehow manages to carry his acting weight in his scenes.

I believe that this is one of the best of Sen Yung's efforts in Chan films, most likely because he is allowed to just act for the most part except for one extended (but plot enhancing) sequence of buffoonery. Tanis Chandler is very French and very attractive, and her performance is competent. Barbara Jean Wong is cute and gives a good performance. But Rita Quigley's performance is...well...the best word to describe it is "terrible". Ms. Quigley gives a career-destroying bad performance that hurts the film, but you could regard it as laughable and maybe find it endurable on that basis.

Since we get a little gem of a Minerva Urecal performance, fine seacoast photography and a decent mystery plot I will give this a "6" rating but you certainly should not expect a classic, traditional Chan film.

If you like Chan, you should like this

[jonfrum2000 · 7/10 · 26 August 2010]

Can we agree that Sidney Toler was ill at the time of this movie, and stop talking about it. This isn't' film class - you don't have to tell us all you know about the back-story of the series. Toler does a perfectly good job in this episode of the series - Charlie Chan wasn't exactly Shakespeare, and didn't require great acting. Having several female characters in a Chan mystery was rare, and it's a nice change to me. The son role isn't overplayed in this movie, and while it's not Mantan Moreland's best role, he gives just enough comic relief to the film. Based on the reviews here, you'd think that a prize was being given for nastiest review. Lighten up - the Chan series was meant as light entertainment - not film school criticism fodder. You get action, suspense, comedy, and even a bit of romance all in an hour. Over the years, I saw this 3-4 times before I knew anything about the making of the Chan films, and I always thought it was every bit as good as most of the others in the series. IF you can't just sit back and enjoy this Chan, that's a YOU problem, not a problem with the movie.

Charlie Chan investigates in Malibu.

[michaelRokeefe · 13 July 2011]

Cole King also known as The Impresario(Howard Negley)takes his showgirl dance troupe to a Malibu Beach resort for a short vacation; a working vacation with press agent Rick Daniels(Larry Blake)wanting to take publicity photos of the girls on the beach in their swimming attire. When two of the beauties are found strangled via silk cord, Oriental sleuth Charlie Chan(Sidney Toler) is summoned to investigate. Manservant/chauffeur Birmingham(Mantan Moreland)provides his expected comic relief and #2 Son Jimmy(Victor Sen Young)arrives later for his bungling attempts to aid his dad. A box of letters containing some damning information about certain members of the troupe is suspected of causing the murders. This is Toler's last Chan movie; he was so ill and lethargic he could hardly finish the flick. He would later succumb to cancer. THE TRAP is still worth watching and has all the customary elements expected of a Chan mystery. Other players: Rita Quigley, Tanis Chandler, Kirk Alyn, Anne Nagel, Helen Gerald and Minerva Urecal.

A Very Odd Offering

[Hitchcoc · 6/10 · 21 January 2016]

Apparently, Sidney Toler was in the latter stages of cancer. So he didn't seem to have much spark, even when he abuses his son. This particular episode is about a troupe of showgirls, taking some time off at a beach house. There is hostility from the start from within the group and from the housekeeper. The men running the show have agendas themselves. There apparently are some secrets being kept. A quiet young woman is murdered as she tried to cater to the wishes of a powerful actress (who ends up dead herself). Charlie is almost like a shepherd, trying to round up the suspects and keep them in order while he investigates. Of course, we have Jimmy and Birmingham getting in the way and ignoring orders. Birmingham seems cursed to be afraid of all animate and inanimate objects. When asked to be quiet, he creates incredible chaos. Jimmy pushes the envelope at every turn. I think the biggest failing of this is that there is no suspense because we really don't have any idea what the dramatic forces are.

Farewell to Sidney Toler

[greenbudgie · 6/10 · 24 February 2021]

There is a nice setting to this one with a number of Malibu beach scenes. A theater maestro and his troupe of show girls settle into a motel and boarding room establishment. One of the girls Lois gets garroted when she snoops into a trunk to retrieve a small strong box for the troupe's leading girl called Marcia. Marcia goes missing and it is clear she's involved in a cat-fight blackmail squabble with another troupe girl called Adelaide.

Chan is called to Malibu in a bit of mix up with the case in which he mistakenly believes his son Jimmy has been killed. But Jimmy soon makes his usual intruder-style entrance through a window at the boarding house. There are some suspicious circumstances involving the men with the troupe including a press agent who wants to cover up the murders claiming it would be bad publicity. Maestro King becomes very nervous of the press agent and there is a Dr Brandt who is secretly married to one of the girls in the troupe. Then there is the grim housekeeper Mrs Weebles (Minerva Urecal) who disapproves of the troupe girls' immoral lifestyle as she sees it.

Charlie Chan is more serious in this as I think we only see his customary gleaming smile twice. And there are not a lot of his usual Chinese proverbs either. This is understandable as the film had to be worked around Sidney Toler's severe illness in his final screen appearance. As a consequence all the Chan trickery of earlier films is missing and Charlie has much less to do in the solving of the case. As a result of this I have to rate this one lower and avoid showing sentimentality rating-wise as a Chan fan and yet this is a must-see to say farewell to Sidney Toler who gave so much to the Charlie Chan character

A sad goodbye

[blanche-2 · 6/10 · 22 March 2020]

I can't help loving Charlie Chan movies, despite the fact that they're as politically incorrect as all get out. People were just not sensitive to certain things then, so for me, it's important to watch a film not with modern eyes, but with the eyes of the time.

This was Sidney Toler's last foray as Charlie Chan, and the last film of the series. Toler was suffering from cancer when he made this movie, and he's to be admired for continuing to work.

Warner Oland, the previous Chan, was more cheerful and energetic, but I love Toler's dry delivery and exasperation with Jimmy.

This is a pretty routine plot - Charlie investigates the deaths of two showgirls in Malibu. Jimmy Chan (Sen Young) and Birmingham (Mantan Moreland) are on the scene. I think Mantan Moreland was supremely talented, and I love him as Birmingham. And I love seeing Sen Yung as Jimmy, since I remember him as an older actor in Bonanza.

There's nothing like the B serials: Chan, Mr. Moto, The Falcon, Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew, The Saint, The Lone Wolf, Boston Blackie, The Lone Wolf, Boston Blackie, etc. - all wonderful.

Pretty poor film,but still slightly entertaining

[mlraymond · 3/10 · 6 November 2008]

Definitely not one of the better Chan films, but it has an odd quality that compels re-watching. Maybe it's the unusual setting, at the beach, instead of a large, threatening city ,or a mysterious Chinatown background or an exotic foreign locale.

It certainly isn't the characters, who are some of the most unlikable to be found in any Chan mystery. The obnoxious press agent, and the whiny impresario are both pretty off-putting, and Rita Quigley as Clementine seems to spend the whole movie shrieking and cowering at very little. The one bright spot is the priceless Minerva Urecal as the grumpy housekeeper, whose non sequiturs about drink being the root of all evil, and barely concealed hostility toward the show troupe renting the beach house, give the movie a weird, unintentional humor that helps to offset some of the more annoying characters.

Sidney Toler manages to imbue his character with some of Charlie Chan's wisdom and authority, but the humor is almost absent, except for an occasional wisecrack at son Jimmy's expense. Toler obviously was in poor shape, but manages to do fairly well, considering his ill health, and being stuck in a poor film for his final appearance.

All in all, not the worst movie ever made. It has a certain intrigue to it, if you don't expect too much. It's still a Charlie Chan film. and for lovers of Charlie Chan and old movies in general,that's what counts the most.

Puzzle always deepest near the center

[kapelusznik18 · 6/10 · 14 June 2014]

***SPOILERS*** Actor Sidney Toler's last film as the Chinese/American master detective Charlie Chan who was to pass away from cancer just two months after the films "The Trap" release. Here Charlie is involved in a double murder of two showgirls Lois & Marcia, Jan Bryant & Anne Nagel, while taking in the sun and sands on the beaches of Malibu. It becomes apparent to Charlie that the murders weren't of a personal nature but to frame someone into committing them as a act of revenge against him or her.

Using a silk bath-rob cord to commit the killings turns out to be the killers biggest slip-up with the two victims strangled from the front not behind making it apparent to Charlie that they both must have known and trusted their killer by letting him get so close to them without screaming for help. After uncovering a number of false clues the truth comes out for what the killer's motive were in framing one of the persons involved with the murdered showgirls "Impresairo" Cole King, Howard Negley, as an act of bitter revenge. What that revenge had to do with was almost forgotten by almost everyone including King but the person who tried to frame him.

***SPOILERS*** In a trap set by Charlie and his #1 son Jimmy, Victor Sen Yung, and his faithful but bumbling servant Bermingham Brown, Mantan Morland, the killer comes out of the shadows in order murder victim #3 Jimmy's Chinese girlfriend San Toy, Barbara Jean, because she was getting, together with Jimmy, too close to the truth that the trap that Charlie set for the killer sprang on him. In a wild 75 to 80 mph car chase with Birmingham behind the wheel on the Pacific Coast Highway the killer lost control and ended up killing him or herself in the crash. But not after confessing his crime, by then what did he have to lose anyway but his life, to Charlie in order to put an end to this double murder case.

Full Throttle plunge into mediocrity

[tamstrat · 2/10 · 19 May 2005]

I am a huge Charlie Chan fan, but this movie is sadly scraping the bottom of the barrel. Sidney Toler (my personal favorite Charlie Chan) was dying of cancer while making this movie which may account for his lackluster performance, so he can be forgiven, but the other actors, what was their excuse? The movie is uninspired on all levels, and even good old Mantan Moreland can't save this clinker. The movie is set at a rented beach house. Some showgirls are staying there, and they all suspect each other of the murders. It's up to Charlie to save the day.Monogram pictures were always on a shoestring budget and sadly, in this entry to the long running Chan series it is evident. A sad end to Sidney Toler's run as Charlie Chan.

heartbreaking goodbye from Toler

[Cristi_Ciopron · 9/10 · 16 February 2015]

'The Trap' is better than 'The Scarlet Clue', it reminded me of certain mystery movies with Gabin (they were Maigret mysteries), 'The Trap' is more psychological, in its modest way, it's also heartrending, and we know that it is the last time Toler, as he was by then approaching his end, plays the great detective, this time a puzzle plot on Malibu Drive, and many girls, caged; after the denouement, there's a heartbreaking scene, Toler leaving, saying goodbye, and the whole movie has these asides (about race, the movie's own style, etc.), with a self-consciousness less used before. The movie takes an interest in a different type of case: more psychological, and this also expresses the limits of a Monogram script.

Its style and plot is very much that of Monogram's mystery comedies. This movie doesn't resemble the others in at least a few respects: no technological concerns (aside from the garrote), a straightforward mystery, and we get actually less of Birmingham and the son Jimmy (some seem to believe that the assistants took over much of the action in Toler's final movie, but they obviously didn't, in fact we get less of them). Each movie provides a location for the assistants to wander through; in this one, it's a cellar.

The Best Of The Monogram Chans

[boblipton · 6/10 · 17 March 2024]

When one of the showgirls in a troupe staying at a beach house is killed, novice showgirl Barbara Jean Wong, calls on that famous detective, Jimmy Chan. Fortunately, his father, Charlie Chan, shows up in the person of Sidney Toler.

Under the direction of Howard Bretherton, this is the strongest of of the Monogram Charlie Chans, due a good mystery script and Bretherton's superior ability to direct the comedy sequences on which the series now relied. Mantan Moreland, as Oland's other assistant, gets a lot more and better comedy in his role, and Victor Sen Yung flourishes. The ladies in the troupe include Rita Quigley and Anne Nagel, and Kirk Nagel, Minerva Urecal, and Larry Blake perform their more serious roles well.

Alas, it was the end for Toler. He had been playing the role for almost a decade by this point, but he was dying of cancer. He would died on February 12, 1947 at the age of 72, after sixty-five years in show business.

"Leisurely hunter have time to stalk prey, but hunter in haste must set trap."

[classicsoncall · 4/10 · 3 October 2004]

It's not clear to me what the trap is that's suggested by the title of this film, other than Charlie Chan's instruction to Sergeant Reynolds (Kirk Alyn) to guard the distance between a Malibu beach house and a nearby cabana.

You know Charlie Chan is in for a rough investigation when it involves nine women, soon to be minus two, all members of an acting troupe on vacation in Malibu. Accompanying them are "Maestro" Cole King, press agent Rick Daniels, and physical culture therapist George Brandt. Only one thing is certain, murder victim Marcia was uniformly hated by everyone in the company.

Victor Sen Young is here as Number #2 son Jimmy, attempting to romance a cute Chinese girl named San Toy, while Chan chauffeur Birmingham Brown (Mantan Moreland) actually shows off his driving skill in a car chase.

This is not a well regarded Charlie Chan film, for actor Sidney Toler it was his last portrayal of the Chinese detective. For me, the most interesting aspect of the film is when a former address of the killer is revealed to be 14 Rue Madeline, Paris, France. That would put it right across the street from the following year's (1947) James Cagney war and espionage film - "13 Rue Madeleine"!

Script And Lighting Render Below Average Film

[Lechuguilla · 4/10 · 22 December 2014]

"I am convinced the murderer is in this room", says Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) to the myriad suspects gathered together in a big two-story beach house at Malibu. His comment reassures us that this film will be as gripping as other Chan films. Alas, Chan's comment belies the implied promise, as "The Trap" disappoints in multiple ways.

I counted no fewer than thirteen suspects, way too many for a viable whodunit. Most of these suspects are women who look too much alike. It took me several replays of the first-half plot to connect names with faces. These characters are poorly introduced and about half of them should have been deleted from the script. One female, named Clementine, exists apparently only to scream; her hysterical response to minor events is annoying.

The ending is a big disappointment. Although I correctly picked the killer from the suspect pool, the reveal occurs outside at night. The scene is photographed so darkly that the only way I could identify this person was to listen to the dialogue, which tells the person's name. And it seems to be by luck that Chan solves the case, as he does not announce any clues as to the killer's identity. The motivation of the murderer is far-fetched, to say the least.

If the viewer pays very close attention, there is one quick scene near the middle wherein one particular suspect is separate from the others; that person is the killer, whose action at that time does connect to a significant plot event. Aside from which, I don't think there is any way to figure out the killer's identity through logic.

The B&W cinematography is poor. Multiple important scenes take place either at night or in dark spaces. The lighting is so bad I found it hard to impossible to figure out what action was taking place.

On the plus side, the film has the wonderful Mantan Moreland and a Chan son who does not intrude into the plot as much as in other films. "The Trap" is not one of the better Charlie Chan movies, due to a poor script and poor lighting. But I can think of one or two others that are worse.

"Has anyone seen Mar-see-ah?"

[utgard14 · 4/10 · 19 March 2014]

Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) investigates showgirl murders with the help of "Number Two Son" Jimmy (Victor Sen Yung) and chauffeur Birmingham Brown (Mantan Moreland). There's a decent supporting cast for Monogram that includes Minerva Urecal, future Superman Kirk Alyn, and beauties Rita Quigley and Anne Nagel. Victor Sen Yung is, as usual since returning to the series, the best part of the movie. For some reason, the name Marcia is pronounced several different ways, depending on who is saying it. This is pretty annoying.

The last Sidney Toler Chan film and many would say the last real Chan film. The series would continue on with Roland Winters but all of those movies were terrible. This one's nothing to write home about, either. As others have discussed, Sidney Toler was sick with cancer during the filming of this and sleepwalks through the movie. It's a sad thing to watch, particularly for fans of the series and the actor. Worst, or maybe second worst, of the Toler series.

Enjoyable and worth watching.

[NativeTexan · 10/10 · 10 October 2003]

Although Monogram's production values were low, it doesn't really matter; this is enjoyable and worth watching if you love the character and the series. Sidney Toler inherited the role from Warner Oland and made the Chan character more humorous and more lovable. Serious "old movie" fans will still appreciate Sidney in his last film role before his death in 1947.

Lively start, weak finish

[gridoon2024 · 5/10 · 16 April 2016]

"The Trap" has what must be one of the liveliest first half hours or so of any of the Monogram-produced Chan films: they actually filmed it at a real beach and they had people swimming and playing on the sand! It is also a welcome change to have most of the characters be young females - the sight of them in vintage 1940s swimsuits is certainly a lot more appealing to the eye than the men in suits and ties that usually populate these films (Helen Gerald, as Ruby, is a standout - both in terms of beauty and of character). The film never gets boring like some other Chan films do, but the ending is anticlimactic: not only is there no scene of Charlie Chan figuring out "whodunit" (did he ever figure this one out?), but the murders themselves seem poorly motivated. There is also a severe lack of Chan aphorisms, to the point where I cannot even name one favorite line from the film! ** out of 4.

Toler's last Chan film is a big disappointment.

[admjtk1701 · 1/10 · 16 April 2000]

"The Trap" was Sidney Toler's last film as Chan. Too bad it is one of the worst. The script is very poor and so is the acting on all counts. (Well, okay. Sen Yung and Mantan Moreland are funny.) Toler acts like a sleep walker through the whole dreary thing. Granted he was ill. The production values are low even for Monogram. A better title was its working title, "Murder in Malibu" as it is set at a beach house in Malibu. But the whole thing is miserable and not fun at all.

Among the wost of the Chan films due to a terrible supporting cast, direction and writing....

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 17 October 2010]

This Charlie Chan film starts off rather poorly--with one-dimensional supporting characters abounding. First, there is the housekeeper who talks like Water Boy's mother. She just meets people and immediately begins expounding on things she thinks are evil (and does so throughout the movie)! Does ANYONE do this?! Couldn't she at least have said hello before going off on her rants?! Then, you are introduced to Marcia--who is 100% evil and nasty--so much so that you can't believe she's real and you know she MUST become a murder victim! Then you see a French character who sounds a bit like a female version of Inspector Clousseau--but less believable. Then, at the 14 minute mark, you see a hysterical woman who defies explanation. Suffice to say she needs a good rap in the mouth! And, then she keeps yelling "it's murder!" as well as screaming throughout the film. This Clemintine character might just be the most annoying in history--and that's a tough thing considering how many other bad actors/characters doing hysterical performances were in this film!! At this point I was hoping Charlie wouldn't be investigating a single murder but the killing of this entire annoying cast!!

As for Charlie, his #3 Son and Birmingham, they are just fine and none of this being such a disappointing film can be blamed on them. It's simply the case of a very bad script but even more a problem with terrible direction. A semi-competent person could have gotten believable performances out of the ridiculously one-note extras. Instead, the amount of money Monogram Studios (a bargain-basement studio) put into this one really shows! Some have commented on Sidney Toler's poor performance (after all, he died of colon cancer shortly after finishing this movie), but his lack of energy cannot be blamed only on his physical condition. Despite his illness, he looks pretty good and you can't blame him that the writers gave him nothing to do nor any of his usual snappy lines of dialog.

While some have called this the worst Chan film, I am not sure I'd go that far. I have yet to see about four or five of them (which are not on DVD or available in any other manner) nor the much later Peter Ustinov Chan film (which I heard is pretty bad). But, among the ones I have seen, I think I could say it was the worst....which surprises me, as I thought the Roland Winters ones might have qualified....before I saw this sad outing. As far as your watching it goes, I'd try to see the good ones first--otherwise, you'd probably never bother with the rest.

Why, by the way couldn't any of the characters pronounce Marcia's name correctly?! Don't you think a competent director would have corrected this?! It's also interesting the film has not one but two secret wives! And finally, during the 'high speed chase' at the end (when Birmingham said they were doing 'between 75 and 80'), they appeared to be doing only about 20 mph!!

Trap Finally Set, Despite Intervention

[biorngm · 8/10 · 24 May 2018]

Review - The Trap, Released 11-30-46 Monogram is true to form showing a picture with such loose ends, and the saddest part of the story is how Sidney Toler got around the scenes, as he was obviously in failing health during the entire filming. There were scenes showing Charlie sitting in a chair, leaning against a car or not in a scene at all, when it would be better for continuity if he were to appear. The story is written well for a mystery, but not tied up well at all, for the sake of placing the characters where they should be. Too many unanswered questions for the movie to be professionally displayed; rather amateurish for a screenplay. Very sad for Sidney, as he lived only a few months beyond the release date; one could see he was hurting.

The story of The Trap could have been well presented on screen, but there are some imperfections that did need clarification throughout the movie. Writing the screenplay could have been better translated to the screen, in order to pull this final Sidney Toler movie off. For the sixty plus minutes the viewer is entertained as Charlie Chan goes about the task of solving the crime despite the intervention of son Jimmy Chan and other characters.

The premise is well established with the entertainment troupe vacationing at a rented house at a Malibu beachfront, and the squabbling occurs, because there were secrets to unfold early on, with the troupe of women. One could not spot the perpetrator throughout the movie, but the loose ends concerning the actual evidence was sketchy. Two people die during the movie and in the same manner, i.e. strangled by a robe's cord. One murder happens at the mansion where the troupe is staying and the other murder occurs on the oceanfront, body left on shore.

Worth a look at this movie because it was Sidney Toler's curtain call and the crimes are at least not readily obvious who did it. I liked the screenplay, the acting with all the characters each having lines, added something more to the plot, possible suspects.

Toler did not go out with a good one.

[Mike-764 · 2/10 · 13 October 2005]

A variety troupe arrives at a beach house in Malibu for a small vacation. Chrous member Adelaide is blackmailing various members of the group, and the troupe's star Marcia has Lois (a member of the group who Marcia knows is underage and can get her fired) steal letters from Adelaide's trunk, but Lois is strangled while going through the trunk. Charlie Chan (with #2 son Jimmy and Birmingham) are called to investigate by finding Marcia who everyone believes is the murderess, but the case is further periled when Marcia's body is found washed up on the shore. Chan finds out that many members of the troupe had reasons to get the incriminating evidence back and also murder Marcia. He decides to set a trap to catch the killer, but Jimmy inadvertently interferes to solve the case, putting himself, Charlie, and the rest of the troupe at the mercy of the killer. This was Sidney Toler's final film and its obvious that he was ill during the make of the film considering he was not introduced into the film until the 20 minute mark and has few scenes where he seems to be involved with the rest of the characters actions. The suspects don't have any qualities that make any stand out from each other. The mystery angle seems to be non existent. One of the worst Chan films from the series. Rating, 2.

Not without merit

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 19 February 2019]

THE TRAP marks the final time that Sidney Toler would play screen detective Charlie Chan before relinquishing the role to another. This time around he's stationed at a beach resort, where a murderer is going around garroting young women and he has to figure out who's responsible. This instalment features the usual elements, including Mantan Moreland's comedy sidekick schtick, lots of suspects and red herrings, and incompetent police (one of them is played by Kirk Alyn, who also played Superman during the decade). It's familiar stuff indeed, but not without merit.

The "Plan Nine From Outer Space" of Chan Films

[dpalmer-2 · 1/10 · 3 October 2000]

This is the worst of the Chan films, watch as our heroes use the wrong car in chase, listen to the famous "Scream" that will curl your toes and watch as Birmingham Brown writes one word on a note and Tommy Chan can get an entire address out of it.

Be warn, this one is not for serious Chan lovers, but for people who like "Plan Nine From Outer Space". But you have to watch it once to appreciate how much better other lowly rated Chans films are in comparison with this movie.

She got the real deal

[bkoganbing · 3/10 · 1 October 2012]

A dying Sidney Toler said farewell to Charlie Chan and to films in general when he played the famous Hollywood detective in a rather shoddy entry for this series. Shoddy even for Monogram Pictures and its head Sam Katzman.

A troupe of show girls take up residence at a Malibu beach house where quite a few murders take place before Charlie Chan solves the case. It's a bloodier than usual Chan film in that respect. Toler gets into it because a Chinese member of the troupe Barbara Jane Wong is the original accused party and she's dating Victor Sen Yung who is number 2 son Jimmy Chan. Fortunately for her and for justice in general she gets the real detective in the family on the case.

When the murderer is revealed you'll find it a truly far fetched motive and the presence of the perpetrator in the troupe truly bizarre. Another bizarre thing is Minerva Urecal playing one of sprightly Miss Sunshine roles as the housekeeper. The woman is such a puritanical pill around the nubile women that you know she HAS to be a red herring. And guess what, she is.

The Charlie Chan series went down considerably in quality when it got to Monogram and it's too bad that poor Toler couldn't have had a decent Chan film to go out on.