utgard14 Although made before the U.S. had entered World War II, this one feels totally like a World War II picture. Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) goes undercover in Panama to root out a saboteur (and murderer) known as Ryner. Exceptionally good supporting cast, solid plot, and tense direction make this one of the better Toler Chan films. Victor Sen Yung is back as "Number Two Son" Jimmy Chan and is fun as always. His comical antics are dialed back a bit here to make room for the sabotage story, which is treated with the utmost seriousness. Lionel Atwill, Addison Richards, Jean Rogers, Mary Nash, and Jack La Rue are all very good. Interesting that Charlie doesn't show up until ten minutes into the movie. Good story and the saboteur's identity was a genuine surprise to me. Definitely a Charlie Chan film I would recommend.

bkoganbing Charlie Chan In Panama begins with Sidney Toler being undercover as a haberdasher in Panama City. With war in Europe and the possibility of the USA being dragged in, everyone is on high alert as far as protecting the Panama Canal. In fact they're positively paranoid.There is also rumor of an international agent of mystery who is in the pay of the dictatorships in Europe. That's who the Panamanian and US law enforcement is after. At one point Victor Sen Yung actually saves his father's life and for once Charlie Chan is grateful for the presence of one of his offspring who usually are getting in all kinds of trouble. He still does in this film, but one act erases all.There's a nice little stew of suspects as to who the master agent. I will only say it is the most unlikely one in the film.This Charlie Chan mystery will have you wanting to see more of them.

classicsoncall Prior to having his cover blown midway through the film by overzealous Number #2 Son Jimmy (Victor Sen Yung), Sidney Toler masquerades as Panama Hat shop owner Fu Yuen, approached by U.S. government agent Godley (Addison Richards) on the trail of an enigmatic spy known only as Ryner. When Godley dies in Fu Yuen/Chan's hat shop after inhaling a poisoned cigarette, the stage is set for a fairly entertaining mystery, more of an espionage thriller than a murder who-done-it, although the body count does reach three before it's all over.Lionel Atwill provides an enigmatic presence as English novelist Cliveden Compton, though I feel he was better suited to portray Dr. Rudolph Grosser (Lionel Royce), a Viennese scientist and expert on tropical diseases and plague, who is later discovered by son Jimmy to be harboring "Twenty Rats Bubonic Infected 7/12". Compton becomes victim number two in the story, shot by the same gun that the murderer intended to use on Chan himself until Jimmy's baseball throwing right arm properly found it's mark.The colorful cast also includes cabaret owner Manolo (Jack La Rue), Chicago school teacher Miss Finch (Mary Nash), cabaret singer with a secret Kathi Lenesch (Jean Rogers), and Richard Cabot (Kane Richmond), superintendent for the Miraflores Power Contol.With the clock ticking, Chan and son are pressured to locate an explosive device that threatens the Panama Canal Zone planted by agent Ryner. The hunt eventually brings them to a cemetery and tomb of the still very much alive Egyptian tobacco shop owner Achmed Halide (Frank Puglia). In a clever ruse, agent Ryner still under wraps, has the Chan party and himself (herself?) trapped in the tomb while accomplice Manolo plants the device right in the Power Control complex. Shortly after, Chan does a little trapping of his own, as he seals the suspects in the same room with the bomb, until Ryner identifies himself (herself?) attempting to get away.Charlie Chan in Panama rates highly in the Chan series with it's exotic locale, lush sets and atmospheric scenes. Though some of the story aspects are retreads we've seen before and after (handgun appears from behind a screen, lights out scene to cover confusion), it's still done well enough to be entertaining. And the payoff is just clever enough without seeming forced, the revelation of agent Ryner who gives away his (her?) identity with one word - "nitroglycerine".

Schlockmeister Sidney Toler did really well in this outing as Detective Charlie Chan, undercover in Panama City in order to help the U. S. Government capture spies. Since one of Charlie Chan's signature parts of his outfit is his Panama Hat, it was only logical that his cover be as a proprietor of a Panama Hat shop.As in most Chan movies, we see very atmospheric locales, many shady characters, and Chan, ever calm, solving the mystery. Lionel Atwill is a part of the shady cast and does a great job. Victor Sen-Yung who plays #2 son, Jimmy will be a familiar face to TV watchers, he played Hop Sing the Chinese cook on Bonanza for years. He does a great job here as the over eager son who wants to help Charlie but usually ends up in the way. He does provide good comic relief in this story.All in all, a good entry in the Chan series. The solution to the mystery is a little clearer than it often is in this series, many times with Charlie Chan films when he explains the solution at the end, you just have to throw up your hands and trust that Charlie knows what he is talking about, it isn't always very clear. The telling of the story makes sense, making this a good introduction to the series if you are new at it.Recommended!!!