The Red Dragon (1945)

"Red Dragon" is one of the better Monogram entries in the Charlie Chan series, because it presents a genuinely puzzling enigma (one shot, two bullets....no gun), and also has one of the most likable inspectors whom Chan has ever worked with (there is a mutual respect between them, and he doesn't speak with an overdone Mexican accent for comic effect). But Chan has no witty lines, and the killer seems to be picked out of a lottery - there is no logic that would lead Chan, or the viewer, to this particular conclusion. ** out of 4.

A man who has knowledge of a new element that will be used to create an enormous A- bomb is killed as he talks to a group of people who late become suspects. Since this is a matter of national security, our famous detective is called to the scene. Of course, one of his sons is there and so is Chattanooga Brown, the cousin of Birmingham Brown (the Mantan Moreland character). Because there is no identifying the bullet through ballistics, things get kind of hairy. Most of the suspects are spies or others who have done some evil dealings in the past. Soon, murders are being committed. Sometimes the humor gets in the way . Can one imagine something as serious as a nuclear weapon being created as these guys bumble around. Nevertheless, it still has some charm.

One shot, 2 bullets, no gun - that's the common denominator in three separate murders being investigated by Charlie Chan in Mexico City. The motive for the murders is a set of research notes and a formula for an atomic bomb which the killer is after. Adding to the mystery is the fact that there are no rifling marks on the bullets that found their victims.This is a very stiff, almost painful to watch Chan film. The acting is halting and abrupt, even for the experienced members of the Chan family, Sidney Toler in the Chan role and Benson Fong as Number #3 son Tommy. Willie Best appears as Chan chauffeur Chattanooga Brown, cousin of Mantan Moreland's Birmingham character in the prior seven Monogram Chans.There is virtually no meaningful investigation to solving this case, a sample of the mechanism that houses a remote controlled bullet mysteriously turns up in Charlie's pocket; the detonator is disguised as a thermostat. Of course, if you're a fan of Charlie Chan, you'll have to view this film to be a completist, but once is probably enough.There is one redeeming factor to this movie though - Sidney Toler cuts a mean rumba!

Charlie does the Rhumba in this one, a must see for fans! It's considered one of the worst Monograms but I always liked this one, maybe because it's one of the harder to find Chans. I thought the premise of the remote controlled bullets was a decent effort.