Reviews (6)

Originally Released As Black Magic
In CHARLIE CHAN: MEETING AT MIDNIGHT Charlie and his daughter are confronted with a phony occult scam operated out of an old haunted house. Produced in the middle of World War II, this film stars Sidney Toler as Charlie and boasts a supporting cast which includes Mantan Moreland as Birmingham Brown.

The director was Phil Rosen and the screenplay was handled by George Callahan. The movie was originally released as BLACK MAGIC.

Excellent Basic Chan
If you like the older genre mystery movies and are a "Chan Fan"
this is a must see. The off-spring are a little bit too cutsey
but that adds a little character to the film. Birmingham Brown is
a necessary element in the Chan series by injecting some humor.
As a parent who raised his kids on the 1930's & 1940's B / W mysteries this one is top family entertainment.

My Favorite Chan Film
This is definitely my favorite Chan film. Sidney Toler is the best of the Chans. It is an atmospheric film with some wonderful scenes. I love the seances and the scene where Toler is hypnotized and appears to be walking off a ledge is
as scary a scene as in any Chan movie.

WAY AHEAD OF IT'S TIME
I remember the first time that I ever saw this movie. I was approximately 6 years old, and after watching it I couldn't get it out of my head. I'm in my mid-twenties now and I still can't. For this to be such an old movie, it has everything that makes todays movies great. There are ghosts, murder, intrigue, conspiracies, and more. I absolutely love the seance scene: it's the best scene in the whole movie. For anyone who loves the Charlie Chan movies, YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS ONE! It's funny and spooky at the same time. The lady who plays Chan's daughter is also great in this movie. I could go on and on about this movie all day! Trust me, if you buy this movie you will not be disappointed.

This is one of the best movies I have ever seen!!
I don't care what anyone else says, this was one of the best movies I have ever seen. I don't really think it's relevent who the best actor or actress would have been, because this movie was made over fifty years ago. I don't see why more movies like this aren't produced, because you don't need adult content to sell a mystery!! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

the jade mask
hardie albright and al bridge are the best of character players!they made the jade mask a 4 star movie thank you

Your Pass Please
I have enjoyed Charlie Chan movies ever since I was a child. Most of them are a lot of fun. This one is the exception. It is absolutely the worst I have watched. After buying this film and watching it one time, I donated it to a charity auction.

Take a pass on this one.

Middling Monogram Chan, but fans will enjoy it
This is one of the low-budget "Charlie Chan" mysteries produced by Monogram Pictures. This time the murder victim (more precisely, the first of several victims!) is a scientist that everyone has good reason to hate. Chan steps in on the government's behalf to solve the mystery of how "dead men walk." Some decent performances (Mantan Moreland, Frank Reicher, Hardie Albright, and especially Alan Bridge as the hayseed sheriff), but the characters aren't as colorful, the direction not as brisk, and Charlie's inquisitive offspring not as engaging as usual. The mystery will definitely keep you guessing, however. This and star Sidney Toler are the main assets.

A good Monogram entry with an eerie mystery and good humor!
This is one of my favorite Chan films from Monogram studios. The opening resembles a Monogram horror movie with spooky music at the foggy, eerie Harper estate. This film introduces Chan's Number 4 son Eddie, a pseudo-intellectual played by Edwin Luke, brother of Keye Luke. This was his only appearance in a Charlie Chan movie. Chan is assisted by the self-deprecating, hayseed Sheriff Mack. Their collaboration makes this Chan entry more interesting than some others. The murder mystery holds your interest and keeps you guessing all through the film. The comic, Mantan Moreland as Birmingham has some funny material here, and I find the ending of this film with the hayseed sheriff and Birmingham one of the funniest endings to a film I have ever seen! Chan's classic saying here is "Murder know no law of relativity". Strongly recommended for Chan fans! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

My First Charlie Chan movie
"Charlie Chan in The Secret Service" was my first Chan movie. I was impressed with it. My only complaint was the scene in which Chan is riding to the mansion that the inventor was killed in, and is walking up to the mansion. Loud, blaring, music is played during this scene as if there was a fight scene going on or something. But it is apparent that Toler is trying to create interest in this new first Monogram outing, and it pays off. The low budget is futile to complain about, because the budget for the Monogram pictures never increases at any point in time. Critics should judge the Monogram Chans and state their opinion according to if they did the best job they could with the lower budget. Simply complaining about the low budget doesn't cut it, because the Monogram Chans ALL have a low budget. But if their resources are used in the best way, it can still be a good movie, low budget or not.I thought it was a good mystery that was not muddled or confusing. I would give them a thumbs up for doing their best to have a good movie. The Fox Chans were a hard act to follow, but quite a few times, Monogram did very well, lower budget and all. Of course, Benson Fong did not have the effect that the other two previous sons had, but he did well, I thought. Marianne Quon as Iris Chan works well off Benson Fong, but is only seen in this one movie. And of course, Mantan Moreland as Birmingham makes his first appearance as well, and continued throughout the series(with the exception of "The Red Dragon" and "Dangerous Money".)Of course, this movie is not "Citizen Kane", but is worth viewing.

First Monogram Chan is only fair; try another one first.
The first of low-budget Monogram Pictures' Charlie Chan mysteries has some flaws, but was successful enough to give the series a new lease on life. Chan investigates the murder of a scientist and the disappearance of secret plans. The film is too stagey; most of the mystery is talked out in ensemble scenes, with a minimum of action. Mantan Moreland (billed second) is a plus, Marianne Quon (as Chan's daughter) is a minus, because she doesn't deliver dialogue convincingly. The underscoring is laughable, with much-too-dramatic music blaring when nothing exciting is happening. The tape's picture and sound are excellent. Okay for Chan fans and B-movie buffs, but if you don't know the Monogram Chans, try "The Shanghai Cobra" or "The Scarlet Clue" instead.

First Monogram Chan is one of the weaker efforts.
Sidney Toler returns as detective Charlie Chan in this Monogram picture after being dropped from 20th Century Fox in 1942. Monogram was known as the king of the "B" movies. This film introduces Benson Fong as Number 3 son, Tommy, and Marianne Quon as Number 2 daughter, Iris. It also introduces the comedian Mantan Moreland who would continue to play the role of Birmingham Brown in most of the Monogram Chan films. Some politically correct types might criticize Moreland as being a black stereotype, but, to me, he adds a refreshing touch of humor to these films. His material in this film is rather weak, but would get better in later films. In one scene, Tommy and Iris start talking to Chan in jive talk. Chan says "Could please speak English?" Tommy replies "Yeah Pop! We're hep cats of the younger generation! You're Confucius. I'm Confucius Jr.!" The classic Chan line in this film is "Detective without curiosity like glass eye at keyhole---no good!" ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Chauffeur For Charlie
THE CHINESE CAT is a surprisingly good war-time film by Monogram. Sidney Toler is back as Charlie and Benson Fong has the role of Tommy Chan. Tommy is Charlie's number three son. Manton Moreland as Birmingham Brown begins the movie as a cab driver and ends up as Charlie's chauffeur. Some of the best scenes take place in a fun house.

Good entry from the Monogram series
Monogram Pictures, one of the smaller Hollywood studios, really tried to make its Charlie Chan mysteries competitive with major-studio product, and this time it worked. "The Chinese Cat" (1944) has everything audiences had come to expect from the series: a capable cast of familiar character actors (Cy kendall, Ian Keith, Joan Woodbury, and at least four favorite serial performers), good direction (by the normally uninspired Phil Rosen), and striking photography (by veteran cameraman Ira Morgan). The story concerns an unsolved murder, and a muck-raking novelist whose latest book hits too close to home. Sidney Toler and Mantan Moreland are always enjoyable, and number-three son Benson Fong has more to do than usual (he defies the criminal mastermind in a memorable scene). Charlie Chan fans will enjoy this; followers of the Monogram corpus will applaud this fine companion piece to "The Shanghai Cobra" and "The Scarlet Clue." This is one "B" that gets a solid "A" for effort.

After a slow start, this 2nd Monogram has action ending.
For some reason, the second Monogram Chan movie is a bit slow moving during the first half of the film. Mantan Moreland's comedy material is not very good this time, but would improve in The Scarlet Clue and The Shanghai Cobra. Chan and Number 3 son Tommy get captured and roughed up this time, unusual in a Chan film. I would call this a middling effort from Monogram. Classic Chan line is "Expert is merely man who make quick decision--and is sometimes right."

Unpredictable as usual.
Another clever picture with the "hard not to like" Mr. Chan ... Read more

Reviews (8)

East Side Kids meet Bela Lugosi for the first time.
the East Side boys make more trouble again. Usually they are sent back to reform school. But this time they are put in a bus and taken to a small town. At a soda fountain shoppe, they hear on the radio that a "monster" killer is on the loose. The boys have aroom to sleep in at the camp. At a gas station, Bela Lugosi as "Nardo" (Dracula [1931]) comes to town with his midget assistant, "Luigi" (Angelo Rossitto). They are looking for the Billings Estate. The gas station attendent says no one has been there since the killings ten years ago. Later, the gas station attendant meets Dr. Von Grosch (Dennis Moore). He tells the doctor he knows who he is and that he is looking for the "monster" killer. The man up ahead is the monster killer. The gas staion attendent keeps the secret of Von Grosch being in town. The boys go roamin' and they come across the graveyard at the Billings Estate. They are taken into the estate and there they meet the killer. They must stay in this spooky manor overnight. They want to get back to the camp, but they can't leave Pee Wee (played by David Gorcey, Leo's brother) who is under a spell. This is one of the more entertaining and popular films of the series. Next film in he series is: MR. WISE GUY (1943). The East Side Kids "Spooks Run Wild", Donald Haines was in World War II. It is not known if he was Missing In Action or died.

BAD DVD
i bought this dvd [SPOOKS RUN WILD] and another [KID DYNAMITE] from alpha video and these dvd's would not play at all. i was very disappointed and will not buy any products from ALPHA again.

Excellent spook classic!
Once again the boys (East Side Kids/Bowery Boys/Dead End Kids) hit the target on the bullseye. I remember seeing Spooks Run Wild on late night T.V. when I was younger. I was waiting up to see the classic Cushing/Price/Lee (Hammer mostly) films that came on late on Friday nights (I believe it was Night Flight)....once upon a time. I didnt get what I expected, instead I got this comedy that cracked me up. It reminded me of The Three Stooges/Abbott & Costello/Little Rascals........with a spooky twist. I've always loved those old horror comedies.......the way they show fear is always a winner. Hopefully Roan Group (Yep, Lloyd Kaufman of Troma fame....Toxic Avenger for the Lamen) will re-release this one as well, like Ghosts On The Loose. It will be more expensive, however like all of the Roan/Troma releases it will be packed with quality & extras. Fun for the whole family!

Campy, harmless fun
This entry in the Eastside Kids series finds the boys at a country summer camp for inner-city troublemakers. One of them gets hurt and they wind up in a house "haunted" by Bela Lugosi.
Production values are low (typical Monogram) but the fun factor is high as Bela chases the boys around for 2 or 3 reels until the rather disappointing finale.
Best for fans of the Eastside Kids/Bowery Boys or Bela Lugosi but B-movie fans should also enjoy it.

Good poverty row comedy
Lugosi plays it straight and the Boys ham it up. Just what you'd xpect. Good fun ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Murder by Invitation
The young 'uns try to convince the court that Aunt Cassie (Sarah Padden) is mentally incompetent so they can get their greedy paws on her $3 million. They fail, and Aunt Cassie invites them to her estate so that she can "study them like rats" and see who deserves to inherit her fortune.
They get there, promptly at midnight, and soon begin dropping like ten pins.
MURDER BY INVITATION is NOT a neglected gem. It's a so-so quickie ripoff of THE CAT AND THE CANARY, which preceded this one by a couple of years and provided Bob Hope with his breakthrough movie, although instead of Hope and Paulette Goddard this one stars Wallace Ford and Marian Marsh.
Ford plays a columnist who somehow rates a walking secretary and a photographer. The movie is filled with sliding cabinets and bookcases set on lazy susans and dead bodies falling out of closets. None of it makes much sense, but the cast seems to be having a good time and it's all over in a little over an hour. And it comes as quite a surprise when we learn who's been killing everybody. Not because of a neat plot twist, but because the movie doesn't bother developing our suspicion in any of the characters.
MURDER BY INVITATION is fun in spots, but it's best to keep your expectations really really low. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Keye Luke is wonderful as young Wong
The Mr Wong series has always been a source of great fun for me. Karloff played Wong in five films: Mr Wong Detective, Mystery of Mr Wong, Mr Wong In Chinatown, The Fatal Hour, and Doomed To Die. Keye Luke replaced Karloff as Wong in a prequel which told how Wong first became a solver of crimes. It's also the first meeting of Mr Wong and Police Captain Street. The actor who played Street in all six Wong films doesn't look younger in this one, but I'm glad they didn't replace him with a younger actor. His chemistry with Luke is fantastic. The whole prequel idea brings new energy to this entry. It's great to see Wong and Street meet and become friends as they work on the case together. This is an enjoyable little gem. ... Read more