Stoutor
It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.
Dirtylogy
It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.
Isbel
A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
biorngm
Review - The Red Dragon, Released 2-2-46
A person is certainly guessing throughout the movie for the bad guy identity, since there is a mystery how people are murdered by bullets showing no signs of being fired from a gun. There are plenty of red-herrings in the mix of dubious characters, all with horrific pasts. Why Mexico City had been chosen for the crime scene is in question, but has no direct bearing on the plot. The law enforcement official Charlie works with is professional, not some rube, or someone incompetent. The scenery is primarily a hotel, with various floors furnishing the variety in stages. The overall cast is believable, rather professional, both major and minor roles played. There are three murders keeping Charlie busy throughout the movie, with an underlying theme of national security involving an atomic bomb formula being stolen or in jeopardy. Preventing this movie from scoring better would be the lack of a mention for motive of the murders other than greed, and a word of actual character background, except the government file on each that Chan reads when the initial grilling begins. Why were the killing victims bumped off? There wasn't an explanation as to why they were chosen as opposed to a process of elimination. Some characters seemed innocent, less dastardly than others. Some characters could have selected as the most ripe for the killer to be than some. I would have picked the two greasiest characters right off the top, and I would have correct. When the one guy's wife was killed, it really disqualified him as the killer. The singer and the tourist female roles weren't the type without a partner. What explanation was given for there to be a couple of bullets fired at each killing, one in the victim and other in the wall? I can buy the mechanism to initiate the shots, hiding the ammo on the person or in the woman's purse, and the clever manner of hiding the propelling agent was unique. The usage of the manner to disguise the secret document was also unique, and with the themed red dragon ink on typewriter ribbon that had been discarded in a desk drawer, a different twist.Number three son was less annoying than in most movies, I said less, and his counterpart appeared in only two movies speaks for itself, I think. Charlie appears to hold up well considering he lived in real life twelve months from the movie release date. Sidney Toler was in the majority of the movie's scenes, all helping move the story along through the limited clues, and it works best if the star shows often. The red dragon ink can be affixed to a typewriter ribbon and it is true the keys only strike the top and bottom of the ribbon; really? The top is struck in one cycle before flipping the ribbon to have it strike the other half. Maybe that is the reason the first murder victim was performing the function when he was killed. Watch and determine the reason for the ribbon being adjusted before the man is shot.
csteidler
Stolen secret papers contain info on the mysterious 95th element, which could be used to build a giant atom bomb. Charlie Chan signs on to recover said papers—and also to track down the murderer who shot the secretary before snatching those vital documents. Unfortunately, most of the picture is not as exciting as that sounds....however, this late entry in the Chan series is passably entertaining as well as short and sweet. A mystery mechanism is used to commit multiple murders—one shot is always heard but two bullets are found. Can Chan solve the riddle before he too becomes a target? Benson Fong is on hand again as Chan's #3 son Tommy, while Willie Best takes on chauffeur duties for this picture (as Chattanooga Brown, cousin to Mantan Moreland's Birmingham Brown). Tommy and Chattanooga manage most of the comic relief with mildly humorous exchanges such as: Chattanooga: "My hair's getting tired." Tommy Chan: ""Your hair is tired?" Chattanooga: "Yeah, for the last 10 minutes it's been standing on end." The fact that Sidney Toler dancing the rhumba is probably the highlight of the picture might tell you something.
ctyankee1
Starts off at the US Embassy in Mexico City. Scenery of street makes Mexico city look very nice. Walter Dorn wants to get Charlie Chan to go there regarding secret plans of a Mr Wyans which someone tried to rob twice. It is kind of confusing as to what countries are dealing with who for the plans.At the airport Chattanooga Brown is Chan's driver. When they land in Mexico City he is with Chan's son Tommy and Charlie Chan. Brown is a cousin of Birmingham Brown. Birmingham is funnier though in other episodes. Chan is waiting for Dorn to pick them up and he is told Dorn is dead.Walter Dorn is killed at a gathering at Wayan's apartment by a gunshot. There are many people invited there. Insp.Luis Carvero takes Chan there and they did not find anyone with a gun. Charlie Chan has some doubts' about Inspector Carvero because the Inspector has has a relationship with one of the women where Dorn was killed and Chan thinks he might be biased.People get shot but no gun visible. Chan has to figure out what is going on. He has figured out the new plan will make a atom bomb more explosive. So more investigating needed.
Hitchcoc
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.
