The Chinese Cat (Monogram) (1944)

* PUBL CITY ‘Chinese Cat’’ Excellent Charlie Chan Murder Film (Review) A thoroughly entertaining murder mystery, with the clever Charlie Chan combining comedy and keen deduction, was revealed at the theatre last night, with the opening performance of the new Monogram film, “The Chinese Cat.” The picture, second in a new series, calls for high rating in the field of comedy-drama. Sidney Toler is starred in his fa-¥ Re 4 miliar role of the crafty Chinese detective, which in past years he has made one of the screen’s most popular characters. The wily Chan is the center of the action throughout the story. Joan Woodbury is charming in the leading feminine role, and Mantan Moreland contributes delightful comedy passages as a colored taxicab driver. Benson Fong, a Chinese youth, is the detective’s Number Three Son, and the cast also includes Ian Keith, Wel don Heyburn, Cy Kendall, Dewey Robinson, Sam Flint, John Davidson and Anthony Ward. The the story abandoned amusement resort scene of jhe ha in and the action in ferreting of a murder an unnamed city, finds Chan engaged out the perpetrator committed some time before. More} murders are committed as the detective draws nearer to his quarry, but the complicated case is finally solved in a surprising climax. Direction of has been skillfully handled by Phil i Rosen, and the staging of the film by Producers Philip N. Krasne and James S. Burkett leaves nothing to be desired. The original screenplay by George Callahan, based on the famous character created by Earl Derr Biggers, is ingenious and interesting, and Ira Morgan’s pho| tography is excellent. TROUPER Ian Keith first appeared on the stage at Boston’s famous Castle Square theatre, and later became one of the country’s outstanding Shakesperean actors, appearing in “As You Like It,” “Hamlet,” “King Richard the Second,” “Othello” and other plays by the Immortal Bard. Keith will be seen on he screen OLTGHER tas ek HNCALLE “ONE os. spo in “The Chinese Cat,’ Monogram’s thrilling Charlie Chan picture which stars Sidney Toler as the Chinese detective. | “THE CHINESE CAT” HOLDS IMPORTANT CLUE | VICTORY Tennis, golf and gardening —in that order—have for years been the principal hobbies of Sidney Toler, who comes to the theatre on as the star of the Monogram Charlie Chan murder mystery, But war and rationing have brought about a change in the Toler diversions, and gardening now heads the list, with the result that the wily Oriental sleuth has one of the finest victory plots in Hollywood. L to r: Benson Fong, Sidney Toler and Luke Chan in a scene from the Monogram mystery thriller, “The Chinese Cat,” in which Toler, as Charlie Chan, discovers an important clue concealed inside a cat orna ment. The film is current at the theatre. Two Column Scene Mat No. 27 Chinese Actor in Chan Film Is Two-Hemisphere Student Benson Fong, more properly known in Chinese nomenclature as Fong Yung, was born in Sacramento, California, but completed his education at Lingnan University in Canton, China. He spent five years in the country of his ancestors after graduating from high school in the California city. Fong comes to the ........ tre on as the ‘Number Three Son” of Charlie Chan in ‘The Chinese Cat,’ the Monogram murder mystery which stars Sidney Toler as the crafty Oriental detective. While attending the university, Fong distinguished himself as a performer on guitar and banjo, playing not only in the school orchestra but also in Canton’s leading jazz bands—organizations which manifestly specialized in American tunes. He also took an _ outside course in Chinese opera in Hongkong, and appeared as an amateur in numerous productions in the two thea-* cities. bitious Fong tenor in a broadcasting over station CMB. Joan Woodbury plays the leading feminine role in ‘The Chinese Cat,” and the cast supporting Toler also includes Mantan Ian Keith, Weldon Heyburn, Cy Kendall, Anthony Warde and Dewey Another activity of the amfound him singing “Hawaiian” quartette Canton’s radio Robinson. Phil Rosen directed for’ Krasne-Burkett Productions, and the original screenplay, based on the famous character created by Earl Derr Biggers, was written by George Callahan. “The Chinese Cat” “The Chinese Cat.’’| | | Moreland, | |tery, and he immediately becomes |the center of an exciting series of | | | CHAN &NO.3SON | Charlie Chan, amazing Oriental sleuth, in Sidney Toler appears as the thrilling Monogram picture “The Chinese Cat,” current at the | Sass Se otebese theatre. One Col. Scene Mat No. 1 CUTTER Benson Fong, young Chinese actor, is an accomplished wood carver and caricaturist, and owns one of Hollywood’s finest collections of graven likenesses of prominent screen and _ political personages. Fong comes to the theatre on in “The Chinese Cat,” the Monogram detective mystery starring Sidney Toler as Charle Chan, heading a cast which also includes Mantan Moreland, Ian Keith and Weldon Heyburn. MATINEE IDOL Sidney Toler, star of Monogram’s newest Charlie Chan mystery thriller, “The Chinese Cat,’ opening at GHGS ie. neon aes GHEAtTE ON. 62s ees has been in theatricals for more than 35 years. Under the management of the immortal David Be |lasco for 14 years, Toler was for a long time one of the most popular |players on the New York stage. second of its new series, was the | picture, starring Toler in the char| acterization in which he has long} been popular. | The story loses little time placing Chan at the task raveling a baffling murder in mys events. Other murders follow, and there are tense situations as the plot proceeds to its climax. The deductions of the quick-witted detective become a matter of unusual interest. The tragic aspects of the story, however, are relieved by the _ hilarious personality of the colored comedian, Manta Moreland. Joan Woodbury is seen in the principal feminine role, and others who contribute to the success of the film are Benson Fong, Weldon Heyburn, Ian ‘Keith, Cy Kendall, Anthony Warde, Dewey Robinson, John Davidson and Sam Flint. Phil Rosen achieved fine results as the director of “The Chinese Cat,’ and a substantial production wwas contributed by Philip N. Krasne and James S. Burkett. Ira| Morgan was in charge of photography, and the original screenplay by George Callahan was based on | Earl Derr Biggers. the original .character created by of un-|@ Charlie Chan On Local Screen (Advance) Charlie Chan, famous Chinese detective, solves a murder mystery in his latest Monogram picture, “The Chinese Cat,” which opens an engagement at the .......... PMCAGTE ON ss iis ae tyes Sidney Toler is starred in his familiar role of the Oriental sleuth, which in the past few years he has made one of the screen’s most pop ular characterizations. Joan Woodbury plays the leading feminine role, and Benson Fong, Chinese actor, is seen as the wily Chan’s Number Three Son. Colored Mantan Moreland brings his pop-eyed comedy to the proceedings, and other members of the cast are Ian Keith, Weldon Heyburn, Cy Kendall, John Davidson, Anthony Warde, Dewey Robinson and Sam Flint. As the detective pursues his investigations, other murders. are committed, and the story ends in a surprising climax. Much of the action takes place in an abandoned |}amusement park. “The Chinese Cat” was directed by Phil Rosen, and produced by Philip N. Krasne and James S. Burkett. The original screenplay was written by George Callahan, and based on the character created by Earl Derr Biggers. VERTICAL In his first motion picture, “Spirit of Youth,’ negro comedian Mantan Moreland did something which many other men have unsuccessfully tried to accomplish —he took part in a boxing bout with Joe Louis, star of the all-negro film, and was still in an upright position at the conclusion of the fracas. However, as the old saying goes, the scenario writers had planned it that way. Moreland comes to the SKC See theatre on in “The Chinese Cat,’ the Monogram murder mystery which stars Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan. Joan Woodbury plays the leading feminine role in this lively comedydrama, and the cast also includes Mantan Moreland, Ian Keith and Weldon Heyburn. Phil Rosen. directed. Charlie Chan Film Stars Toler as Chinese Sleuth (Review) Sidney Toler and Charlie Chan, in the person of one wily Chinese detective, came to the screen of the ‘theatre last night, and the result was a film which proved to be at the same time absor amusing. ‘The Chinese Cat,’ produced by Monogram as the bingly interesting and vastly | TRAPPED LOVERS | b | Weldon Heyburn and Joan Wood bury as they appear in the Monogram mystery drama, “The Chinese Cat,’ in which Sidney Toler stars as Charlie Chan. The exciting film at the One Col. Scene Mat No. 4