No exotic location this time, just good old New York - indeed, this is a more conventional Charlie Chan story, a straight up whodunnit (although it starts off as a secret agent war story it settles down to a more old fashioned mystery). He's looking into the death of a friend, a British secret agent (although the US was neutral at this stage, Charlie Chan is on the side of the Allies), and encounters some lively suspects including Richardo Cortez, John Sutton and Melville Cooper and Majorie Weaver. Clarence Muse is on hand in a sort of role black actors were often required to play: a scared servant.
Harry Lachman directed and brings a different feel - there are lots of close ups and sweaty faces and tough interrogation sequences. Its almost film noir-ish. The mystery has plenty of twists and turns and Toler still isn't any good; there are no surprises but it's well done.
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