Director Henry Lachman really changed the look and feel of the Charlie Chans - more striking imagery, big close ups, use of "glowing" light. He goes all out here, in what is a really schizophrenic Charlie Chan film, with a whole lot of different elements: Lachman's film noir handling, a plot involving a search for treasure from the descendant of a pirate, a map that's split into four, close ups of supporting cast as opposed to the lead, and some horror movie esque scenes (such as what seems to be a murder with a hook but then turns into the more censor friendly "scared to death").
Charlie only gets involved because Number Two Son tries to stowaway on the boat - this doesn't feel like an organically Charlie Chan tale but I guess at least its different. It's not one of the best in the series - the mystery is okay - although it does provide some spooky sequences.A young George Reeves appears in the support cast.
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