CrimeMysteryThriller

Castle in the Desert

Charlie Chan, with son Jimmy on a week's pass from the Army, takes up a request for help at a castle-home, miles from anywhere in the American desert south-west and inhabited by an eccentric, reclusive historian and his wife, a descendant of Lucrezia Borgia. Once there, he finds the request's legitimacy denied by all who are present, but still necessary as one houseguest has already been murdered, the other guests are at each other's throat, and the Borgia-related chatelain is suspected...

Release Date : 1942-02-02

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : 20th Century Fox

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Charlie Chan in Castle in the Desert

Cast

Character Name : Charlie Chan

Original Name : Sidney Toler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jimmy Chan

Original Name : Victor Sen Yung

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lucy Borgia Manderley

Original Name : Lenita Lane

Gender : Female

Character Name : Paul Manderley

Original Name : Douglass Dumbrille

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Retling

Original Name : Steven Geray

Gender : Male

Character Name : Walter Hartford

Original Name : Edmund MacDonald

Gender : Male

Character Name : Brenda Hartford

Original Name : Arleen Whelan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mme. Saturnia, aka Lizzie

Original Name : Ethel Griffies

Gender : Female

Character Name : Watson King

Original Name : Henry Daniell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Carl Detheridge

Original Name : Richard Derr

Gender : Male

Character Name : Prof. Gleason

Original Name : Lucien Littlefield

Gender : Male

Character Name : Arthur Fletcher

Original Name : Milton Parsons

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Bus Driver

Original Name : George Chandler

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Hotel Manager

Original Name : Oliver Blake

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Majordomo

Original Name : Eric Wilton

Gender : Male

Character Name : (unconfirmed)

Original Name : Paul Kruger

Gender : Male

Character Name : (scene deleted)

Original Name : Tex Phelps

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-06-26

I have to say that I rather enjoyed this - but boy, is it a far-fetched affair! This time "Charlie Chan" (an on-form Sidney Toler) and No. 2 son "Jimmy" are invited to a remote castle in the Mojave desert tp investigate some strange goings on. What adds to the mystery is that the owner of this spookily lit house - "Manderley" (the man that is, not the house) wears a partial mask to cover an huge scar obtained in an accident and his wife "Lucy" (Lenita Lane) is a distant descendant of the infamous Borgia family. What ensues plays all the best cards from a mansion house game of "Cluedo" with some intrigue emanating from the many Borgia legends (with some very interesting pronunciations) that they have tapped into - all involving deadly poisons and a ring... No electricity, no phone and loads of ancient instruments of torture help keep the suspense going, as do contributions from Douglass Dumbrille; rent-a-baddie Henry Daniell and the outrageous "Madame Saturnia" (Ethel Griffies). The ending, well that's quite amusing too - and all in all, it's a good hour of diversion.