Castle in the Desert

1942

CrimeMysteryThriller

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...

Rating

6.8
15 votes

Popularity

0.3121

Origin & Countries

US | en | United States of America

Production

20th Century Fox

Runtime

62 min.

Status

Released

Release: 2/2/1942

Credits

Castle in the Desert

Harry LachmanDirector

Castle in the Desert

Sidney TolerCharlie Chan

Castle in the Desert

Victor Sen YungJimmy Chan

Castle in the Desert

Lenita LaneLucy Borgia Manderley

Castle in the Desert

Douglass DumbrillePaul Manderley

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Reviews

CinemaSerf

6/26/2022

7 / 10

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.

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