(DARK ALIBI, USA 1946) - With Sidney Toler in the role of Charlie Chan, this motion picture shows a fine example of how enchanting the adventures of the oriental detective were in those innocent times. There is a lot
of humor in the prison scenes. There are a couple of big scenes that
come as a surprise for a film that had a shoestring budget. One is the
interior of a real prison with the convicts going into their cells in
unison. That scene is melded into a stage copy of the same action but
slightly more modest. Another scene has a big moving camera set as the
cast enters a police lab. There are a lot of familiar faces in the
supporting cast. Everyone does a great job with their role. There are
some exterior shots of the old cars and trucks which were not that old
when the movie was made. This is a good old movie to watch to get a
glimpse of what the world was like right after World War II. While
watching it you will want to check the ladies hair styles and the
interior of the old rooming house and telephones.It's fun to watch and to try to unveil the mysteries that buld up scene after scene.
