Compared to some other Monogram-produced Charlie Chan films I've watched, "The Shanghai Chest" is a cut above. The extremely prolific, and also series regular, director William "One Shot" Beaudine shoots this one with what could, at certain moments, if one squints hard enough, even be described as sort of a "style": flashbacks, tilted camera angles, montages. The plot is also fairly intriguing (although Chan once again pulls the guilty party like a rabbit out of his hat, with absolutely no evidence supporting his theory). The low budget is tolerably camouflaged. Even the comedy is funnier than usual, like for example in a short exchange between Mantan Moreland and an uncredited Willie Best. My favorite Chan line: "Statement has earmarks of extreme truthfulness"! ** out of 4.

Roland Winters carries this off better than in his first couple efforts. There's a little more pizazz to this offering. Several men are killed who were associated with the conviction and execution of a hoodlum. Apparently, he was innocent of the crime. This brings into play someone who is seeking revenge. Since it is thought that he has no relatives or close associates, finding the guy is pretty hard. Once again, we have the poor guys, alone in their offices, with the windows open. They are attacked from behind and left to die. There is a red herring in the barrel that is never dealt with. A man who is the nephew of a judge is to be disinherited and becomes a suspect. He is cleared very quickly (a weakness in the plot--but then he is abundantly unattractive as a person) because of some findings. We pretty much never see him again. The problem with the whole thing is the circumlocutory mess that must be gone through to find our guy. There is an exhumation of a grave, done in about five minutes. It's hard to tell who is who in the fabric of things. When the solution comes my response was "Huh!" And, of course, the two hangers on are there again to participate.

With the franchise slowly coming to an end, SHANGHAI CHEST actually has what it takes to make more than a few Chan fans happy. There seems to be more humorous moments thanks to #2 son Tommy(Victor Sen Young)and manservant/chauffeur Brimingham(Mantan Moreland); even Roland Winters as the fabled detective seems more relaxed...but to no avail for there is only to be one more movie in the mystery series. Vic Armstrong(John Alvin)argues with his Uncle the Judge Wes Armstrong(Pierce Watkins)over a plea for money. Vic has wasted away a $30,000 inheritance and is upset his uncle won't loan him money. The Judge actually wants to take his nephew out of his will. As Vic goes to confront his elder, he walks into a darkened room to answer a ringing telephone; he is then knocked out while his uncle lays on the floor with a knife in his back. Secretary Phyllis(Deannie Best)hears the scuffle on the phone and summons the police. When the lights come on there of course stands Vic with the bloody knife in his hand. Oh gee, someone save this man about to be wronged. Hire famous detective Charlie Chan to find the real killer. Other players: Tim Ryan, Russell Hicks, Philip Van Zant and Olaf Hytten.

Forged fingerprints in a Charlie Chan film were used as recently as 1946 in "Dark Alibi", six movies prior to "The Shanghai Chest". The same gimmick is used here again, this time with the fingerprints of a man who's been dead for six months. The prints are found at the scene of three murders, all of the victims having had some connection to the man who was sentenced to death for murder himself. But that may have been a frame up; the man, Tony Pandello may in fact have been innocent, and someone is out for vengeance.Roland Winters portrays Inspector Charlie Chan in this 1948 Monogram release. Continuity in the later Monogram films seems to have fallen apart completely, as Victor Sen Yung appears as Number #2 Son Tommy, contrary to his introduction in earlier 20th Century Fox and Monogram movies as Number #2 Son Jimmy. Mantan Moreland is Chan chauffeur Birmingham Brown. In a jail scene, Birmingham and Tommy are released from the lock up, and in the next cell is Willie Best, appearing under his own name. Willie appeared in the Chan film "Red Dragon" as Birmingham's cousin Chattanooga Brown.In typical Chan fashion, the murderer revealed at the end is a surprise, having been a trusted aide of the first murder victim. But the case is wrapped up neatly by Charlie; he outwits the villain, who did all of his dirty work in the dark of night in garb reminiscent of The Shadow.