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City in Darkness main poster

City in Darkness

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6.4/10 • 16

1939-11-151h 15m

CrimeThrillerMystery

PARIS! BLACKOUT!...but there's no blackout for crime...and the great detective is commandeered!

Chan, in Paris for a reunion with friends from World War I, becomes involved in investigating the murder of a munitions manufacturer who was supplying arms to the enemy, even as the rising clouds of World War II force the city into nightly blackout status..

Directors
Herbert I. Leeds
Writters
Robert Ellis
Characters
Robert Ellis, Earl Derr Biggers
Editors
Robert Ellis, Harry Reynolds

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Sidney Toler

    Sidney Toler

    Charlie Chan

  2. Harold Huber

    Harold Huber

    Police Inspector Marcel Spivak

  3. Pedro de Cordoba

    Pedro de Cordoba

    Antoine

  4. Lynn Bari

    Lynn Bari

    Marie Dubon

  5. Richard Clarke

    Richard Clarke

    Tony Madero

  6. Dorothy Tree

    Dorothy Tree

    Charlotte Ronnell

  7. Noel Madison

    Noel Madison

    Belescu

  8. Leo G. Carroll

    Leo G. Carroll

    Louis Santelle

  9. C. Henry Gordon

    C. Henry Gordon

    Prefect of Police J. Romaine

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Nov 30, 2024

7/10

With war in Europe looming large, "Charlie" (Sidney Toler) is in Paris to celebrate with some of his colleagues from the previous conflagration when he finds himself embroiled in the mysterious killing of "Petroff" (Douglass Dumbrille). There are few clues, but those that there are seem to centre around the young "Marie" (Lynn Bari) who is constantly having to beg, borrow or maybe even steal money to pay for an all-important passenger to travel to Panama and thence onto the safety of the USA. The deeper he delves, though, the more suspicious the activities of the deceased man start to look, and together with local policeman "Antoine" (Pedro de Cordoba) they roll their sleeves up. I quite enjoyed this, especially the effort from de Cordoba as a French policeman who might make "Insp. Clouseau" look efficient. He also gels well with the meticulous Toler who isn't accompanied by any of his brood for this adventure. There are loads of red herrings and at the end the tiniest bit of prophesying as the dark clouds really were gathering in 1939. The production is all a bit stage bound and basic, but that doesn't really spoil the enjoyment and if you like Toler and his forensic approach to sleuthing coupled with his Confucian profundities, then it's an amiably paced watch.

Media

  • City in Darkness poster
  • City in Darkness poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
paris, francearms smugglingespionagemurderburglaryenemy agentcheap hotelforgereve of world war iiforged passportburglarscomical sidekickcharlie chanbumbling copfugitive suspectgas masksbistro