Product Details

• Actors: Sidney Toler, Arleen Whelan, Richard Derr, Douglass Dumbrille, Henry Daniell
• Directors: Harry Lachman
• Writers: Earl Derr Biggers, John Larkin
• Producers: Ralph Dietrich
• Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: September 1, 1998
• Run Time: 62 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301798260
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,163 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Last Film in the "Real" Charlie Chan Series, February 10, 2002

By	Gary F. Taylor "GFT" (Biloxi, MS USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

CASTLE IN THE DESERT would be the last Charlie Chan film made by 20th Century Fox, which originated the series; the rights to the character was subsequently purchased by Monogram, where Chan films continued to be made--but to considerably less effect. Consequently, CASTLE is generally regarded as the last film of any merit in the series. It is also one of the most entertaining. A neurotic historian and his wife, a descendent of the Borgia family no less, reside in eccentric isolation in a castle in the desert--where sinister doings are afoot, and Chan is summoned to take matters in hand. The plot as it unfolds requires a certain suspension of disbelief re what is medically possible, but a particularly entertaining cast (Ethel Griffies is a standout) allows the viewer to buy into the tale, and the film abounds with comic florishes that Chan fans will enjoy.

Although the Charlie Chan films are sometimes accused of perpetuating racial stereotypes, they were in fact no more stereotypical than other serial-style films (Blondie and Dr. Kildare come to mind) of the era--and as the series progressed the patronization found in the earliest films was rapidly discarded. Regretfully, many of the best Chan films are not available on video, much less DVD, and fans of the series who want to see such classics as CHARLIE CHAN AT TREASURE ISLAND or CHARLIE CHAN AT RENO(my own favorites) must hope for a showing on television.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unusually High Production Values (for Charlie Chan), August 31, 2002

By	Belize Traveller (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

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Castle in the Desert has unusually high production values ... for a Charlie Chan movie. Camera angles, for example, are sophisticated, and sets are fairly elaborate, unlike some of the later Chans. The plotting is fairly complex, and the acting is mostly of professional quality, even from the minor players. All in all, this is one of my favorite in the Charlie Chan series.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Superior Plot, August 27, 2002

By	Peter Kenney (Birmingham, Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The Charlie Chan series was dropped by 20th Century-Fox after this film.

Charlie solves a murder which happens while he is a guest in a desert castle. Sidney Toler has the role of Charlie and Sen Yung plays Jimmy Chan.

John Larkin wrote the screenplay and the director was Harry Lachman. Mostly because of the plot, I have always considered CASTLE IN THE DESERT to be one of the better Chan movies.