Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.

SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

Listonixio Fresh and Exciting

Nessieldwi Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

biorngm Review - The Wax Museum, released 9-6-40 A seven, on a one-to-ten scale, is as far as I go downward in value for a rating of any Charlie Chan movie, then the film reviewed presently is a definite seven; no consideration of improving either. Almost the entire movie is set at the subject wax museum, where Charlie Chan solves another case, without the help from really anybody, but using his own gift to analyze events, results and rely upon his own deductions. Son Jimmy is no help at any given time, but then what else is new. Reference to the automat brings one back to the days of the vending of meals from the small glass portals. Toothpicks were available at these automats for all diners. The wider toothpicks could be placed to the lips in such a way to cast something a few feet away, thus the mention of the usage to propel a poison dart. A wax museum filled with criminal figures and some law enforcement images worked to hide some of the guilty parties and suspects. There were secret panels, trap doors, cellar laboratories and a not too bright night watchman showing up in the activity surrounding the case. We are about midway through the Fox productions with this movie starring Sidney Toler. No comedic chauffer, but enough of the son that would not obey any order from his father. When your father asks you to do something, do it, instead of delaying the crime solving. The premise is for Charlie Chan to expose the same physician to the reputed surgeries he was performing to alter the faces of known murderers. These criminals could then continue their evil deeds while invisible to the law. Charlie suspects a certain Dr. Cream of altering the face of a recent killer and being responsible for other criminals' appearances. Further, the premise is to exonerate an innocent man, convicted and hanged. Charlie is determined to see justice prevail by putting the bad guys away for good and clearing the name of the innocent man, Joe Rocke, wrongfully sent to the gallows. The museum is a front for the laboratory where the crooked Dr. Cream has surgically changed the faces of two ruthless criminals wandering about the museum as a radio broadcast discussion between Charlie Chan and Dr. Otto von Brum is to take place.Dr. von Brum doesn't make it away from the broadcast, and the chase is on to find his killer. Unfortunately, von Brum wasn't the only killing that took place before the murderer was apprehended. Charlie follows his suspicions, tricking the killer, getting his confession in front of the group, namely the Homicide Inspector. A most peculiar manner is chosen to murder. A blow-dart used to kill had been an effective way of killing for the eventual perpetrator throughout his crime history. The method was effective and was known to Charlie as the modus operandi of the gangster. Catching the perpetrator by means of a pseudo-dart was genius by Chan. Mrs. Joe Rocke thanks Mr. Chan for clearing her husband's name, for which she is deeply grateful. Chan replies, justice is like virtue, brings its own reward.

utgard14 A convicted murderer (Marc Lawrence) escapes and vows revenge on Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler). He receives help from an unscrupulous doctor who lures Charlie to his wax museum for a radio show on criminal cases. I realize that sentence doesn't make a lot of sense but trust me it works out okay. "Number Two Son" Jimmy (Victor Sen Yung) is especially high-strung in this one. Chan series vet C. Henry Gordon plays humorously-named villain Dr. Cream. Joan Valerie and Marguerite Chapman provide the pretty. Spooky wax museum backdrop is a plus. This one's got lots of suspects and atmosphere to spare. There are also quite a few implausibilities so be prepared to suspend disbelief more than usual. Still, it's good fun.

bkoganbing Charlie Chan At The Wax Museum opens with a dramatic courtroom escape by Marc Lawrence who has vowed to get Charlie Chan for supplying the evidence that has earned him a trip to old Sparky at Sing Sing. Lawrence books for the wax museum where owner/exhibitor C. Henry Gordon is a plastic surgeon and the place is just a hideout for criminals seeking new faces.As it turns out there is to be a broadcast tonight from the museum where dueling detectives Sidney Toler and former Berlin police detective Michael Visaroff will debate a past crime where Toler feels the wrong man was hanged. It's where Lawrence plans some fiendish revenge on Charlie Chan. But it's Visaroff who winds up dead and Lawrence who spends most of the film in facial bandages also dies. It's another killer with a whole different agenda that Toler and number two son Victor Sen Yung have to find.It's the usual suspect soup at the wax museum, but the film is unusual in that Charlie Chan is the target and nearly gets done in by the killer. That little twist makes Charlie Chan At The Wax Museum one of the best Charlie Chan films in the series.

tavm This is my third review in a series of them for these days for the films of the Charlie Chan mysteries. It's also my first for the ones starring Sidney Toler as the famed detective with Victor Sen Yung (then billed as simply Sen Yung) as "Number 2 Son" Jimmy. In this one, Chan is a target for execution from a hood that escaped Death Row-which, of the latter, was due to Charlie's testimony-years earlier. I'll stop there and just say that while there's plenty of compelling atmospheric touches and some good humor concerning Jimmy's sneaking around the wax museum's exhibits, the way the whole thing gets revealed at the end seemed a little convoluted for my tastes (it probably didn't help that I almost fell asleep during some of the parts). Still, for the most part, I liked what I saw and I'll probably watch this again someday just to try to sort things out from what I remembered on previous viewing. Oh, and that female reporter (as many such parts in '40s movies tend to be) sure was stunning...