kapelusznik18 ****SPOILERS*** Charlie Chan, Sidney Toler, working for the US Government as undercover hat store owner Fu Yean works against time in finding out and preventing a sinister plot to sink the entire US Atlantic Fleet while docked at the Panama Canal. This is being planned by a number of German saboteurs in what seems like Nazi Germany's efforts, in early 1940, to get the US involved in WWII! This making FDR's, in running for re-election that year, job a lot easier. That by him getting the American people who were as much as 95% against it,at the time, to go along with him in getting the US into WWII.It's Charlie's bumbling #1 Son Jimmy, Victor Sen Yung, who after messing things up for Charlie ends up saving his life in preventing, by hitting him with a tobacco can, one of the saboteurs from assassination his pop. It's when Charlie along with #1 Son Jimmy and a number of the cast, including the head Nazi saboteur, are trapped in a cave that he realized were the explosives, a two gallon bottle of nitroglycerin, was hidden: at the Panama Canal power station.***SPOILERS*** Breaking out of the cave and heading for the power station to prevent a catastrophe from happening It's the saboteur him or herself who ended up exposing himself in knowing just what kind of explosive was to be used. Something that only Charlie the police and the saboteur himself could have known. As usual as in most pre-WWII movie before the US got involved in the saboteur's identities or nationalities were kept from the public. But it didn't take a genius to figure who they were working for with the pretty Jean Rogers playing a refugee from fascism with the Slavic sounding name Kathi Lenesch being from a Nazi occupied, Poland or Czechoslovakia, at that time country.

bensonmum2 As the U.S. fleet prepares to move through the Panama Canal, a foreign agent known only as Ryner plans to blow-up part of the canal. However, Charlie Chan and #2 Son are on hand to stop Ryner's plot (and solve a murder or two in the process).Charlie Chan in Panama is a rock solid entry in the Chan catalogue. This was Sidney Toler's fifth outing as Chan, Victor Sen Yung's fourth appearance as Jimmy Chan, and Norman Foster's third directorial credit in the Chan series. These guys knew what they were doing. Throw in an excellent supporting cast (featuring the always enjoyable Lionel Atwill), excellent looking sets, suspicious characters, red herrings around every corner, and some decent comedy bits from #2 Son and you've got the makings for an enjoyable movie experience. I'm not usually a fan of Chan films that are spy centered, preferring the murder based plots instead. But here, it works. As others have pointed out, I appreciate that the mystery's resolve actually makes sense. It always makes things more enjoyable when you as the viewer can follow along with what Chan is saying. And, finally, I appreciate that for once Jimmy Chan actually serves a real purpose. In this one, he is directly responsible for saving Pop's life.Overall, an 8/10 from me. Charlie Chan in Panama is a must for fans of the series.

SanteeFats I really enjoy the Charlie Chan movies no matter which man plays him. In this film the plot is a very good one. A renowned spy and saboteur who is an expert at disguises is out to blow up a part of the extremely important Panama Canal while the U.S. fleet is transitioning the canal. Several people are suspected of being the saboteur but one by one they get bumped off. One of Charlie's sons shows up, number two I think. He always brings the laughs with his bumbling and eager puppy attempts to help his dad. He even gets somethings right from time to time. The exchanges between father and son are pretty funny in this film. The placement of the nitro is cleverly done by the spy who is disguised as a water delivery man. This is where the first real clue as to the identity of the saboteur is given, but only in retrospect. The delivery man needs help with the water bottle when lifting it up. In the end all the still living suspects are gathered together in the lock control room where the big bang is to take place. Charlie refuses to let any one leave. As the time ticks down the spy pulls a gun and tries to leave. She is grab at the door by waiting police. Of course Chan had found the timer and disarmed it. So no boom. This is one of the best of the Charlie Chan movies.

dbborroughs Another war tinged mystery involving that favorite Hollywood target the Panama Canal.One of the better Chan films, this film works because it has a great deal going on. There is more here than the just the a murder mystery, there are political implications that help to flesh out the tale. Also helping things along is the large number of colorful characters that Charlie and his son Jimmie come in contact with. These are a bit more than your stock mystery suspects and it really elevates everything that is going on. This doesn't seem like a stock off the rack mystery but something new and exciting.I really like this film and its one of the better films.