IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
While in Paris for a reunion on the eve of World War II, Charlie finds that the murder of a hated businessman leads him to a conspiracy to smuggle arms to Germany.While in Paris for a reunion on the eve of World War II, Charlie finds that the murder of a hated businessman leads him to a conspiracy to smuggle arms to Germany.While in Paris for a reunion on the eve of World War II, Charlie finds that the murder of a hated businessman leads him to a conspiracy to smuggle arms to Germany.
Richard Clarke
- Tony Madero
- (as Richard Clark)
Pedro de Cordoba
- Antoine
- (as Pedro De Cordoba)
Douglass Dumbrille
- Petroff
- (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Leo G. Carroll
- Louis Santelle
- (as Leo Carroll)
Frederik Vogeding
- Captain
- (as Fredrik Vogeding)
Eugene Borden
- Gendarme
- (uncredited)
James Carlisle
- Commuter
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe advice given by the butler, Antoine (Pedro de Cordoba), to his soldier son concerns having rhubarb pills available. Rhubarb was used primarily for digestive complaints including constipation and diarrhea which were among major complaints by WWI survivors, Antoine having served in the Great War.
- GoofsWhen Harold Huber is thrown from the raised doorway of the hotel steps by the bouncer, the mattress on the cobblestones can be seen in the shot.
- Quotes
[last lines]
Charlie Chan: [referring to the Munich conference] A wise man once said, "Beware of spider who invites fly into parlor."
- ConnectionsEdited into All This and World War II (1976)
Featured review
A moment in history preserved in amber
Although not the best of the Charlie Chan series, this is a cut above the later Sidney Toler Chan films. However, what really makes it worth seeing is that the story takes place during the 1938 Munich Crisis (September 1938), yet was produced before WW-II began (September 1939). The setting is Paris, which is blacked out due to the threat of war, and while the French armed forces are busy mobilizing. The city-wide blackout explains the title, as "The City of Light" had been transformed into a "City in Darkness".
There are plenty of lame gags involving the distribution of gas masks, and people panicking due to false air raid alarms. Within a few months of this film's production none of those things would be laughing matters anymore. In fact, although produced prior to the outbreak of WW-II, the movie was not actually released until December 1939, by which time the war had actually begun.
In a sense, therefore, "City in Darkness" represents a significant moment in history that, one might say, has been preserved in a drop of amber. It was the moment when one world crisis was averted, leading to the preservation of world peace for a last few happy months before the final unleashing of Armageddon. For that alone, if for no other reason, "City in Darkness" is still worth a look.
There are plenty of lame gags involving the distribution of gas masks, and people panicking due to false air raid alarms. Within a few months of this film's production none of those things would be laughing matters anymore. In fact, although produced prior to the outbreak of WW-II, the movie was not actually released until December 1939, by which time the war had actually begun.
In a sense, therefore, "City in Darkness" represents a significant moment in history that, one might say, has been preserved in a drop of amber. It was the moment when one world crisis was averted, leading to the preservation of world peace for a last few happy months before the final unleashing of Armageddon. For that alone, if for no other reason, "City in Darkness" is still worth a look.
- robertguttman
- Dec 20, 2016
- Permalink
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Чарли Чан в городе Тьмы
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 15 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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