Black Magic (1944): Cast & Plot
Black Magic is a 1944 mystery horror film directed by Phil Rosen, starring Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan, Frances Chan and Mantan Moreland. It runs 1 hour 7 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 7m (67 min)
- Director
- Phil Rosen
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Monogram Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Black Magic About?
The premise of Black Magic without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Chan stalks a fiendish murderer! Chinese detective Charlie Chan solves a murder linked to the occult.
Black Magic Themes & Keywords
· 31 tags- suicide
- female suicide
- spiritualism
- occultist
- occult
- left hand path
- magic
- cigar smoking
- yellowface
- color in title
- ghost
- two word title
+19 more Show fewer
- murderer
- caucasian actor plays an asian character
- charlie chan character
- spiritualist
- hypnosis
- homicide detective
- crystal ball
- asian detective
- test tube
- occult ritual
- father daughter relationship
- blood test
- blood sample
- seance
- fortune teller
- murder
- black magic
- 1940s
- psychotronic film
Black Magic Cast & Characters
Sidney Toler leads the cast as Charlie Chan, with Frances Chan as Frances Chan and Mantan Moreland as Birmingham Brown. Directed by Phil Rosen; 15 actors are credited in all.
- Director Phil Rosen
- Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan
- Frances Chan as Frances Chan
- Mantan Moreland as Birmingham Brown
- Dick Gordon as William Bonner (as Richard Gordon)
Also Starring in Black Magic
· 11 more- Jacqueline deWit Justine Bonner
- Joseph Crehan Police Sgt. Matthews
- Edward Earle Dawson, Police Lab
- Ralph Peters Officer Rafferty
- Frank Jaquet Paul Hamlin
- Harry Depp Charles Edwards
- Charles Jordan Tom Starkey
- Claudia Dell Vera Starkey
- Geraldine Wall Harriet Green
- Darby Jones Johnson
- Helen Beverly Norma Duncan aka Nancy Wood
More from Phil Rosen
More films directed by Phil Rosen: Step by Step, The Shadow Returns, The Red Dragon and The Scarlet Clue.
Black Magic Plot Summary
What happens in Black Magic from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Charlie Chan postpones his trip home from government service to Honolulu to help unravel a murder that grips the narrative with a curious blend of crime and séance drama, involving Frances Chan — the so-called Number One Daughter — and the famously easily startled chauffeur Birmingham Brown. The intrigue begins when Mr. William Bonner is found dead in the middle of a seance, a scene crowded with eight witnesses, both seen and unseen, who seem to carry secrets as heavy as the room’s velvet curtains.
Full summary
The whole story of Black Magic, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Black Magic?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the murder victim found dead during the seance?
Cars in Black Magic
1 car on screen: the 1941 Pontiac De Luxe Torpedo.
-
1941 Pontiac De Luxe Torpedo Background role
Black Magic Also Known As
6 alternative titles, including “Meeting at Midnight” and “Charlie Chan in Black Magic”.
- Also known as
-
- Meeting at Midnight
- Charlie Chan in Black Magic
- Черная магия
- Чёрная магия
- Charlie Chan na Macumba
- 陈查理之午夜幽会
Seen Black Magic?
Movies Like Black Magic
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Black Magic, Mysteries of Black Magic and The Black Camel.
-
Black Magic 1992 -
Mysteries of Black Magic 1958 -
The Black Camel 1931 -
Black 2017 -
Charlie Chan at Treasure Island 1939 -
Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen 1981 -
Black Magic Woman 1991 -
Black Magic 2 1976 -
Charlie Chan at the Opera 1936 -
I Love a Mystery 1945 -
Charlie Chan in Egypt 1935 -
The Scarlet Clue 1945
Black Magic FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Black Magic, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Black Magic?
Black Magic runs 1 hour 7 minutes (67 minutes).
When was Black Magic released?
Black Magic was released on August 19, 1944.
Who directed Black Magic?
Black Magic was directed by Phil Rosen.
More films by Phil Rosen Who is in the cast of Black Magic?
Black Magic stars Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan, Frances Chan as Frances Chan and Mantan Moreland as Birmingham Brown, among 15 credited actors.
Does Black Magic have a post-credit scene?
No. Black Magic has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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