The Shanghai Cobra (1945): Cast & Plot
The Shanghai Cobra is a 1945 mystery thriller directed by Phil Karlson, starring Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan, Walter Fenner and Benson Fong. It runs 1 hour 4 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 4m (64 min)
- Director
- Phil Karlson
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Monogram Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Shanghai Cobra About?
The premise of The Shanghai Cobra without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In this thrilling Charlie Chan adventure, a daring plot to steal a cache of radium hidden in a bank vault unfolds. A series of killings linked by the unmistakable scent of cobra venom draws the famed detective into a dangerous investigation, as he pieces together clues to expose the mastermind behind the toxic theft.
The Shanghai Cobra Themes & Keywords
· 4 tags- cobra
- caucasian actor plays an asian character
- charlie chan character
- asian detective
The Shanghai Cobra Cast & Characters
Sidney Toler leads the cast as Charlie Chan, with Walter Fenner as Police Inspector Harry Davis and Benson Fong as Tommy Chan. Directed by Phil Karlson; 14 actors are credited in all.
- Director Phil Karlson
- Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan
- Walter Fenner as Police Inspector Harry Davis
- Benson Fong as Tommy Chan
- Mantan Moreland as Birmingham Brown
Also Starring in The Shanghai Cobra
· 10 more- Addison Richards John Adams
- James Flavin H.R. Jarvis
- George Chandler Joe
- Arthur Loft Bradford Harris
- Gene Roth Morgan
- Joe Devlin Taylor
- Roy Gordon Walter Fletcher
- Joan Barclay Paula Webb
- James Cardwell Ned Stewart
- Janet Warren Record Machine Operator
More from Phil Karlson
More films directed by Phil Karlson, best-rated first: Walking Tall, Framed, Ben and Hornets’ Nest.
The Shanghai Cobra Plot Summary
What happens in The Shanghai Cobra from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Charlie Chan is drawn into a puzzling murder case when three bank employees fall victim to cobra venom, a detail that immediately signals something deeply mechanical and meticulous about the killer. The case feels almost surgical in its precision, and Chan senses a thread that ties this violence to a case he nearly forgot from another time and place.
In the memory’s foreground, we travel back to Shanghai in 1937, where a dangerous fugitive named Jan Van Horn was badly burned when the Japanese bombed the city. After plastic surgery, he vanishes from custody and erases his former identity, leaving only whispers about who he really is. The Shanghai chapter introduces a web of intrigue that will later echo through the present-day crime.
Full summary
The whole story of The Shanghai Cobra, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Shanghai Cobra?
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
What unusual method does the killer use to murder the bank employees?
Cars in The Shanghai Cobra
10 cars on screen, including the 1937 Cadillac Series 70 and the 1941 De Soto De Luxe.
-
1937 Cadillac Series 70 Minor role -
1941 De Soto De Luxe Minor role -
unknown Minor role -
unknown Minor role
The Shanghai Cobra Also Known As
4 alternative titles, including “Charlie Chan in The Shanghai Cobra” and “Шанхайская кобра”.
- Also known as
-
- Charlie Chan in The Shanghai Cobra
- Шанхайская кобра
- 华人侦探陈查理之上海眼镜蛇
- A Cobra de Shanghai
Seen The Shanghai Cobra?
Movies Like The Shanghai Cobra
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Shanghai Chest, The Cobra and Charlie Chan in Rio.
The Shanghai Cobra FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Shanghai Cobra, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Shanghai Cobra?
The Shanghai Cobra runs 1 hour 4 minutes (64 minutes).
When was The Shanghai Cobra released?
The Shanghai Cobra was released on September 29, 1945.
Who directed The Shanghai Cobra?
The Shanghai Cobra was directed by Phil Karlson.
More films by Phil Karlson Who is in the cast of The Shanghai Cobra?
The Shanghai Cobra stars Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan, Walter Fenner as Police Inspector Harry Davis and Benson Fong as Tommy Chan, among 14 credited actors.
Does The Shanghai Cobra have a post-credit scene?
No. The Shanghai Cobra has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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