''The Mandarin Mystery'' is a 1936 American film directed by

Ralph Staub Ralph Staub (July 21, 1899 in Chicago, Illinois – October 22, 1969, Los Angeles, California) was a movie director, writer and producer. Three of his short subjects in the '' Screen Snapshots'' series have been nominated for the Academy Award a ...

, loosely based on ''

The Chinese Orange Mystery ''The Chinese Orange Mystery'' is a novel that was written in 1934 by Ellery Queen. It is the eighth of the Ellery Queen mysteries. In a poll of 17 detective story writers and reviewers, this novel was voted as the eighth best locked room myste ...

'', a novel featuring detective character

Ellery Queen Ellery Queen is a pseudonym created in 1929 by American crime fiction writers Frederic Dannay and Manfred Bennington Lee and the name of their main fictional character, a mystery writer in New York City who helps his police inspector father solve ...

Plot summary

Two murders are committed and a $50,000 Chinese Mandarin stamp is stolen, tossed around and eventually recovered as an aggregation of costly-stamp counterfeiters are uncovered through the mastermind investigation by Ellery Queen.

Cast

Eddie Quillan Edward Quillan (March 31, 1907 – July 19, 1990) was an American film actor and singer whose career began as a child on the vaudeville stages and silent film and continued through the age of television in the 1980s. Vaudeville and silent fi ...

, a

mystery writer Mystery is a fiction genre where the nature of an event, usually a murder or other crime, remains mysterious until the end of the story. Often within a closed circle of suspects, each suspect is usually provided with a credible motive and a reas ...

and amateur

detective A detective is an investigator, usually a member of a law enforcement agency. They often collect information to solve crimes by talking to witnesses and informants, collecting physical evidence, or searching records in databases. This leads th ...

Charlotte Henry Charlotte Virginia Henry (March 3, 1914 – April 11, 1980) was an American actress who is best remembered for her roles in '' Alice in Wonderland'' (1933) and '' Babes in Toyland'' (1934). She also starred in the Frank Buck serial ''Jun ...

as Josephine Temple *

Rita La Roy Rita La Roy (born Ina La Roi Stuart; October 2, 1901 – February 18, 1993) was an American actress and dancer, beginning her career in 1929, and having her last significant role in 1940. Career La Roy appeared in over 50 films, the best k ...

as Martha Kirk *

Wade Boteler Wade Boteler (October 3, 1888 – May 7, 1943) was an American film actor and writer. He appeared in more than 430 films between 1919 and 1943. Biography He was born in Santa Ana, California, and died in Hollywood, California, from a heart ...

as Inspector Richard Queen, A police inspector, Ellery's father. *

Franklin Pangborn Franklin Pangborn (January 23, 1889 – July 20, 1958) was an American comedic character actor famous for playing small but memorable roles with comic flair. He appeared in many Preston Sturges movies as well as the W. C. Fields films '' Interna ...

as Mellish, the hotel manager * George Irving as Dr. Alexander Kirk *

Kay Hughes Kay Hughes (born Catherine Mary Hughes; January 16, 1914 – April 4, 1998) was an American actress in the 1930s and 1940s who appeared mainly in Western films and serials. Biography Hughes was born in Los Angeles, California. When she was a ...

as Irene Kirk * William Newell as Detective Guffy *

George Walcott George Walcott (October 15, 1914 – August 18, 1964), also known as The Most Stylish Man in Hollywood, was an American actor. He was best known for playing the role of Tom in the 1936 film '' Fury''. Early life Born in Los Angeles, Califo ...

as Donald Trent *

Edwin Stanley Edwin Stanley (November 22, 1880 – December 25, 1944), was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 230 films between 1916 and 1946. He was born in Chicago, Illinois and died in Hollywood, California. On Broadway, Stanley appear ...

as Howard Bronson *Edgar Allen as Detective *

Bert Roach Egbert "Bert" Roach (August 21, 1891 – February 16, 1971) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 320 films between 1914 and 1951. He was born in Washington, D.C., and died in Los Angeles, California, age 79. Selected filmogra ...

* Richard Beach as Reporter *

Monte Vandergrift Monte may refer to: Places Argentina * Argentine Monte, an ecoregion * Monte Desert * Monte Partido, a ''partido'' in Buenos Aires Province Italy * Monte Bregagno * Monte Cassino * Montecorvino (disambiguation) * Montefalcione Portugal * Mont ...

as Detective * Grace Durkin as Girl on Street Corner * Mary Russell as Girl on Street Corner * Mary Bovard as Girl At Cocktail Bar *

June Johnson June Rozelle Johnson (May 28, 1918 – July 14, 1987) was an American film actress from 1936 to 1941 who appeared in Western films and serials. She made 14 films including three in which she was the female lead alongside The Three Mesquiteers. ...

as Girl At Cocktail Bar

Soundtrack

No soundtrack album was created

External links

* * 1936 films 1930s comedy mystery films American black-and-white films Republic Pictures films 1936 comedy films American comedy mystery films Articles containing video clips Films based on American novels Films directed by Ralph Staub Films produced by Nat Levine 1930s English-language films 1930s American films Ellery Queen films {{1930s-comedy-film-stub