Black Magic (aka Meeting At Midnight) (1944)

When the renowned detective Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) decides to return home to Honolulu, his butler (Mantan Moreland) gets a new job with the Bonner family. What he doesn't know is that they are con artists who specialize in fake seances. But when Mr. Bonner (Crane Whitley) is murdered by being shot but there's no bullet found in his body and no bullet penetrated his body, Charlie Chan is on the case! Based on the character created by Earl Derr Biggers and directed by Phil Rosen (STEP BY STEP). This is one of the late Chan mysteries courtesy of the poverty row Monogram studios. It's a rather dull affair except for Mantan Moreland. Yes, he's playing a racial stereotype but he's got expert comedy timing and this lackluster effort needs all the help it can get. This time instead of Charlie's no. 1 son helping him, we get his daughter (Frances Chan) assisting him. For die hard Chan fans only. With Jacqueline DeWit, Geraldine Wall, Joseph Crehan and Ralph Peters.