While flying to San Francisco, a friend of Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) dies on the flight. The man died after receiving a worrying message from a Dr Zodiac. Chan suspects the man was murdered and begins to investigate the mysterious psychic. With the help of his son (Victor Sen Yung) he begins to uncover a complicated plot of fake mystics, hidden chambers, blackmail and apparently real mind reading...
This is an excellent edition in the long running Charlie Chan series, a very mysterious air is given to all proceedings including good use of (a lack of) light. Dr Zodiac is a rather frightening (if ultimately fake) character.
Allegedly the infamous Zodiac Killer got his name and parts of my MO from watching this film. Whether that is true or just more hocus pocus is something only Charlie Chan perhaps might know...
