Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) is called in to help investigate a mysterious murder caused by cobra venom. Chan links the crime to a similar murder which took place in Shanghai a few years before. The suspect had escaped that time so maybe this new crime was caused by the same man. A nearby bank where a fortune in radium is held is linked to the crime and this mysterious murderer who is known only by his name not his appearance...
This is a decent crime drama with some interesting twists. However, some of the actors including Toler seem a bit down in the dumps at times which robs the film of some energy, though we do get a couple of excellent examples of Charlie Chan's cod-Chinese philosophy. Benson Fong plays Chan's son this time and Mantan Moreland is also on hand with his usual comedy antics.
Interestingly a telephone jukebox is a major plot point in this film, as it was in the film X Marks the Spot. Though in the case of the Shanghai Cobra the jukebox is augmented by the new technology of closed circuit television...
