Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Review - The Wax Museum, released 9-6-40 A seven, on a one-to-ten scale, is as far as I go downward in value for a rating of any Charlie Chan movie, then the film reviewed presently is a definite seven; no consideration of improving either. Almost the entire movie is set at the subject wax museum, where Charlie Chan solves another case, without the help from really anybody, but using his own gift to analyze events, results and rely upon his own deductions. Son Jimmy is no help at any given time, but then what else is new. Reference to the automat brings one back to the days of the vending of meals from the small glass portals. Toothpicks were available at these automats for all diners. The wider toothpicks could be placed to the lips in such a way to cast something a few feet away, thus the mention of the usage to propel a poison dart. A wax museum filled with criminal figures and some law enforcement images worked to hide some of the guilty parties and suspects. There were secret panels, trap doors, cellar laboratories and a not too bright night watchman showing up in the activity surrounding the case. We are about midway through the Fox productions with this movie starring Sidney Toler. No comedic chauffer, but enough of the son that would not obey any order from his father. When your father asks you to do something, do it, instead of delaying the crime solving. The premise is for Charlie Chan to expose the same physician to the reputed surgeries he was performing to alter the faces of known murderers. These criminals could then continue their evil deeds while invisible to the law. Charlie suspects a certain Dr. Cream of altering the face of a recent killer and being responsible for other criminals' appearances. Further, the premise is to exonerate an innocent man, convicted and hanged. Charlie is determined to see justice prevail by putting the bad guys away for good and clearing the name of the innocent man, Joe Rocke, wrongfully sent to the gallows. The museum is a front for the laboratory where the crooked Dr. Cream has surgically changed the faces of two ruthless criminals wandering about the museum as a radio broadcast discussion between Charlie Chan and Dr. Otto von Brum is to take place.Dr. von Brum doesn't make it away from the broadcast, and the chase is on to find his killer. Unfortunately, von Brum wasn't the only killing that took place before the murderer was apprehended. Charlie follows his suspicions, tricking the killer, getting his confession in front of the group, namely the Homicide Inspector. A most peculiar manner is chosen to murder. A blow-dart used to kill had been an effective way of killing for the eventual perpetrator throughout his crime history. The method was effective and was known to Charlie as the modus operandi of the gangster. Catching the perpetrator by means of a pseudo-dart was genius by Chan. Mrs. Joe Rocke thanks Mr. Chan for clearing her husband's name, for which she is deeply grateful. Chan replies, justice is like virtue, brings its own reward.

This may be the highest ranked Charlie Chan film on this entire website. I feel bad for not being as captured by it as most people do. When you have a movie series with literally dozens of entries, it's easy to see them becoming episodic. It seems like less a movie and more like just a long episode of a TV show. In fact, "Columbo", another detective series actually did have episodes that were this long. That being said, this is still a good movie. I am starting to get more familiar with the characters, especially Charlie Chan's son, Jimmy.I really do like how they mixed up the formula a bit here. This wasn't really a simple murder mystery. It was interesting to see Charlie find new light shed on an old case. Was there another movie about that? There's so many characters that have distinct roles it's hard to keep up. There's just so much going on with which character was supposed to die, which one was manipulated, and how someone even died. It's not a mystery to the audience as much, but more to the characters. I still like this dynamic and would recommend this. Uh, sorry I couldn't keep up with the plot that well! ***

Dr. Cream's wax museum hosts a weekly "Crime League" radio broadcast: renowned detectives revisit famous unsolved crimes and debate various solutions. Charlie Chan reluctantly accepts a challenge to appear on the program to discuss the controversial Rock Case—which culminated, he has long been convinced, in the execution of an innocent man. Little does Mr. Chan know that he himself is now being set up….Sidney Toler is excellent as the master sleuth in this prime Charlie Chan mystery, one of the series' most memorable. It's a mostly serious Chan we see here—unflappable, quick thinking, even gutsy—and Toler appears to inhabit the character effortlessly.Sen Yung is good as usual as Jimmy Chan—sneaking in, snooping around, making himself invaluable despite his pop's protests. Marc Lawrence is the escaped murderer out to get Chan for helping convict him; C. Henry Gordon the shady Dr. Cream, wax dummy creator and sometime plastic surgeon; Joan Valerie the museum assistant who doesn't mind gangsters hiding out in the basement but argues that a murder on the site will ruin their whole setup. The "crime museum" provides a suitably spooky atmosphere, and a convoluted enough plot keeps viewers as well as detectives guessing who is who. Definitely a top notch Chan mystery.

Excellent series entry and one of Sidney Toler's best Chan films. New direction by Lynn Shores gives this series a new look and feel. The most significant feature of this film is the mixing of suspicious characters with very realistic wax figures in the dark dungeon-like Dr. Cream's Chamber of Horrors on the New York waterfront (admission 25¢) Naturally it is raining outside most of the time (thunder and lightening to boot) and the lights keep going out.Witty dialog add to the enjoyment. Chan provides his usual pearls of wisdom: `Knowledge only gained through curiosity,' `Mice only play when cat supposed to be in bed,' and `Sometimes better to see and not tell…' We can thank writer John Larkin who also penned a few other good Chan films including `Charlie Chan at Treasure Island.'The story unfolds quickly and the comic relief provided by Jimmy Chan is more subtle than it other entries. Plenty of suspects, lots of misdirection, more than enough clues, and in the end Chan reveals what he knew that could not be known by the viewer; i.e. you can only guess who is the killer. Nevertheless, just sit back and enjoy this one. My wife even liked it. Highly recommended.