Castle in the Desert
Synopsis
Charlie Chan, with son Jimmy on a week's pass from the Army, takes up a request for help at a castle-home, miles from anywhere in the American desert south-west and inhabited by an eccentric, reclusive historian and his wife, a descendant of Lucrezia Borgia. Once there, he finds the request's legitimacy denied by all who are present, but still necessary as one houseguest has already been murdered, the other guests are at each other's throat, and the Borgia-related chatelain is suspected...
Part of the Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) Collection
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Top Cast
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Sidney Toler
Charlie Chan
Victor Sen Yung
Jimmy Chan
Lenita Lane
Lucy Borgia Manderley
Douglass Dumbrille
Paul Manderley
Steven Geray
Dr. Retling
Edmund MacDonald
Walter Hartford
Arleen Whelan
Brenda Hartford
Ethel Griffies
Mme. Saturnia, aka Lizzie
Henry Daniell
Watson King
Richard Derr
Carl Detheridge
Lucien Littlefield
Prof. Gleason
Milton Parsons
Arthur Fletcher
George Chandler
The Bus Driver
Oliver Blake
The Hotel Manager
Eric Wilton
The Majordomo
Paul Kruger
(unconfirmed)
Tex Phelps
(scene deleted)
Release History & Theatrical Window
February 2, 1942
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Harry Lachman
- Screenplay & Story
- John Francis Larkin
- Original Title
- Castle in the Desert
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 2m
- Production Studios
- 20th Century Fox
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Harry Lachman
John Francis Larkin, Earl Derr Biggers
Virgil Miller
John Brady
Ralph Dietrich
Department Leadership Roster
Harry Lachman
Director
John Brady
Editor
Ralph Dietrich
Producer
Virgil Miller
Director of Photography
Herschel McCoy
Costume Design
John Francis Larkin
Screenplay
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Castle in the Desert.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Castle in the Desert
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Castle in the Desert about?
Charlie Chan, with son Jimmy on a week's pass from the Army, takes up a request for help at a castle-home, miles from anywhere in the American desert south-west and inhabited by an eccentric, reclusive historian and his wife, a descendant of Lucrezia Borgia. Once there, he finds the request's legitimacy denied by all who are present, but still necessary as one houseguest has already been murdered, the other guests are at each other's throat, and the Borgia-related chatelain is suspected...
Who directed Castle in the Desert?
Castle in the Desert was directed by Harry Lachman.
Who stars in Castle in the Desert?
The principal cast of Castle in the Desert includes Sidney Toler, Victor Sen Yung, Lenita Lane, Douglass Dumbrille, Steven Geray.
When was Castle in the Desert released and how long is it?
Castle in the Desert was released in 1942 with a total runtime of 1h 2m.
Is Castle in the Desert based on a book or true story?
Castle in the Desert is adapted from the following source material: Characters: "Earl Derr Biggers".