Cole King also known as The Impresario(Howard Negley)takes his showgirl dance troupe to a Malibu Beach resort for a short vacation; a working vacation with press agent Rick Daniels(Larry Blake)wanting to take publicity photos of the girls on the beach in their swimming attire. When two of the beauties are found strangled via silk cord, Oriental sleuth Charlie Chan(Sidney Toler) is summoned to investigate. Manservant/chauffeur Birmingham(Mantan Moreland)provides his expected comic relief and #2 Son Jimmy(Victor Sen Young)arrives later for his bungling attempts to aid his dad. A box of letters containing some damning information about certain members of the troupe is suspected of causing the murders. This is Toler's last Chan movie; he was so ill and lethargic he could hardly finish the flick. He would later succumb to cancer. THE TRAP is still worth watching and has all the customary elements expected of a Chan mystery. Other players: Rita Quigley, Tanis Chandler, Kirk Alyn, Anne Nagel, Helen Gerald and Minerva Urecal.
Review of The Trap
