A pirate’s map, a talking parrot, and a ghostly peg leg haunt a murder mystery aboard the Suva Star.
DEAD MEN TELL
Aboard a treasure ship Chan battles his most elusive adversary... the ghost of a pirate 100 years dead!
A treasure map in four pieces, the ghost of a hanged pirate, a talking parrot, and a ship full of red herrings complicate Charlie's search for a murderer on board a docked ship.
Quick Answer
Dead Men Tell is a 1941 American comedy-mystery film directed by Harry Lachman about Charlie Chan investigating a murder linked to a divided pirate treasure map aboard a ship.
Programmer's Pick
Who needs a quiet cruise when you’ve got a talking parrot, a neurotic suspect, and a pirate’s ghost with a peg leg? Dead Men Tell delivers classic Charlie Chan intrigue with a salty, supernatural twist and more red herrings than a fish market.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Why This Matters
This film is part of Sidney Toler's long-running portrayal of Charlie Chan, a series that transitioned from 20th Century Fox to Monogram Pictures after the first eleven films. Its production also utilized the historic Fox Studios lot, now known as Century City.
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
A supposed ghostly visit from Black Hook, the infamous pirate ancestor, fuels both the suspense and the supernatural angle.
The treasure map is cleverly split into four pieces, turning everyone on board into a potential suspect—and a potential target.
A cast of suspects—escaped convicts, neurotics, and vengeful captains—keeps the whodunit guessing game lively on the Suva Star.
A chatty parrot adds a quirky touch to the mystery, sometimes helping and sometimes confusing the investigation.
Scene Gallery
Threat File
Attempted theft of the pirate map
Murder aboard the Suva Star and the ghostly threat of Black Hook
Death of Patience Nodbury and suspicion among passengers
Onboard the Suva Star sailing ship
Questions from the Vault
Who directed Dead Men Tell? +
Dead Men Tell was directed by Harry Lachman.
How long is Dead Men Tell? +
Dead Men Tell has a runtime of 61 minutes.
What genre is Dead Men Tell? +
Dead Men Tell is a comedy, crime, drama, mystery, and thriller film.
Where can I watch Dead Men Tell? +
Dead Men Tell is available to stream on SassyFlix.
Why does Patience Nodbury divide the treasure map into four pieces? +
Patience Nodbury splits the map into four parts to prevent a mysterious thief from stealing the entire thing, distributing pieces among herself and fellow passengers.
How does the 'ghost' of Black Hook influence events on the Suva Star? +
The appearance of a peg-legged 'ghost'—believed to be Black Hook—terrifies Nodbury and leads to her sudden death, setting off the central investigation.
