Writing

Charles S. Belden

Born April 21, 1904 · Montclair, New Jersey, USA

Died November 3, 1954 · aged 50

Charles Spencer Belden (April 21, 1904 – November 3, 1954) was an American screenwriter and journalist, known for writing screenplays to several Charlie Chan films in the 1930s, notably Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936). His 1932 short story "The Wax Works" served as the basis for the 1933 film Mystery of the Wax Museum. He was married to stage actress Beth Milton in the early 1930s and to actress …

Known For

House of WaxHouse of Wax · 2005
House of Wax
★ 6.02005
MovieHorrorThriller
A group of unwitting teens are stranded near a strange wax museum and soon must fight to survive and keep from becoming the next exhibit.
House of WaxHouse of Wax · 1953
House of Wax
★ 6.91953
MovieHorrorCrime
A sculptor opens a wax museum to showcase the likenesses of famous historical figures, but quickly runs into trouble when his business partner demands the exhibits become more extreme in order to increase profits.
We Have Our MomentsWe Have Our Moments · 1937
We Have Our Moments
★ 7.11937
MovieComedyMystery
A trio of American crooks board a ship bound for Europe, intending to get rid of $100,000 in stolen dough. With detective John Wade breathing down their necks, the crooks stash the loot in the trunk belonging to vacationing schoolmarm Mary Smith.
Dracula's DaughterDracula's Daughter · 1936
Dracula's Daughter
★ 6.01936
MovieHorror
A countess from Transylvania seeks a psychiatrist’s help to cure her vampiric cravings.
Mystery of the Wax MuseumMystery of the Wax Museum · 1933
Mystery of the Wax Museum
★ 6.51933
MovieHorrorMystery
A wax sculptor opens a new museum years after he is severely injured during a fire that destroyed his original collection. The disappearance of both people and corpses coincides with this grand reopening and leads a reporter to start investigating.
Mr. Moto's GambleMr. Moto's Gamble · 1938
Mr. Moto's Gamble
★ 6.41938
MovieMysteryComedy
Celebrated as supersleuth, Mr. Moto comes out fighting when a brutal boxing match turns into cold-blooded murder! Assisted by detective-in-training Lee Chan, Moto sets out to track down the killer based on a single ominous clue: a poisoned boxing glove! But when Moto's hunch points to a corrupt gambling syndicate, he's forced to wager his very life to unmask the culprit—or go down for the count...permanently!
Charlie Chan at the OperaCharlie Chan at the Opera · 1936
Charlie Chan at the Opera
★ 6.81936
MovieCrimeMystery
A dangerous amnesiac escapes from an asylum, hides in the opera house, and is suspected of getting revenge on those who tried to murder him 13 years ago.
Torchy Blane... Playing with DynamiteTorchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite · 1939
Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite
★ 6.81939
MovieActionCrime
Torchy Blane and Steve McBride try to nab a gangster by tracking his moll.

Filmography

Sort
Beauty and the BanditBeauty and the Bandit · 1946
Beauty and the Bandit
★ 6.31946
MovieRomanceWestern
In Old California, a young Frenchman transporting a chest full of silver travels by stagecoach to San Marino, to complete a complex business deal. The stagecoach is ambushed by a band of men whose leader, a mysterious bandido known as Cisco (Gilbert Roland), claims the silver is money that was extorted over a period of years from the poor people of California. The bandits take the money and escape, but Cisco stays behind with the Frenchman -- who, it turns out, is actually a lovely mademoiselle, Jeanne DuBois (Ramsay Ames). She follows him to the bandit's lair, where Cisco tells her he intends to return the stolen money to the poor people. The two rivals are irresistibly drawn to each other, however, and as a token of love Cisco offers to return the money to Jeanne instead. Now she must decide whether to complete her business deal, or to comply with Cisco's wishes and redistribute the wealth.

Screenplay