Charles Belden

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. 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 Joan Marsh who had starred in Charlie Chan on Broadway (1937), from 1938 to 1943. He was born in Montclair, New Jersey, and died in the Motion Picture Country Hospital, Los Angeles, at the age of 50.

Movies based on his screenplays or stories:

House of Wax (2005) story

Waterfront (1954) TV Series, teleplay by, writer, 3 episodes

Mr. & Mrs. North (1952) TV Series. written by (as Charles S. Belden), 1954, 2 episodes

House of Wax (1953) story

The Stu Erwin Show (1950) TV Series, teleplay, screenplay, 1951–1953, 4 episodes

Hopalong Cassidy (1952) TV Series, screenplay, 2 episodes

Racket Squad (1950) TV Series, teleplay, written by, 1951–1952, 7 episodes

The Ford Television Theatre (1952) TV Series, story

Mark Saber (1951) TV Series, written by

The Ford Theatre Hour (1948) TV Series, play, 1951

Double Deal (1950), screen play

Million Dollar Weekend (1948), screenplay

Borrowed Trouble (1948), original screenplay

Silent Conflict (1948), original screenplay

The Marauders (1947), original screenplay

Beauty and the Bandit (1946), original screenplay

South of Monterey (1946), screenplay

The Gay Cavalier (1946), original story and screenplay

The Strange Mr. Gregory (1945), writer

Bullet Scars (1942), based on an idea by

Sing Your Worries Away (1942), idea

Tear Gas Squad (1940), writer

Kid Nightingale (1939), screen play by

On Dress Parade (1939), writer (uncredited)

Playing with Dynamite (1939), screen play

Charlie Chan in Honolulu (1938), original screenplay

One Wild Night (1938), screenplay

Mr. Moto's Gamble (1938), original screenplay

Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo (1937), screen play

Charlie Chan on Broadway (1937), screen play

San Quentin (1937), contributor to treatment (uncredited)

We Have Our Moments (1937), original story

God's Country and the Woman (1937), story

Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936), screen play

Dracula's Daughter (1936), contributing writer (uncredited)

The Murder of Dr. Harrigan (1936), dialogue

The Widow from Monte Carlo (1935), writer

A Shot in the Dark (1935), adaptation, screenplay

Symphony of Living (1935), story and adaptation (as Charles Spencer Belden)

Sons of Steel (1934), adaptation, story

June Collyer in The Ghost Walks (1934), screen play

The World Accuses (1934), adaptation, story

Fugitive Road (1934), story and screenplay

Fifteen Wives (1934), story and screenplay

Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933), from the story by

A Fool's Advice (1932), screenplay