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 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.
Screenplays
Charles S. Belden was a prolific screenwriter. While most known for the House of Wax franchise, he wrote other screenplays and stories which were the basis for movies and TV shows.House of Wax Through the Ages. Diana Prince. March 31, 2021. Fangpria. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
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
References
External links
A rare photo of Charles S. Belden. Find A Grave. Retrieved 16 May 2025.