museumofdave
Although primitive in some ways, this is one of the better Charlie Chan mysteries for many reasons--the main one, perhaps, is that this viewer did not easily deduce the identity of the murderer until late in the film. It also presents Chan as a figure of no little dignity, especially when confronted with a slammed door, or a racial slur, or assumptions that he is ignorant. "Excuse, please," says Charlie Chan, and through methodical thinking and quiet assurance, proves himself completely able to do what others cannot. Another reason I enjoyed this film is the absence of stupid humor crammed into the later films, gag stuff that plays down to the audience or featuring funny characters that are not funny, such as Harold Huber in City of Darkness, on screen far too long and insufferable. For Chan fans, this one is a keeper
Michael O'Keefe
Eugene J. Forde directs this Charlie Chan crime thriller. What seems to be too much evidence puts a young Englishman behind bars and with three days before being hanged, his sister and her fiancé convince the renown oriental detective Chan(Warner Oland)to find the real killer. Charlie works with a Scotland Yard counterpart Sgt. Thacker(E.E. Clive),who for some reason keeps referring to "Mr. Chang" throughout the movie. Kind hearted Chan overlooks this as real clues are mysterious and he himself is almost killed. Needless to say the weekend at a fabulous country estate is quite eventful. Supporting cast features: Drue Leyton, Ray Milland, Alan Mowbray, Mona Barrie, George Barraud and Douglas Walton.
Spondonman
Chronologically it's the 2nd Chan film extant after Black Camel, 4 others remain lost - Charlie is either getting into his stride in this or had already done so previously! The formula was in place, all they had to do from now on was reprise it with variations a couple of times a year. Whenever on TV in the past it always appeared murky to me but the copy I've just seen was pristine, with an astonishingly clear soundtrack.Paul Gray is incarcerated in Pentonville for murder but in a few days time is to hang his sister believes him innocent, and apparently so does Charlie as he postpones his voyage to Honolulu to help them out. When arriving at the country house in Retfordshire where the deed was done he finds himself up against a wall of suspicious British stereotypes, ranging from Cockney idiots and brusque snobs to out and out racists, which of course he continually uses to his advantage in his unravelling of the case. And he unravels it perfectly, with a plethora of marvellous aphorisms and red herrings, but as so often had to happen also with a fool-the-murderer-into-finally-exposing-him/herself denouement.Swedish Warner Oland gave a wonderfully urbane performance as usual as the Chinese detective. Sadly as time goes on it's shown less and less on TV, partly because the schedulers who may not want to offend Chinese sensibilities also prefer to show violent and deviant films to the public instead, and partly because the public want it that way too. Hunt a copy down and revel in it!
gazzo-2
I had fun with this. Like 'Chan in Egypt' and '..in Paris', it's early sound, it's creaky, it's filled w/ some over-acting(dig the scared blonde limey maid), it's slow.It's also interesting, centered around a involving, well-plotted mystery, and of course, one of the great characters of the thirties-Charlie Chan. This time he's in London to try and save a man on death row, he has 3 days to beat the hangman's noose. He does, but barely.I enjoyed watching Oland work. I have no problem w/ him as the Chinese detective, though he is quite obviously Swedish. (As a fan of Charles Bronson, I know-you can see Chuck playing scads of Apaches or Mexicans in his earlier movies. He was Lithuanian. I don't see the difference, to be honest-if it's okay for Bunchinsky to play Apache Warrior #2, it's okay for Oland to play Chan, you know?) The bad guy you won't spot that early on, either. I thought that the suspense was well handled, heck they even trot out the red-herring 'Butler did it' routine, the gathering all the likely suspects into one room, etc etc. Hits all of those clichés head on. And knows what to do with them, too.Do check this out if you are a fan of the series, or mysteries from the era.*** outta ****
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