bensonmum2
Charlie Chan travels to Rio to arrest a woman wanted for murder in Honolulu. But before he can take her into custody, she's murder. As is usual for a Chan film, there are no shortage of suspects.Charlie Chan in Rio is another nice entry in the series. The mystery itself may be a little run of the mill, but it's fun enough to watch Chan get to the truth. I will say, however, that this one doesn't play fair, with Chan privy to information not available to the viewer. But then again, I suppose that's the case with most of these movies. Highlights for me include: a nice cast (especially Victor Jory, Mary Beth Hughes, and Kay Linaker), rock solid cinematography, and excellent lighting. I've recently watched several 30s and 40s B mysteries and have really noticed these movies are not created equal. A big studio B looks a million times better than its Poverty Row counterpart. Overall, a solid 7/10 from me.One more thing before I end this, I've complained in the past about the comic relief provided by Victor Sen Yung's Jimmy Chan. In Charlie Chan in Rio, some of it actually works. His wooing of Lili is even tolerable. I also appreciate that Harold Hubert's comedy was toned down. He's downright annoying at times in Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo.
Lechuguilla
The film gets off to a good start with some nice south-of-the-border music and atmosphere, set in a Rio nightclub. Here we meet the future murder-ee and most of the suspects. Eventually, the plot shifts to a spacious mansion, where a party for the murder-ee brings forth all the nightclub suspects plus a couple of others.The story gives us an interesting puzzle. Despite the large number of suspects, (approx. nine), I correctly guessed the identity of the killer, but for the wrong reason. Clues are rather subtle, which is good. To correctly guess both the murderer and the motivation, a viewer will need to employ his or her powers of inference. A cigarette, a cup of coffee, and the sharp pin of a lady's broach give Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) what he needs to solve the case. But the clues do not explain the killer's motivation.B&W visuals are quite good. But there are no menacing shadows, nor are there other elements that create spine-tingling suspense. Casting is acceptable, as is most of the acting. Prod design is more detailed here than in other Chan films.In addition to lack of suspense, another problem is the presence of some filler scenes involving number 2 son Jimmy Chan. I suppose he's included for comic relief. But he overacts. And I find him annoying.Jimmy Chan aside, "Charlie Chan In Rio" makes for a pleasant way to spend an hour, as the production values and story are pretty good.
blanche-2
With performers like Carmen Miranda and Cesar Romero on its roster, and with Don Ameche, Linda Darnell, and Tyrone Power looking as if they could be from South America, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, etc., Fox did lots of films purportedly set in these exotic locales. "Charlie Chan in Rio" from 1941 is one of these, though a lot of stock footage is used to give the illusion of actually being in Rio.Charlie and son Jimmy are in Rio and go to a nightclub with the police chief to arrest a nightclub singer, Lola Dean. Dean is suspected of killing her married lover in Honolulu. Charlie decides it would be better to arrest her at home. However, she is found dead, and her jewels have been stolen.As usual, there are too many suspects, among them a man (Victor Jory) who does prognostics, a sort of mystical mind-reading, Lola's wealthy fiancée, a woman in love with said fiancée, a no-nonsense friend (Mary Beth Hughes) and her boyfriend, Lola's ex-husband, and a butler.It falls to Charlie to sort all this out, but along the way he and the police chief have a little fun with Jimmy, questioning under the mystic's potion, which puts his subject under hypnosis. Why did he fail math? It was too early to get up in the morning for class.It seems not only Lola had a secret in her past -- there's plenty else to be learned.Good fun, with a cute ending.
bkoganbing
Although 20th Century Fox even gave Harry Warren and Mack Gordon an opportunity for an original song in Charlie Chan In Reno, the plot is recycled from The Black Camel the second film of the Charlie Chan series that starred Warner Oland ten years earlier. The plot has Charlie and son Victor Sen Yung in Rio DeJaneiro on an extradition charge to arrest and bring Jacqueline Dalya back to Honolulu to face a murder rap.Dalya is a singer in a Rio nightclub and Sidney Toler and Brazilian police inspector Harold Huber decide to let her finish her act and arrest her at her home. But when they get there she's already been stabbed to death with several guests already there for a dinner party.Which gives Toler a whole house full of suspects of both sexes. Apparently Dalya played around a lot and she's got some jealous women and men whom they're jealous over.I won't say who did it, but it does go back to the case that Toler is in Rio on.This was the next to last film in the Charlie Chan series that 20th Century Fox did and clearly they were running out of ideas and interest in the series. Charlie after one more picture would be doing his sleuthing for Monogram with much reduced production values even from a B picture at a major studio.Still this one should satisfy Charlie's fans.
AD
