Charlie Chan beim Pferderennen

Thank you to RETRO TV for re-running the CHARLIE CHAN films with Warner Oland, the very best of the lot, and after many years in retirement. They deserve to be seen, especially for mystery buffs, young and old.

The perfect storm. It has it all; an exceptional plot, entertaining characters and Charlie's wise old sayings, best known as "Chan-O-Grams," to carefully weave the story together. Credit the famous team at Fox, Robert Ellis (a former silent film actor and director), and his wife, Helen Logan, for writing the bulk of these priceless whodunits.

The story starts on a ship, leaving Honolulu, on its way to California, with prize race horses set to compete in the famous Santa Juanita challenge. One of the horse's owners is killed (believed to have been kicked to death in the stall), setting off the mystery. A crafty ring of gamblers is behind the homicide, also pulling a clever switch with the horses. It's fun to see Charlie size up each of the suspects, and not to give too much away, but watch him closely as he seizes every move, every slight mannerism, which is fascinating.

Viewing this film a second time, actually fills in some holes. The dialogue, especially Charlie's wry exchanges with suspects, is priceless.

Keye Luke returns, always fun as Number One Son, actually helpful at times to Charlie, as you will see. Rounding out the cast are some fine actors; Alan Dinehart as Chester, Thomas "Tommy" Beck (as Bruce), Helen Wood (Alice), Gavin Muir and Jonathan Hale, playing Fenton. Hale would appear in three of the Chan films. Young Frankie Darro plays "Tip" Collins, a role he would become famous for (but really didn't play that many times), the jockey caught up in the deadly scheme.

Exceptionally directed by H. Bruce Humberstone, referred to as the father of the series, who also played a large part in keeping Warner Oland into character. Notes indicate he actually encouraged Oland to drink, who was in fact an alcoholic, to relax him --which apparently worked! It was often said Oland's very best performances were due to Humberstone, known as "Lucky." On the other side of the story, Oland subsequently fell asleep a lot, so to keep him alert, Bruce surrounded him with noisey extras!

Beautifully filmed at Santa Anita Race Track in Aecadia, CA. A historical note by itself.

Dedicated to all us ultimate mystery fans. Super dvd box set by Fox, also featuring "Charlie Chan at the Circus," "... at the Opera," and "... at the Olympics." Released 2006, rich with background material, remastered comparisons and interviews. Again, thanks to RETRO TV and their Friday afternoon mystery series.

This is one of my favorites of the Chan series! Keye Luke as Lee Chan gave his funniest performance, in my opinion. His blabbering in Chinese when being led out of Charlie's stateroom; his antics while the fireworks are going off; notice how hard he hits one of the bad guys over the head with the bottle prop - really whacks him! Although I didn't care for the way the "Streamline" character was treated by some of the other cast members, this entry is entertaining! One of Charlie's great quotes - "Frequent spanking when young make rear view very familiar!"

I always enjoy the byplay between Charlie Chan and his kids. Warner Oland was more loving to them in the early Chans while Sidney Toler was more insulting (but not in a mean-spirited way.)

In this episode, Oland lets Keye Luke get very involved in the case and Luke provides a number of laughs along the way.

This was an interesting script and had a decent number of action scenes along with it during the 70 minutes. There are some inventive twists to the story, regarding the crooks, too.

This is another Charlie Chan winner, and I am pleased to see it will be out on DVD in December.

This 'Charlie Chan' movie, like so many others, picks a background for its 'usual' complicated murder mystery that's very attractive and familiar for a lot of people: horse racing. The scent of the stables, the sight of the 'noble animals', as Charlie calls them, the excitement of the race itself - that alone must be enormously stimulating for a big part of the audience.

But, unfortunately, just like with prizefighting and so many other sports, along with horse racing many times comes - the gambling racket. Because there are millions at stake just for that great little moment when the first horse crosses the finishing line... And the great favorite of the season is 'Avalanche', who belongs to Charlie's old friend Major Kent. But, at the big Australian racing event, although he wins he is disqualified for a foul - which obviously was caused intentionally by his jockey. That makes Major Kent suspicious - and a few days later, during the sea voyage to the USA for the next big race, Kent is found dead, allegedly killed by his own horse's kicks; but Charlie Chan has got a different theory: murder!

Of course, there are lots of suspects and strange events that make the plot twist more and more; and besides, a whole gambling ring is a VERY powerful enemy... Will Charlie, with the help of 'number one son' Lee (who provides us with some magnificently comical scenes here, first as a ship's steward and then as a laundry boy!), be able to track down the racketeers AND to find his friend's murderer? A great, suspenseful, intricate mystery, with NO lack of entertainment whatsoever!

An interesting film with much in its favor, especially the team of Oland and Luke. I particularly like the scenes aboard ship en route from Honolulu to the mainland. Keye Luke has many funny scenes. A fair portion of the beginning of the film involves the other characters before Chan gets involved in the mystery. This makes it seem more like one of the Earl Derr Bigger's novels. This film makes a good double feature with the Marx Brothers' film, "A Day At The Races".