Charlie Chan in Rio

in Rio, but a really well thought out Chan film. A very interesting and familiar array of characters.One can almost feel the breeze coming in off the S.Atlantic.One of the better films for Jimmy Chan (Victor Sen Yung).It's easy to watch over again.

Despite my summary, I DID like this film. It's just that despite its title, the film looked like they stuck in some stock footage and everyone in the film spoke English. Plus, oddly, the Brazilian police inspector spoke MUCH better English than Charlie--he remembered to use all his definite articles (such as 'the')! This isn't a major problem about the film, but it is kind of funny.

The plot involves the murder of a woman who is already wanted for murder. The rest of the film is just about what you'd expect from a Charlie Chan film made by FOX--Charlie's son (in this case #2) is a bumbling and obnoxious assistant, there are twists and turns and many different suspects, and in the end, Chan catches the murderer. No major surprises, but it was a bit odd seeing the wonderful magic potion developed by the psychic--just smoke one of his special cigarettes, drink a bit of coffee and you almost instantly fall asleep and tell the truth! If only this were true--imagine the fun you could have with your friends! This is a completely average outing for the series--not bad, nor especially compelling. For fans, it is pretty much what they'd expect and for the non-Chan fans out there, probably not enough to make them love the series.

Globe-trotting Charlie winds up in Rio for this so-so entry. It's an uncommonly attractive cast and a lively, well-produced first half, before the pace slows down during the sleuthing second half. Being in Rio gives Hollywood a chance to sample the South American rhythms popular at the time, and the ladies a chance to model high-fashion wear, circa 1941.

Note presence of New York débutante Cobina Wright, the Paris Hilton of her day, as Grace, the statuesque adversary of the brassy, low-class Mary Beth Hughes. Their nightclub spats amount to versions of the class struggle over proper table etiquette. And, of course, where there's Chan Sr. there's going to be a Chan Jr. Here Sen Young's sometimes silly Jimmy Chan nonetheless pairs up with the charming Iris Wong to make the proverbially cute couple.

The mystery involves a dead nightclub performer, a slick-talking swami (Victor Jory), a cup of coffee, and a funny looking cigarette. Note how Charlie is ably assisted by the captain of the Rio police (Harold Huber). Usually the cops of the period were depicted as bumbling, at best, or comically foolish, at worst. But with WWII on the horizon, South America became an important sphere of influence, and the captain is treated with unusual respect. In passing, something should be said about the dewy-eyed Kay Linaker as the personal assistant. She died just a short time ago. This programmer shows what a lovely and capable screen presence she was. Her career may never have made the big time, but the big-time talent was definitely there.

Recommended for guys who like to ogle well-upholstered girls.

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.

I've just seen Charlie Chan in Rio for the first time and found it enjoyable like all of the Chan movies I've seen.

In this one, Chan and his No 2 son are in Rio to arrest a murderer but she is then murdered herself, so he leads the investigation for this. After gathering clues including drugged cigarettes, the murderer is revealed...

This includes a couple of rather catchy songs and No 2 son learning to dance.

Charlie Chan is played well by Sidney Toler and is joined by Sen Young, Richard Derr and Victor Jory.

If you like a gold old mystery, then you will like this. Excellent.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5.