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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.

"Gee, Pop," Jimmy Chan says, "She doesn't look like a murderess." Number two son and his famous father share a table with the local police captain in a Rio nightclub, watching Lola Dean sing and dance—and waiting to arrest her for a murder back in Honolulu.

–Alas, Lola herself is murdered before they get the chance, and the Chans begin sorting through the usual suspects—a couple of romantic rivals, a secretary, a fiancé, a psychic who gives his clients spell-inducing cigarettes and also owns a recording machine….

A solid supporting cast fill their roles nicely, particularly Victor Jory as Marana, the psychic who offers his clients a "psychognosis" and is certainly up to something fishy. Kay Linaker also stands out as the purposeful personal secretary.

Sidney Toler and Sen Yung are excellent as usual as Charlie Chan and son Jimmy. The local policeman is played, as in multiple other Chan films, by Harold Huber—more restrained this time around, he's an actual detective rather than simple comic relief.

Iris Wong is cute as Lola's maid, Lili. Of course, Jimmy tries to impress her with his detective skills—"The case is in the bag. It's a cinch!"—and they have a little romance.

A memorable climax involves Mr. Chan volunteering to undergo Marana's coffee-and-cigarette hypnosis: Chan puffs and puffs, that little smile on his face, nothing happening, while the gathered suspects wait and wait….

No wasted motion in this one—short and sweet. The plot is unexceptional but the production and performances are absolutely solid: for simple entertainment value, this is one of the series' best.

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.

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.

I agree, there's lots of red herrings in this neat mystery, mixed with Charlie's famous Chan-O-Grams, or wise little sayings. What a super treat.

The story was based on the 1931 episode, THE BLACK CAMEL, starring Warner Oland, which would make a terrific double-feature. The only difference is the earlier Chan whodunit was shot on location in Hawaii. Here we have the Fox backlot, still atmospheric, and with an excellent cast.

Charlie is on the trail of singer Lola Dean, who supposedly murdered her fiancee in Honolulu, a two-timer married to another woman. The hunt takes him to picturesque Rio, only to find Lola stabbed to death and her expensive jewelry stolen. Writers Lester Ziffren, who wrote the later Chan mysteries, and Samuel G. Engel introduce some very curious suspects, which makes this a winner. Always fun trying to piece the puzzle together, and again, it's not EZ. Watch carefully.

Harold Huber returns to the series as the law, this time playing Rio police Chief Sauto (complete with accent). Beautiful Mary Beth Hughes (as Joan) has some of the best lines, or wise-cracks. Cobina Wright, who retired a few years after this film, plays Grace. By the way, co-star Ted North (Carlos), married Mary Beth Hughes a few years after this film.

Victor Jory is a standout, playing a hypnotist called Cardoza, armed with a secret recording device -- to get a confession? -- and spiked coffee and "funny" cigarettes to put the smoker under his spell. In a hilarious scene, Charlie fakes out Cardoza and smokes one of the joints(?), and with a goofy smile! Rounding out the cast is dramatic actor Truman Bradley (as Paul) and Hamilton MacFadden (Bill), who actually directed the 1931 film version.

Jimmy (Victor Sen yung) has another gal friend, played by actress Iris Wong, who appeared in two other Chan episodes. Iris was born in California and signed a short-term contract with Fox, later moving to Honolulu.

Fine direction by Harry Lachman, especially the "hypnotizing" scene with Jory. Lachman headed the later episodes, also a popular artist, leaving his trademark here.

Best dvd box set is by Fox, CC Volume 5, featuring CHARLIE CHANS MURDER CRUISE, CHARLIE CHAN IN PANAMA, MURDER OVER NEW YORK, CHARLIE CHAN AT THE WAX MUSEUM, DEAD MEN TELL and CASTLE IN THE DESERT. Stellar box set, complete with rare interviews and trailers. What a deal. Thanks so much to RETRO TV for adding this classic to their Friday afternoon mystery lineup.

This is my fifth review on consecutive days of a movie in the Charlie Chan series. It's also the first one of a partial remake of a previous one, which in this case was The Black Camel from 1931 which was the first I commented on. As in that one, Chan is investigating a woman who killed someone in the past just before she herself is murdered...One positive change from The Black Camel to this one is the setting from the detective's residence of Honolulu to the South American city of Rio de Janeiro where we get treated to a lush tropical setting with occasional dance numbers with South of the Border warbling. As always, Sidney Toler as Charlie with Victor Sen Yung as "Number 2 Son" Jimmy provide amusing banter. Jimmy himself here gets a love interest with a maid played by the arrestingly beautiful Iris Wong who had appeared in a couple of pictures in this series. Other returning veterans include Kay Linaker, Truman Bradley, Ann Codee, and Hamilton MacFadden who also was director on many past entries including the aforementioned Black Camel. Another player, Leslie Denison, would subsequently appear in a couple more Chan entries at Monogram. This was another highly entertaining flick of the creation of Earl Derr Biggers so on that note, I very much recommend Charlie Chan in Rio.

Good mystery film about the famous detective Charlie Chan. He's in Rio to put under arrest Lola. But she's murdered before he can arrest her. Interesting murder case follows and like other Charlie Chan's movies, an array of suspects are in the room. Everybody seems to have a perfect alibi.

Good performance by Victor Sen Yung who plays Number Two Son. Toler is once again good in the role of Charlie Chan. Funny remarks here and there punctuate the script. Like this one: «This is very exciting». The lady to answer: «So is parachute jumping, but I don't like it».

Like other films in the series, lights go out for a second or two and there's one dead person!

Out of 100, I gave it 77. That's **½ on a four stars rating system.

Seen at home in Welland on VHS. Marko Roy - May 13th, 2001.

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.

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.

This film is a remake of the Warner Oland film, "The Black Camel". This is a short, at one hour, fun film. But it doesn't compare to the original. We do get to see Jimmy Chan dance in a night club in the opening. Victor Jory has the role played by Bela Lugosi in the original. Harold Huber is another police detective. It's good. But see "The Black Camel" first.

For a man so respectful of the old ways, he does find himself in some unlikely places - like a dance hall in Rio de Janeiro! And personally, if I saw him anywhere I'd leave quickly because you just know that someone is about to drop dead, too. He's there with No.2 son "Jimmy" (Victor Sen Yung) and local policeman "Suoto" (Harold Huber) on the trail of the dodgy singer "Lola" whom our sleuth believes killed her lover back in Hawaii. Sparing her blushes, he hopes to follow her to her apartment and arrest her there - but some sinister forces are afoot and by the time they arrive, she's a goner. There are no shortage of clues as he must try to filter through the evidence and the red herrings to get to the truth. Whilst pop is doing his detecting, the young "Jimmy" is falling in love with the maid "Lili" (Iris Wong) - that is, when he's not accusing just about everyone and coming up with a constant stream of prognostications that are all as daft as the other. The theme of this story includes some quite enjoyable hypnotising, with a sip of coffee and a suitably laced cigarette exposing the victim to a slew of truths that might elicit a confession - but to everything from murder to dodging maths class! The "Rio" aspect really just allows for some different costumes and a few Hispanic accents, otherwise it's all standard fayre - but I did enjoy it.

The classic whodunnit with all kinds of interesting character actors posing as suspects. A woman is murdered. She has been seen by a psychic-psychologist who uses caffeine and special cigarettes to make her tell the truth about having committed a murder. There are clues all over the place and Chan, his son, and a police detective attempt to get to the bottom of things. While so much of the byplay among a group of socialites is interesting, I can't take my mind off the cigarette thing. No one commenting on this seems to be wary of such a thing. What are these cigarettes? If they don't exist in some context, then the whole plot is, as number one son says, "Hooey!" I was interested to see Truman Bradley appear. He was the host of "Science Fiction Theater" which was one of my favorite shows as a child. Victor Jory is also in this as the aforementioned psychic. Good cast. Good acting. Cigarettes..........

Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) is in Rio de Janeiro to arrest a woman suspected of killing a man in Honolulu. When the woman is murdered, Charlie must investigate along with "Number Two Son" Jimmy (Victor Sen Yung). Pretty much a remake of The Black Camel. Adorable Iris Wong is fun as the murdered woman's maid. Her scenes with Jimmy are the movie's highlights. Harold Huber makes his last Charlie Chan appearance. Toler and Sen Yung are good as usual. Rest of the cast includes Victor Jory, Kay Linaker, and Hamilton MacFadden (who directed The Black Camel, interestingly enough). It's a pleasant and enjoyable entry in the series. Not one of the best or worst. This is the second-to-last Chan film at Fox before the dreadful Monogram series begins.

As the title implies, Earl Derr Biggers' master detective, Charlie Chan, is in Rio de Janeiro to arrest a murderess. Sidney Toler is in top form as Chan who, along with his Number Two Son, finds that the murderess he is after is herself murdered before he can detain her. The clues are in place and the suspects are gathered and Charlie must go to work. The film is breezy and quick to its conclusion, so that within its 62 minute running time, the solution is at hand. In this particular Chan film, the case is neatly presented with that added touch of humor, such as Charlie smoking a laced cigarette.

Sidney Toler as Chan is in Rio to arrest Lola Dean for murder. Before he can do it, she is stabbed in the back, but why and by whom? Sen Yung playing his No. 2 son Jimmy and a straight Harold Huber as the `Delgado' or Chief of Police of Rio aid Chan.

The action in this who-done-it comes at a fast but steady pace without a lot of character development. There are plenty of misleading clues left by the real murderer and the writers. Unfortunately this is one of those films that the detective knows much more than the viewer thus denying us the ability to solve the full mystery along with Chan. `Long experience teach until murderer found, suspect everybody…'

As in some other Chan films, the names of the characters do not match their on-screen roles. Ted North clearly plays the part of Clark Denton yet is credited at the end with having played Carlos Dantas. We leave Charlie in Rio having just opened a communication from his wife telling Jimmy that he has been drafted in the military. `Good policy to have murderer consider detective dope.' Fair and just barely recommended.

As others have pointed out, this is a remake of The Black Camel, which itself was one of the original Chan stories by Biggers. If you've seen the earlier film, then of course you know the twist by which this one is solved - which of course is very disappointing. Were people really not paying attention between the two versions of this story? Harold Huber gets to play a policeman straight this time, which is a big improvement over the usual clowning he was required to do in other Chans. Son Jimmy intrudes on the story too much for me, as usual, but doesn't express the worst of his pop-eyed hammyness in this one. There's not much Rio here, as others have complained, but this is a B movie, not a travelogue. The ladies are lovely, there's a musical number, and Jimmy gets an action scene near the end. All in all, quite good.