Of the five Warner Oland Charlie Chan films based on the original Earl Derr Biggers novels, only this one still survives. The other four are believed to have been lost in one of two fires, one in the 1930s and the other in the 1960s.
Warner Oland's second appearance as Chan, and the only entry shot on location in Honolulu, in April-May 1931.
The unsolved murder of the Hollywood actor, which is an important plot point, was inspired by the unsolved murder of director William Desmond Taylor in 1922.
Co-star Bela Lugosi became a star (courtesy of "Dracula") during the year "The Black Camel" was released.
The second of three Chans directed by Hamilton MacFadden, who also appeared in three. McFadden also began directing a fourth, "Charlie Chan in Paris" (1935) but was terminated after a week on set.