Charlie Chan in Shanghai (1935)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

James Tinling

Writers:

Earl Derr Biggers (character)
Gerard Fairlie (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 October 1935 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

AND NOW YOU SEE HIM IN CHINA! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

When a prominent official is murdered at a banquet honoring Charle Chan, the detective and son Lee team up to expose an opium-smuggling ring.

Plot Keywords:

Shanghai | Banquet | Police Commissioner | Charlie Chan | Kidnapping

Cast

Warner Oland	...	Charlie Chan
Irene Hervey	...	Diana Woodland
Jon Hall	...	Philip Nash (as Charles Locher)
Russell Hicks	...	James Andrews
Keye Luke	...	Lee Chan
Halliwell Hobbes	...	Colonel Watkins, police commissioner
Frederick Vogeding	...	Ivan Marloff (mistakenly listed as 'Burke' in on-screen credits) (as Frederik Vogeding)
Neil Fitzgerald	...	Dakin - Colonel Watkins' Aide
Max Wagner	...	Taxi Driver Henchman

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #1255)

Company:

Fox Film Corporation

Goofs:

Continuity: Frederick Vogeding's character is called Ivan Marloff in the actual movie, but is listed as 'Burke' in the credits for some reason.

Quotes:

Colonel Watkins, police commissioner: The evidence is as clear as the nose on your face.
Charlie Chan: Owner of nose cannot always see nose.

Movie Connections:

References Oil for the Lamps of China (1935)

P.C. meters should be re-calibrated for 30's films

Hi there all you IMDb reviewers. Aren't we having fun? I just watched 'Charlie Chan in Shanghai' for about the 4th time. For some reason, I just love these 30's films. Silly, isn't it? Looking at the previous reviews, I don't recall any mentions of Irene Hervey. I think she's a real dish. She has one of those mouths that stays slightly open unless she consciously closes it - suggesting open-mouthed kisses are almost guaranteed. I looked at her filmography and was surprised to see that she had a very long and full career - surprised I was, because her name is not a household word. One of the things about this movie that I think is funny is the ending. Warner says to Keye that he can go back to the hotel and make one "female telephone call" (he can call his girlfriend) - Keye says "Thank you - so much", and Warner waves his hand like - "let's forget you said that". Does anybody know whether Warner and Keye got along well? Their greetings in these films seem so heartfelt. But, of course, they're actors, so who knows? I watched the very first Charlie Chan movie, which has an actual Chinese person as Charlie Chan. He is, in my opinion, boring. Perhaps Hollywood made an attempt to find a Chinese person to play Charlie Chan, but was unable to find anyone charismatic enough. Yes, Warner's portrayal undoubtedly sickens present-day Chinese, but they should recognize that he represented the Chinese to a credulous 30's American audience as a highly intelligent, globally respected person, and in the process undoubtedly created a positive impression of the Chinese at a time when they were under attack by the Japanese - perhaps that's what Hollywood had in mind.