IMDb > Charlie Chan at the Circus (1936)

Charlie Chan at the Circus (1936) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   697 votes
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Director:
Harry Lachman
Writers:
Earl Derr Biggers (character)
Robert Ellis (writer)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Charlie Chan at the Circus on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
27 March 1936 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller more
Plot:
While visiting the circus with his family, Charlie is recruited by the big top's co-owner to investigate threatening letters that he's received. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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User Comments:
Murder At The Big Top more (19 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)
Warner Oland ... Charlie Chan
Keye Luke ... Lee Chan
George Brasno ... Colonel Tim
Olive Brasno ... Lady Tiny
Francis Ford ... John Gaines
Maxine Reiner ... Marie Norman
John McGuire ... Hal Blake
Shirley Deane ... Louise Norman
Paul Stanton ... Joe Kinney
J. Carrol Naish ... Tom Holt
Boothe Howard ... Dan Farrell
Drue Leyton ... Nellie Farrell
Wade Boteler ... Lt. Macy
Shia Jung ... Su Toy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Han Hsiang Li ... Chan Son
Lily Mui ... Second Youngest Daughter
Stanton Mui ... Chan Son
John Aasen ... Giant Man (uncredited)
John Dilson ... Doctor (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum ... Mike (ticket taker) (uncredited)
Faye Lee ... Chan Daughter (uncredited)
Annie Mar ... Mrs. Chan (uncredited)
Paul McVey ... Ringmaster (uncredited)
Richard Ung ... Charlie Chan's son (uncredited)
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Directed by
Harry Lachman 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Earl Derr Biggers  character
Robert Ellis  writer
Helen Logan  writer

Produced by
John Stone .... associate producer
 
Original Music by
David Buttolph (uncredited)
 
Cinematography by
Daniel B. Clark 
 
Film Editing by
Alex Troffey 
 
Art Direction by
Duncan Cramer 
 
Costume Design by
William Lambert 
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Eckhardt .... assistant director
 
Sound Department
Arthur von Kirbach .... sound
 
Music Department
Samuel Kaylin .... musical director
Samuel Kaylin .... composer: stock music (uncredited)
Alfred Newman .... composer: stock music (uncredited)
 

Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
72 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)
Certification:
UK:A (original rating) | UK:U (DVD rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #1978) | USA:Unrated (video & dvd release)
Filming Locations:
El Monte, California, USA
Company:
Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Actor Keye Luke reportedly conflicted with director Harry Lachman over the latter's treatment of the circus midgets in the movie. more
Quotes:
Charlie Chan: Free ticket to circus like gold ring on merry-go-round - make enjoyment double. more
Movie Connections:
Followed by Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981) more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
Murder At The Big Top, 11 June 2008
6/10
Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

Even the most dedicated of sleuths likes an occasional day off and Warner Oland as Charlie Chan wanted just such a day to spend with his family at the circus. But it actually turns out that one of the partners who owned the circus had hired him to look into some veiled threats he'd been receiving from unknown sources.

So the Chan family, all 14 of them, go to the circus and wouldn't you know it, the guy who hires Charlie winds up murdered. And Charlie's got a whole circus full of suspects.

Oland enters the case at the behest of the performers, especially two midgets played by George and Olive Brasno. The police are holding the circus up until the murder is solved, but that in itself will bankrupt the show if they miss scheduled dates.

It was nice to see Charlie on a family outing even if he couldn't escape the need for his services. As usual Keye Luke is the bumptious number one son who Charlie has to keep dispensing fortune cookie wisdom all the time to.

This is a good, if average entry in the Charlie Chan series.

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