Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936)

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

Photos (see all 6 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   901 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Writers:
Charles Belden (writer)
Scott Darling (writer)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Charlie Chan at the Opera on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
21 April 1937 (Denmark) more
Tagline:
A fiendish killer lurks at the opera! Weird! Thrilling! The Master Minds of Crime Match Wits Against Each Other!
Plot:
A dangerous amnesiac escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the opera house to wreak revenge on those who tried to murder him seven years earlier. full summary | add synopsis
User Comments:
`Gravelle sings tonight!' more

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Warner Oland ... Charlie Chan

Boris Karloff ... Gravelle
Keye Luke ... Lee Chan
William Demarest ... Sergeant Kelly
Guy Usher ... Inspector Regan
Margaret Irving ... Mme. Lilli Rochelle
Gregory Gaye ... Enrico Borelli
Nedda Harrigan ... Mme. Lucretia Borelli
Frank Conroy ... Mr. Whitely
Charlotte Henry ... Kitty Rochelle
Thomas Beck ... Phil Childers
Maurice Cass ... Mr. Arnold
Tom McGuire ... Pop Morris - Stage Doorman
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
68 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)
Certification:
Finland:K-16 | USA:Unrated

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Filmed on standing sets left over from _Cafe Metropole (1937)_ with 'Tyrone Power (I)' and Loretta Young. more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When they characters are all gathered in the dressing room after the murders and they are questioning Childers, he says he knew Madame Barelli well. What he actually meant to say Madame Rochelle (or Madame Lilli as she was being referred to). more
Quotes:
Charlie Chan: Small things sometimes tell large story. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked (2000) (V) more
Soundtrack:
Ah, Romantic Love Dream more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
3 out of 6 people found the following comment useful:-
`Gravelle sings tonight!', 16 May 2002
8/10
Author: Jim Tritten from Corrales, NM

Perhaps the best of the Warner Oland Chan series with honorable detective exposing the real killer of operatic duo. The obvious suspect is Boris Karloff who excels in his role of Gravelle -- an escapee from the Rockland State Sanitarium one dark and stormy night. Although Karloff certainly does not actually sing (neither do the other credited members of the cast) extracts from the opera `Carnival' brings an unusual quality to this well-directed and well-acted mystery. Karloff in his Mephisto costume is most impressive.

As in most Chan films, the viewer cannot but guess the outcome since key facts are known only to the detective and not shown to the audience. If you know that about these films, you expect it and should not be irritated. Although Chan announces that he only has 30 minutes to solve the crimes, he will do so in around 18 without violence and without being he object of the murderous attention of his quarry: `Man who ride on merry-go-round often enough finally catch brass ring.' Ignore the minor errors such as apparent dubbing of two female vocalists by either the same soprano or two singers with remarkably similar sounds.

William Demarest does excellent job as Sergeant Kelly before being better known as Uncle Charlie in the TV series `My Three Sons.' No. 1 son Lee gets to act in suit of armor. All-Chinese group of soldiers in opera cast provides racially motivated comic relief. Lee Fong, an extra in that group, will later appear as No. 3 son Tommy in later Chan films. Sit back and enjoy a good solid mystery and be surprised in the end. Recommended. `Case now closed.'

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936)

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo Charlie Chan at the Olympics Charlie Chan on Broadway Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.