Charlie Chan at the Race Track (1936)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

H. Bruce Humberstone

Writers:

Lou Breslow (story)
Saul Elkins (story)

Release Date:

14 August 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Sport | Thriller

Plot:

When a friend of Charlie's is found kicked to death by his own race horse on board a Honolulu-bound liner, the detective discovers foul play and uncovers an international gambling ring.

Plot Keywords:

Horse Stall | Thoroughbred | Detective | Murderer | Steamship

Cast

Warner Oland	...	Charlie Chan
Keye Luke	...	Lee Chan
Helen Wood	...	Alice Fenton
Thomas Beck	...	Bruce Rogers
Alan Dinehart	...	George Chester
Gavin Muir	...	Bagley
Gloria Roy	...	Catherine Chester
Jonathan Hale	...	Warren Fenton
G.P. Huntley	...	Denny Barton (as G.P. Huntley Jr.)
George Irving	...	Major Gordon Kent
Frank Coghlan Jr.	...	Eddie Brill, Jockey
Frankie Darro	...	'Tip' Collins, Jockey
John Rogers	...	Mooney, Ship Cabin Steward
John Henry Allen	...	'Streamline' Jones
Harry Jans	...	Al Meers

Runtime:

70 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #2353) | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Santa Anita Park - 285 West Huntington Drive, Arcadia, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Director Cameo: [H. Bruce Humberstone]The director has a small uncredited role as the gambler who causes the Chans to be kidnapped.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the climactic race begins, only half of the horses announced (Gringo, Wild Bill, Shrapnel, Gallant Lad, Golden Fleece, Elsie Lee, Avalanche, Hold Away) match the names seen earlier on the odds board (Golden Fleece, Money Maker, Shrapnel, Blue Boy, Court Jester, Gallant Lad, Avalanche, Pico).

Quotes:

Charlie Chan: Root of tree lie in many directions.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in AFI's 100 Years, 100 Thrills: America's Most Heart-Pounding Movies (2001) (TV)

An interesting film with much in its favor.

An interesting film with much in its favor, especially the team of Oland and Luke. I particularly like the scenes aboard ship en route from Honolulu to the mainland. Keye Luke has many funny scenes. A fair portion of the beginning of the film involves the other characters before Chan gets involved in the mystery. This makes it seem more like one of the Earl Derr Bigger's novels. This film makes a good double feature with the Marx Brothers' film, "A Day At The Races".