Charlie Chan at the Race Track (1936)

Director:

H. Bruce Humberstone

Writers:

Earl Derr Biggers (character)
Lou Breslow (story)
(more)

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sidney Bracey	...	Ship's Steward (uncredited)
Wally Dean	...	Race Judge (uncredited)
James Eagles	...	Chick Patten (uncredited)
Robert Ellsworth	...	Cop (uncredited)
Eddie Fetherston	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Sammy Finn	...	Gangster (uncredited)
Neil Fitzgerald	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Paul Fix	...	Lefty (uncredited)
James Flavin	...	Detective at headquarters (uncredited)
Sam Flint	...	Ship's Captain (uncredited)
J.C. Fowler	...	Race Judge (uncredited)
Jack Green	...	Pinkerton Man (uncredited)
Ray Hanson	...	Third Officer (uncredited)
Eddie Hart	...	Detective (uncredited)
Sam Hayes	...	Radio Announcer (uncredited)
Holmes Herbert	...	Chief Steward, Melbourne Cup (uncredited)
Lew Hicks	...	Cop (uncredited)
Robert Homans	...	Judge (uncredited)
Boothe Howard	...	Ship's Doctor (uncredited)
H. Bruce Humberstone	...	Gambler (uncredited)
Selmer Jackson	...	J.L. Lansing, Racing Secretary (uncredited)
Jerry Jerome	...	Chuck (uncredited)
Colin Kenny	...	Judge (uncredited)
Al Kikume	...	Plainclothes Policeman in white suit (uncredited)
Wilbur Mack	...	Bookie (uncredited)
George Magrill	...	Detective (uncredited)
Clyde McAtee	...	Pinkerton Man (uncredited)
Tom McGuire	...	Track Official (uncredited)
Art Miles	...	Railbird (uncredited)
Ivan Miller	...	Wade (uncredited)
Lucille Miller	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Bruce Mitchell	...	Gateman (uncredited)
Jack Mulhall	...	Second purser (uncredited)
William Oakley	...	Seaman (uncredited)
Pat O'Malley	...	Track Official (uncredited)
Cyril Ring	...	Race Track Extra (uncredited)
Leslie Sketchley	...	Seaman (uncredited)
Larry Steers	...	Railbird (uncredited)
Harry Strang	...	Detective (uncredited)
Bobby Tanzel	...	Gilroy (uncredited)
Forrest Taylor	...	Man who says 'I'll phone Al' (uncredited)
David Thursby	...	Steward (uncredited)
Harland Tucker	...	Joe, Gangster (uncredited)
Max Wagner	...	Joe (uncredited)
Robert Warwick	...	Police Chief (uncredited)
Billy Wayne	...	Smithers (uncredited)
Charles Williams	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Norman Willis	...	Gangster (uncredited)
David Worth	...	Detective (uncredited)

Directed by
H. Bruce Humberstone

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Earl Derr Biggers		character
Lou Breslow		story
Saul Elkins		story
Robert Ellis		writer
Helen Logan		writer
Edward T. Lowe Jr.		writer (as Edward T. Lowe)

Produced by
John Stone	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Samuel Kaylin

Cinematography by
Harry Jackson

Film Editing by
Nick DeMaggio

Art Direction by
Duncan Cramer

Costume Design by
Herschel McCoy

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Aaron Rosenberg	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Alfred Bruzlin	....	sound
Harry M. Leonard	....	sound

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1936) (USA) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)

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:

The fifteenth of forty-seven Charlie Chan movies starring Warner Oland.

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:

Warren Fenton: Any progress yet?
Charlie Chan: Long road sometimes shortest way to end of journey.

Movie Connections:

Follows Charlie Chan's Greatest Case (1933)

A better than usual plot helps this Charlie Chan film to be more than just a time-passer

This film begins with Chan in Honolulu giving a forensics lecture to policemen. However, Lee Chan (Charlie's "Number One Son") interrupts to announce that "the big race is about to begin and I've got a hot tip"--at which point all the cops turn on the radio and begin cheering. Oddly, the race is being held in Australia and I find it hard to believe the people in Hawaii would care THAT much! Later, when the horse is on its way to the West Coast of the US, the ship with the horse is met by Charlie Chan since the man who raised the horse has been killed and he was a friend of Chan. Although it appears that he was kicked to death by his prize horse, Charlie quickly deduces that it was murder! It seems that a gambling syndicate is heavily involved in murder and mayhem in an attempt to make a huge haul at an upcoming race and it's up to Charlie to unravel it all and make sure the guilty pay.

Compared to other Chan films, this one has a much better plot, though the plot has been used, in part, before. While complex, the plot is quite thrilling and does a lot to help the film. Additionally, the best of the Chan sidekicks, Number One Son ('Lee') is on hand to provide some comic relief and occasional assistance.

Excellent acting, pacing and plot--this one is a triple crown winner of a B-movie.