Charlie Chan at the Olympics (1937)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

H. Bruce Humberstone

Writers:

Paul Burger (story) and
Earl Derr Biggers (characters)
(more)

Release Date:

21 May 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

DEATH FIRES THE STARTING GUN!...and you'll be breathless at the finish!

Plot:

When a strategically important new aerial guidance system is stolen, Charlie traces it to the Berlin Olympics, where he has to battle spies and enemy agents to retrieve it.

Plot Keywords:

Olympic Games | Enemy Agent | Homicide | Telegram | Box Seat

Cast

Warner Oland	...	Charlie Chan
Katherine DeMille	...	Yvonne Roland
Pauline Moore	...	Betty Adams
Allan Lane	...	Richard Masters
Keye Luke	...	Lee Chan
C. Henry Gordon	...	Arthur Hughes
John Eldredge	...	Mr. Cartwright
Layne Tom Jr.	...	Charlie Chan Jr
Jonathan Hale	...	Mr. Hopkins
Morgan Wallace	...	Honorable Charles Zaraka
Frederick Vogeding	...	Inspector Strasser (as Fredrik Vogeding)
Andrew Tombes	...	Chief of Homicide E. R. Scott
Arno Frey	...	Carlos, Zaraka's Henchman
David Horsley	...	Test Pilot Edwards
Howard C. Hickman	...	Police Doctor (as Howard Hickman)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Carradine	...	(scenes deleted)
Brooks Benedict	...	Zaraka Henchman (uncredited)
Stanley Blystone	...	New York Policeman (uncredited)
Walter Bonn	...	Polizei Officer (uncredited)
Don Brodie	...	Radio Announcer (uncredited)
Glen Cavender	...	Polizei Officer (uncredited)
George Chandler	...	Ship's Radio Operator (uncredited)
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Zaraka Henchman (uncredited)
Hans Fuerberg	...	Polizei Radio-car Officer (uncredited)
Theresa Harris	...	Black US Team Member On Sidelines Rooting for Jesse Owens (uncredited)
Oscar 'Dutch' Hendrian	...	Miller, test plane hijacker (uncredited)
Selmer Jackson	...	Navy Commander (uncredited)
Hans Joby	...	Polizei Radio-car Officer (uncredited)
Edward Keane	...	Army Colonel (uncredited)
Al Kikume	...	Uniformed officer at microphone / desk in police station (uncredited)
Tommy Klein	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Philip Morris	...	Cop (uncredited)
Virgil B. Nover	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Jesse Owens	...	Himself (uncredited) (archive footage)
Paul Panzer	...	German Undercover Officer Posing as Snack Vendor (uncredited)
Caroline Rankin	...	Miller's Landlady (uncredited)
Fritz Schilgen	...	Olympic Flame Lighter (uncredited) (archive footage)
Perry E. Seeley	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Lee Shumway	...	Cop (uncredited)
Minerva Urecal	...	Gang Member Posing as Olympics Matron (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Emmett Vogan	...	Ship's Officer (uncredited)
Wilhelm von Brincken	...	Polizei Officer (uncredited)
Billy Wayne	...	Ship's Steward Guarding Stateroom (uncredited)

Directed by
H. Bruce Humberstone

Writing credits
Paul Burger		(story)
Earl Derr Biggers		characters
Robert Ellis		writer
Helen Logan		writer

Produced by
John Stone	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Samuel Kaylin

Cinematography by
Daniel B. Clark

Film Editing by
Fred Allen

Art Direction by
Chester Gore
Albert Hogsett

Costume Design by
Herschel McCoy		(as Herschel)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jasper Blystone	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Harry M. Leonard	....	sound
E. Clayton Ward	....	sound

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)

Music Department
Samuel Kaylin	....	musical director

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1937) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Film (1937) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Teakwood Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox (1937) (France) (theatrical)

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #3090) (original rating) | USA:G (re-rating) (1968)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum - 3911 S. Figueroa Street, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

This film was pulled from circulation shortly after its release because it takes place in Nazi Germany.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Charlie Chan, Jr. enters a room where his father and another officer are, Chan, Jr. says, "Pop, here are some cut-up tea and sandwiches," when what he really means is, "Pop, here are some cut-up sandwiches and tea."

Quotes:

Mr. Hopkins: [offended] Well, you must think we're all fools!
Arthur Hughes: I'm not acquainted with the other gentlemen.

Movie Connections:

Follows Charlie Chan in Paris (1935)

`This cannot happen in Berlin!'

Another well-directed Warner Oland Chan filmmaking full use of stock footage from 1936 Berlin Olympics and the dirigible Hindenburg. Chan is on trail of stolen aircraft autopilot and killers who will make an attempt on his life and again kidnap No. 1 son Lee. Keye Luke is allowed to play his part without disguise and too much oriental racial humor. Good supporting cast and great shots of the game ceremonies and Jesse Owen in the relay race. For those who want to view more of these games, without Chan, see Leni Riefenstahl's Olympia 1. Teil - Fest der Völker and Olympia 2. Teil - Fest der Schönheit (1938). Continuity with other films suffers when Layne Tom, Jr. is introduced as #2 son Charlie. We have seen much older sons in his family at the circus and we will later see Victor Sen Yung as #2 son Jimmy and even later as Tommy Chan.

This is a good mystery, but once again it is impossible to share in the clues that only Chan can see and from that catch the thief and murderer. `When all players possess suspicious cards, good idea to have joker up sleeve.' Story line is somewhat believable – enough for a good afternoon's watching. Concluding scenes have oriental detective admit he is willing to risk loss of son and self in order to maintain honor and loyalty to United States. One of the best in the series. Recommended.