Charlie Chan in Rio (1941)

Director:

Harry Lachman

Writers:

Samuel G. Engel (writer)
Lester Ziffren (writer)

Release Date:

5 September 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

it's Chan's most Spine-tingling mystery!

Plot:

On the trail of a singer who killed the man she loved in Honolulu, Charlie finds her stabbed to death when he ultimately catches up to her in Rio.

Plot Keywords:

Butler | Ex Husband | Detective | Draft Notice | Hawaiian Hero

Cast

Sidney Toler	...	Charlie Chan
Mary Beth Hughes	...	Joan Reynolds
Cobina Wright	...	Grace Ellis (as Cobina Wright Jr.)
Ted North	...	Carlos Dantas
Victor Jory	...	Alfredo Cardozo
Harold Huber	...	Chief Souto
Victor Sen Yung	...	Jimmy Chan (as Sen Yung)
Richard Derr	...	Ken Reynolds
Jacqueline Dalya	...	Lola Dean
Kay Linaker	...	Helen Ashby
Truman Bradley	...	Paul Wagner
Hamilton MacFadden	...	Bill Kellogg
Leslie Denison	...	Rice
Iris Wong	...	Lili Wong
Eugene Borden	...	Armando

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Sweden:15

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Actor 'Hamilton McFadden', who plays the thankless supporting role of Bill Kellogg, formerly directed two earlier big budget entries in the series, The Black Camel (1931) and Charlie Chan Carries On (1931).

Quotes:

Charlie Chan: Experience teach unless eyewitness present, every murder case is long shot.

Movie Connections:

Followed by The Chinese Ring (1947)

Soundtrack:

They Met in Rio

"Sweet wine often turn nice woman sour."

A woman under suspicion of murder is herself murdered.

This Charlie Chan film breezes along fairly quickly at just an hour in length, and is brought to conclusion in a straightforward manner. The characters under suspicion all have a hidden past - the murderer/murdered Lola Dean was once Lola Wagner, in love with Manuel Cardozo who wouldn't leave his wife, only to be dispatched by the jilted Lola. Indian mystic/psychic Alfredo Marana, ably portrayed by Victor Jory, turns out to be Alfredo Cardozo, brother of Manuel on a quest to avenge his brother. Lola's aide Helen Ashby, is really the wife of murdered Manuel, who also has an ax to grind. The red herring in the mix is Armando the butler - the butler couldn't have done it because he himself is murdered.

Sidney Toler comes across convincingly as he unravels the mystery, except when he puffs on the potentially drugged cigarette offered by psychic Marana - he sports the goofiest look ever. Harold Huber as Captain of Detectives is allowed to play it straight and effectively, unlike previous roles in the Chan series. Even Sen Yung isn't as bumbling in his role as Number #2 son, but he does have his moments.

All in all, the mystery is plausibly played out. It's interesting to note that the name of another detective of the era is mentioned not once but twice in the film, as the Mary Beth Hughes character Joan Reynolds brings up Bulldog Drummond's name (she wanted to kill Lola too!). This isn't one of the better Chan films; it would rate higher if not for the blackout scene when the butler is dispatched, an overdone device in the Chan series. For my part, a 5 out of 10 is fair, but by all means, give it a try.