Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo
1938 Directed by Eugene Forde
Synopsis
Although Charlie and Lee are in Monaco for an art exhibit, they become caught up in a feud between rival financiers which involves the Chans in a web of blackmail and murder.
Cast
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Charlie Chan was a Chinese-Hawaiian detective created by Earl Derr Biggers as an alternative to the usual oriental stereotyped villains. The first Chan film was a ten chapter serial made by Pathé studios, 'The House Without a Key' (1926) starred George Kuwa as the detective. 1927 saw Universal Pictures release 'The Chinese Parrot' starring the Japanese actor Sōjin Kamiyama but both pictures proved unpopular. In 1929 Fox Film Corporation produced 'Behind That Curtain' this time starring the Korean actor E.L. Park but yet again the film was unpopular with Chan appearing only in the last ten minutes of the film.
Then Fox Film recast the role using a white actor, Warner Oland, a Swedish actor who claimed some Mongolian ancestry.… -
Average entry in the series of murder mysteries.
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A lesser Chan film as far as the mystery goes, but by far one of the funniest entries in the series, Oland’s last in the role (he died the following year). Chan investigates the murder of a chauffeur who was taking valuable bonds to Paris, but it’s a slight premise that is easily solved by the viewer. Instead, the highlights are #1 Son Lee’s constant mangling of the French language, Chan’s fatherly rebukes, and a backfiring taxi.