Charlie Chan at the Race Track (1936)

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.

Director:

H. Bruce Humberstone

Writers:

Robert Ellis (screen play), Helen Logan (screen play),

Stars:

Warner Oland, Keye Luke, Helen Wood

Cast

Complete credited 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 Kent
Frank Coghlan Jr.	...	Eddie Brill
Frankie Darro	...	'Tip' Collins
John Rogers	...	Mooney
John Henry Allen	...	'Streamline' Jones
Harry Jans	...	Al Meers

Storyline

While steaming from Honolulu to Los Angeles the owner of a prize racehorse headed for the Santa Anita Handicap is killed, apparently kicked to death by his stallion. Not so, deduces Charlie. Leter he exposes efforts to fix a race at the famous track.

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Plot Keywords:

murderer | horse stall | detective | thoroughbred | steamship | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Sport | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 August 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

Charlie Chan aux courses

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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Goofs

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).

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Quotes

Charlie Chan: Root of tree lie in many directions.

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Connections

Followed by Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum (1940)

User Reviews

Number One Son Shines

I always enjoy the byplay between Charlie Chan and his kids. Warner Oland was more loving to them in the early Chans while Sidney Toler was more insulting (but not in a mean-spirited way.)

In this episode, Oland lets Keye Luke get very involved in the case and Luke provides a number of laughs along the way.

This was an interesting script and had a decent number of action scenes along with it during the 70 minutes. There are some inventive twists to the story, regarding the crooks, too.

This is another Charlie Chan winner, and I am pleased to see it will be out on DVD in December.