Charlie Chan at the Olympics (1937)

Director:

H. Bruce Humberstone

Writers:

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

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 | Germany | Swimmer | Track And Field

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)

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:

Charlie Chan: Suppose husband, like toupee on bald head, used for cover-up.

Movie Connections:

Follows Charlie Chan's Courage (1934)

Sports, Spies, and Murder

Charlie discovers the body of a pilot who was missing for days following a test flight using a remote control navigation system, which is missing from the plane. Charlie discovers that the killer, Miller, worked at an airplane factory in Honolulu, but is found murdered in his apartment before he can be questioned. The suspects of being the sinister power behind the theft are headed towards Berlin, not only to watch the Olympics, but to sell the remote control unit. Charlie takes the Hindenburg to Berlin and is joined by son Lee (who is entered in the 100m swimming relay) to track down Yvonne Rowland, who was seen in Miller's apartment, and who has contacted Baron Zaraka, dignitary for a warring nation. Knowing that Chan is on the case, Zaraka has Lee kidnapped and will turn him over to Charlie in exchange for the remote control device. Charlie tries to dupe the spies, even though he knows that his son is at their mercy. Very good Chan film that places the emphasis on foreign intrigue rather than mystery (and is able to succeed). Oland does turn in one of his best performances as the character, due to the character's development from the genial detective to the worried parent. The Olympics angle does give an interesting aspect of the film towards today's audiences giving an idea of the athletes back then (and the subtraction of the Nazi influence over the games). The climax to the mystery (which is suspenseful) and the revelation of the killer's motive seems to suggest that the film was trying to bloat the mystery angle of the film more. Rating, based on B mysteries, 7.