Charlie Chan at the Olympics (1937)

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.

Director:

H. Bruce Humberstone

Writers:

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

Stars:

Warner Oland, Katherine DeMille, Pauline Moore

Cast

Complete credited 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	...	Cartwright
Layne Tom Jr.	...	Charlie Chan Jr.
Jonathan Hale	...	Hopkins
Morgan Wallace	...	Honorable Charles Zaraka
Frederick Vogeding	...	Captain Strasser (as Fredrik Vogeding)
Andrew Tombes	...	Police Chief Scott
Howard C. Hickman	...	Dr. Burton (as Howard Hickman)

Storyline

When an experimental plane is hijacked and its pilot murdered, the new guidance system that will allow it to fly unmanned is stolen. Charlie traces the strategically important invention to the current summer Olympic games in Berlin, where myriad spies, enemy agents, and hard-core criminals are ruthlessly pursuing it in order to sell it to another government. Charlie's son Lee, a member of the U.S. Olympic Swim Team, is on hand to help his father recover the device and solve the mystery.

---

Plot Keywords:

olympic games | enemy agent | clock | brandenburg gate | track and field | 

---

Taglines:

Murderous Spies invade Olympic Games!

---

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 May 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

Charlie Chan nos Jogos Olímpicos

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:

71 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

---

Goofs

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: Better for Oriental to lose life than lose face.

---

Connections

Followed by Dead Men Tell (1941)

User Reviews

`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.