Charlie Chan on Broadway (1937)

Returning from European exile where she avoided testifying against her criminal associates, a former singer with a tell-all diary is murdered to ensure her silence.

Director:

Eugene Forde

Writers:

Charles Belden (screen play), Jerome Cady (screen play),

Stars:

Warner Oland, Keye Luke, Joan Marsh

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Warner Oland	...	Charlie Chan
Keye Luke	...	Lee Chan
Joan Marsh	...	Joan Wendall
J. Edward Bromberg	...	Murdock
Douglas Fowley	...	Johnny Burke
Harold Huber	...	Inspector Nelson
Donald Woods	...	Speed Patten
Louise Henry	...	Billie Bronson
Joan Woodbury	...	Marie Collins
Leon Ames	...	Buzz Moran
Marc Lawrence	...	Thomas Mitchell
Toshia Mori	...	Ling Tse (as Tashia Mori)
Charles Williams	...	Meeker
Eugene Borden	...	Louie

Storyline

Billie Bronson secretes a package in the trunk of Charlie Chan aboard a New York-bound transatlantic liner. Chan and his number one son, Lee are met at the pier by Inspector Nelson and two rival reporters, Joan Wendall and Speed Patton. Bille, having left the country hurriedly a year ago when sought as a material witness in a political scandal, has returned to "blow the lid off the town." She follows the Chans to their hotel and attempts to regain her package from the trunk, only to be interrupted by Lee. She then goes to the "Hottentot Club", where "candid-camera night" is in full progress, followed by Lee. Already present are Joan and Speed. Billie is mysteriously murdered and Charlie is summoned from a police banquet in his honor. Present in the room with the body are club manager Johnny Burke; club dancer and Burke's girl-friend Marie Collins and the two reporters. While seeking a motive for the murder, a second killing is discovered in Charlie's hotel room, the package is missing...

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Plot Keywords:

diary | trunk | package | hotel | reporter | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 October 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

Charlie Chan na Broadway

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:

68 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In an early example of product placement, a bottle of Bayer aspirin is shown on a table.

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Quotes

Chief Inspector James Nelson NYPD: [on the pier with other police to welcome Charlie Chan] Look, Smitty, have the band blast at somethin' Oriental. Hey, what is the Chinese national anthem anyway?
Smitty (Policeman): I don' know. Why don't you give 'em 'Chinatown, My Chinatown?'
Chief Inspector James Nelson NYPD: Okay, we'll play it.

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Crazy Credits

Donald Woods is credited by his name in the main credits, but as "Donald Wood" in the end credits.

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Connections

Follows Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo (1937)

User Reviews

One Of Oland's Last Chan Films

Warner Oland, the Swedish-born actor famous for his Asian portrayals and in particular his portrayal of the famous Charlie Chan, gives a fine performance as Chan in this, one of his last screen performances before his untimely death. This time out, Charlie and #1 son, played as affably as ever by Keye Luke, are aboard a ship soon to dock in New York. A woman aboard stows something in #1's luggage and tries getting it later in Chan hotel room. Woman who mess with Charlie like fly that play in spider's web. OK, enough of that. Anyway, you get the usual good stuff you would find in most Chan films: a good mystery(I didn't figure this one out), some nice comedic touches with Chan's sayings and his by-play with his son, solid character acting from the likes of Luke, Donald Woods, Joan Marsh, etc..., and a look back at what New York was like in the late 30's. I enjoyed the film a good deal. It doesn't creak either like some of the earlier Chan films. It has a lively pace throughout.