Filmed in 1931, "The Black Camel" sets the stage early for a long string of Charlie Chan films to follow, with it's large cast of characters and murder suspects, and more twists, turns and red herrings than you can shake a stick at. Warner Oland does the honors here as the Oriental Detective operating on his home turf of Honolulu, with an opening scene of surfers testing the waves and offering an island flair to the proceedings.
The cast is enhanced by the presence of Bela Lugosi, portraying a mystic named Tarneverro, who's real identity once revealed makes him a prime murder suspect in the stabbing death of actress Shelah Fane (Dorothy Revier). However Fane's past is a dark one, once we learn she's withholding a secret in the murder of her fiancé Denny Mayo three years earlier. Using your own scorecard to keep track of the other players, you'll be entertained and rewarded with the identity of the murderers and victims in this well plotted mystery. Count among them a very youthful Robert Young (Father Knows Best, Marcus Welby, M.D.) in his first credited screen role.
If there's a downside to the film, it would be the comic relief attempt on the part of Otto Yamaoka as Chan's inept assistant Kashimo. His characterization goes over the top in following Chan's direction, helplessly offering the words "clue, clue" when questioned about his frantic efforts. It would be a precursor to later Chan films when his assistance would be provided by Numbers #1, 2 and 3 Sons as the series progressed. Speaking of which, the size of the Chan family is shown at a dinner table, with nine young offspring and "mother" clearly visible.
The film takes it's name from the Chan quote offered above. True to Chan tradition, this early film is replete with Charlie's insight and axioms. One of my favorites - "Always harder to keep murder secret than for egg to bounce on sidewalk".
The movie also sets the stage for a familiar device to be seen in later films, the old lights out trick, in which a portion of a letter holding a murder clue winds up missing. Fresh the first time, it would wind up being monotonous and non original as the series progressed.
With all of the plot twists and misdeeds fully resolved at the end of the film, Charlie Chan has the last word as clueless Kashimo bursts on the scene one last time with his last bit of evidence. Chan's response: "Too late, save for next case".
The cast is enhanced by the presence of Bela Lugosi, portraying a mystic named Tarneverro, who's real identity once revealed makes him a prime murder suspect in the stabbing death of actress Shelah Fane (Dorothy Revier). However Fane's past is a dark one, once we learn she's withholding a secret in the murder of her fiancé Denny Mayo three years earlier. Using your own scorecard to keep track of the other players, you'll be entertained and rewarded with the identity of the murderers and victims in this well plotted mystery. Count among them a very youthful Robert Young (Father Knows Best, Marcus Welby, M.D.) in his first credited screen role.
If there's a downside to the film, it would be the comic relief attempt on the part of Otto Yamaoka as Chan's inept assistant Kashimo. His characterization goes over the top in following Chan's direction, helplessly offering the words "clue, clue" when questioned about his frantic efforts. It would be a precursor to later Chan films when his assistance would be provided by Numbers #1, 2 and 3 Sons as the series progressed. Speaking of which, the size of the Chan family is shown at a dinner table, with nine young offspring and "mother" clearly visible.
The film takes it's name from the Chan quote offered above. True to Chan tradition, this early film is replete with Charlie's insight and axioms. One of my favorites - "Always harder to keep murder secret than for egg to bounce on sidewalk".
The movie also sets the stage for a familiar device to be seen in later films, the old lights out trick, in which a portion of a letter holding a murder clue winds up missing. Fresh the first time, it would wind up being monotonous and non original as the series progressed.
With all of the plot twists and misdeeds fully resolved at the end of the film, Charlie Chan has the last word as clueless Kashimo bursts on the scene one last time with his last bit of evidence. Chan's response: "Too late, save for next case".