Charlie Chan in London (1934)

Charlie visits a wealthy country home in England. Suspects in the murder range from a housekeeper, to a stableman, to a lawyer.

Director:

Eugene Forde

Writers:

Philip MacDonald (original screen play), Earl Derr Biggers (based on the character created by: "Charlie Chan")

Stars:

Warner Oland, Drue Leyton, Ray Milland

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Warner Oland	...	Inspector Charlie Chan
Drue Leyton	...	Pamela Gray
Ray Milland	...	Neil Howard (as Raymond Milland)
Mona Barrie	...	Lady Mary Bristol
Alan Mowbray	...	Geoffrey Richmond
Murray Kinnell	...	Phillips
Douglas Walton	...	Hugh Gray
Walter Johnson	...	Jerry Garton
E.E. Clive	...	Detective Sergeant Thacker
George Barraud	...	Major Jardine
Madge Bellamy	...	Mrs. Fothergill
David Torrence	...	Home Secretary
John Rogers	...	Lake
Paul England	...	Bunny Fothergill
Elsa Buchanan	...	Alice Rooney

Storyline

After receiving congratulations from the Home Secretary for solving his most recent case, Charlie is sought out by Pamela Gray, a beautiful but desperate young socialite whose brother Paul awaits execution for the murder of a weapons inventor. She is so convinced of his innocence that she becomes distraught when she overhears Neil Howard, her brother's lawyer and her fiancee, confide to the detective his belief in his client's guilt. Angered at this disclosure, she returns his ring and breaks off the engagement. Although the execution will take place in 65 hours, Charlie pledges to expose the murderer. All potential suspects are reassembled in the country mansion of family friend Geoffrey Richmond, where the murder took place, as Charlie tries to expose the real murderer before time runs out.

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Plot Keywords:

charlie chan character | four word title | 1930s | murder | home secretary | 

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Taglines:

When all others failed, they turned to...

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Open

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is mentioned in the mystery film Gosford Park (2001). It is mentioned because a fictional producer named Morris Weissman went to Gosford Park to do research on British customs. Actor Alan Mowbray, cast member in the Chan film, is also mentioned.

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Goofs

The RAF was established in April of 1918 with their own unique rank structure. The first murder victim is called "Captain" Hamilton, another character is "Major" Jenner, and a third is listed as "Flight Commander". NONE of these are RAF ranks. The ranks (low to high) are actually "Pilot Officer", "Flying Officer", "Flight Lieutenant", "Squadron Leader", "Wing Commander", "Group Captain", "Air Commodore", "Air Vice Marshal", and "Air Marshall". To be a "Captain" or "Major" they would have had to be in the Royal Flying Corps which was a part of the British Army and was disbanded during World War One. "Flight Commander" was never an Army or RAF rank.

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Quotes

Charlie Chan: When death enters window, no time for life to go by door.

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Connections

Follows The House Without a Key (1926)

User Reviews

Charlie Chan After The Fox

Chronologically it's the 2nd Chan film extant after Black Camel, 4 others remain lost - Charlie is either getting into his stride in this or had already done so previously! The formula was in place, all they had to do from now on was reprise it with variations a couple of times a year. Whenever on TV in the past it always appeared murky to me but the copy I've just seen was pristine, with an astonishingly clear soundtrack.

Paul Gray is incarcerated in Pentonville for murder but in a few days time is to hang – his sister believes him innocent, and apparently so does Charlie as he postpones his voyage to Honolulu to help them out. When arriving at the country house in Retfordshire where the deed was done he finds himself up against a wall of suspicious British stereotypes, ranging from Cockney idiots and brusque snobs to out and out racists, which of course he continually uses to his advantage in his unravelling of the case. And he unravels it perfectly, with a plethora of marvellous aphorisms and red herrings, but as so often had to happen also with a fool-the-murderer-into-finally-exposing-him/herself denouement.

Swedish Warner Oland gave a wonderfully urbane performance as usual as the Chinese detective. Sadly as time goes on it's shown less and less on TV, partly because the schedulers who may not want to offend Chinese sensibilities also prefer to show violent and deviant films to the public instead, and partly because the public want it that way too. Hunt a copy down and revel in it!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 September 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

Charlie Chan em Londres

Box Office

Budget:

$100,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1