Charlie tries to discover the identity of a strangler who strikes multiple times on a cruise ship bound from Honolulu to California.
See high school TV and movie icons then and now, from "Dawson's Creek" and more favorites.
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise (1940)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Sidney Toler | ... | Charlie Chan | |
| Marjorie Weaver | ... | Paula Drake | |
| Lionel Atwill | ... | Dr. Suderman | |
| Victor Sen Yung | ... | Jimmy Chan (as Sen Yung) | |
| Don Beddoe | ... | James Ross | |
| Leo G. Carroll | ... | Professor Gordon (as Leo Carroll) | |
| Robert Lowery | ... | Dick Kenyon | |
| Harlan Briggs | ... | Coroner | |
| Cora Witherspoon | ... | Susie Watson | |
| Kay Linaker | ... | Mrs. Pendleton | |
| Charles Middleton | ... | Mr. Walters | |
| Claire Du Brey | ... | Mrs. Walters | |
| Leonard Mudie | ... | Gerald Pendleton | |
| James Burke | ... | Wilkie | |
| Richard Keene | ... | Buttons | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
See All (22) »
Storyline
On a cruise ship from Honolulu to San Francisco, the famous Chinese detective encounters four more murders while trying to figure out the murder of a Scotland Yard friend. Written by Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>
Plot Keywords:
charlie chan character | four word title | 1940s | murder on ship | cruise ship murder |Taglines:
Along the moonlit decks of a gay luxury liner a pair of happy lovers stroll... and so does... THE DEADLIEST KILLER ON THE HIGH SEAS! See more »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
Edit
Did You Know?
Trivia
This film's earliest documented telecast took place in Johnstown PA Tuesday 20 October 1953 on WJAC (Channel 6); it first aired Philadelphia Thursday 26 November 1953 on WPTZ (Channel 3), in Dayton OH Wednesday 9 December 1953 on WLW-D (Channel 2), in Cincinnati Tuesday 15 December 1953 on WLW-T (Channel 5), in Phoenix Wednesday 30 December 1953 on KOOL (Channel 10), in Detroit Monday 4 January 1954 on WXYZ (Channel 7), in Indianapolis Friday 30 April 1954 on WFBM (Channel 6), in New York City Saturday 8 May 1954 on WCBS (Channel 2), in Los Angeles Saturday 12 June 1954 on KNBH (Channel 4), and in San Francisco Thursday 7 July 1955 on KRON (Channel 4) (previously scheduled but not shown Friday 1 July 1955). See more »Goofs
When Charlie and the authorities hear Mrs. Pendleton scream from the next room, they beat on the locked door and the set walls quiver. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
Edit
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
21 June 1940 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Charlie Chan auf Kreuzfahrt See more »Filming Locations:
20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USACompany Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1Looking for some great streaming picks? Check out some of the IMDb editors' favorites movies and shows to round out your Watchlist.
The killer in this story appears to be a beggar, a person with a white beard, glasses, black pointy hat, and black coat. The beggar relates in some way to one of some ten suspects. In actual practice, there are about six or seven genuine suspects, since a few of them can be easily ruled out.
"Murder Cruise" is one of the better films in the Charlie Chan series. Production values trend above average. And the B&W lighting is quite effective.
My only real complaint is the film's plot. At a certain point, the viewer can fairly easily identify the killer, despite the fact that the underlying mystery is complex and clever. It's one of those whodunits wherein the murderer is relatively easy to spot, but the motive and underlying story are rather opaque. A slight change in the plot could have prolonged the suspense a bit longer.
The story's ending is amusingly hokey. The killer tries to strangle one last victim, and the woman screams and screams. Rather than killing her quickly, the murderer talks to her long enough for the police and Charlie Chan to arrive in time to save her.
Despite a plot that is a bit too revealing too soon, "Murder Cruise" is an enjoyable whodunit. If only all the Charlie Chan movies were this high in quality. In the words of Charlie Chan ... "Thank you so much".