Charlie Chan in Rio (1941) User Reviews

Charlie Chan at Fox means he has to hit Rio

[blanche-2 · 7/10 · 4 January 2014]

With performers like Carmen Miranda and Cesar Romero on its roster, and with Don Ameche, Linda Darnell, and Tyrone Power looking as if they could be from South America, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, etc., Fox did lots of films purportedly set in these exotic locales. "Charlie Chan in Rio" from 1941 is one of these, though a lot of stock footage is used to give the illusion of actually being in Rio.

Charlie and son Jimmy are in Rio and go to a nightclub with the police chief to arrest a nightclub singer, Lola Dean. Dean is suspected of killing her married lover in Honolulu. Charlie decides it would be better to arrest her at home. However, she is found dead, and her jewels have been stolen.

As usual, there are too many suspects, among them a man (Victor Jory) who does prognostics, a sort of mystical mind-reading, Lola's wealthy fiancée, a woman in love with said fiancée, a no-nonsense friend (Mary Beth Hughes) and her boyfriend, Lola's ex-husband, and a butler.

It falls to Charlie to sort all this out, but along the way he and the police chief have a little fun with Jimmy, questioning under the mystic's potion, which puts his subject under hypnosis. Why did he fail math? It was too early to get up in the morning for class.

It seems not only Lola had a secret in her past -- there's plenty else to be learned.

Good fun, with a cute ending.

Efficient mystery with colorful performances from Toler and Yung

[csteidler · 8/10 · 6 October 2012]

"Gee, Pop," Jimmy Chan says, "She doesn't look like a murderess." Number two son and his famous father share a table with the local police captain in a Rio nightclub, watching Lola Dean sing and dance—and waiting to arrest her for a murder back in Honolulu.

–Alas, Lola herself is murdered before they get the chance, and the Chans begin sorting through the usual suspects—a couple of romantic rivals, a secretary, a fiancé, a psychic who gives his clients spell-inducing cigarettes and also owns a recording machine….

A solid supporting cast fill their roles nicely, particularly Victor Jory as Marana, the psychic who offers his clients a "psychognosis" and is certainly up to something fishy. Kay Linaker also stands out as the purposeful personal secretary.

Sidney Toler and Sen Yung are excellent as usual as Charlie Chan and son Jimmy. The local policeman is played, as in multiple other Chan films, by Harold Huber—more restrained this time around, he's an actual detective rather than simple comic relief.

Iris Wong is cute as Lola's maid, Lili. Of course, Jimmy tries to impress her with his detective skills—"The case is in the bag. It's a cinch!"—and they have a little romance.

A memorable climax involves Mr. Chan volunteering to undergo Marana's coffee-and-cigarette hypnosis: Chan puffs and puffs, that little smile on his face, nothing happening, while the gathered suspects wait and wait….

No wasted motion in this one—short and sweet. The plot is unexceptional but the production and performances are absolutely solid: for simple entertainment value, this is one of the series' best.

murderer kills murderer

[chris_gaskin123 · 7/10 · 22 November 2005]

I've just seen Charlie Chan in Rio for the first time and found it enjoyable like all of the Chan movies I've seen.

In this one, Chan and his No 2 son are in Rio to arrest a murderer but she is then murdered herself, so he leads the investigation for this. After gathering clues including drugged cigarettes, the murderer is revealed...

This includes a couple of rather catchy songs and No 2 son learning to dance.

Charlie Chan is played well by Sidney Toler and is joined by Sen Young, Richard Derr and Victor Jory.

If you like a gold old mystery, then you will like this. Excellent.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5.

"Watch out, Pop, he's oily and slippery."

[bensonmum2 · 7/10 · 6 July 2015]

Charlie Chan travels to Rio to arrest a woman wanted for murder in Honolulu. But before he can take her into custody, she's murder. As is usual for a Chan film, there are no shortage of suspects.

Charlie Chan in Rio is another nice entry in the series. The mystery itself may be a little run of the mill, but it's fun enough to watch Chan get to the truth. I will say, however, that this one doesn't play fair, with Chan privy to information not available to the viewer. But then again, I suppose that's the case with most of these movies. Highlights for me include: a nice cast (especially Victor Jory, Mary Beth Hughes, and Kay Linaker), rock solid cinematography, and excellent lighting. I've recently watched several 30s and 40s B mysteries and have really noticed these movies are not created equal. A big studio B looks a million times better than its Poverty Row counterpart. Overall, a solid 7/10 from me.

One more thing before I end this, I've complained in the past about the comic relief provided by Victor Sen Yung's Jimmy Chan. In Charlie Chan in Rio, some of it actually works. His wooing of Lili is even tolerable. I also appreciate that Harold Hubert's comedy was toned down. He's downright annoying at times in Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo.

Is That Cigarette a Name Brand?

[dougdoepke · 1 August 2008]

Globe-trotting Charlie winds up in Rio for this so-so entry. It's an uncommonly attractive cast and a lively, well-produced first half, before the pace slows down during the sleuthing second half. Being in Rio gives Hollywood a chance to sample the South American rhythms popular at the time, and the ladies a chance to model high-fashion wear, circa 1941.

Note presence of New York débutante Cobina Wright, the Paris Hilton of her day, as Grace, the statuesque adversary of the brassy, low-class Mary Beth Hughes. Their nightclub spats amount to versions of the class struggle over proper table etiquette. And, of course, where there's Chan Sr. there's going to be a Chan Jr. Here Sen Young's sometimes silly Jimmy Chan nonetheless pairs up with the charming Iris Wong to make the proverbially cute couple.

The mystery involves a dead nightclub performer, a slick-talking swami (Victor Jory), a cup of coffee, and a funny looking cigarette. Note how Charlie is ably assisted by the captain of the Rio police (Harold Huber). Usually the cops of the period were depicted as bumbling, at best, or comically foolish, at worst. But with WWII on the horizon, South America became an important sphere of influence, and the captain is treated with unusual respect. In passing, something should be said about the dewy-eyed Kay Linaker as the personal assistant. She died just a short time ago. This programmer shows what a lovely and capable screen presence she was. Her career may never have made the big time, but the big-time talent was definitely there.

Recommended for guys who like to ogle well-upholstered girls.

Charlie in Rio?! Looks more like a sound stage!

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 13 January 2007]

Despite my summary, I DID like this film. It's just that despite its title, the film looked like they stuck in some stock footage and everyone in the film spoke English. Plus, oddly, the Brazilian police inspector spoke MUCH better English than Charlie--he remembered to use all his definite articles (such as 'the')! This isn't a major problem about the film, but it is kind of funny.

The plot involves the murder of a woman who is already wanted for murder. The rest of the film is just about what you'd expect from a Charlie Chan film made by FOX--Charlie's son (in this case #2) is a bumbling and obnoxious assistant, there are twists and turns and many different suspects, and in the end, Chan catches the murderer. No major surprises, but it was a bit odd seeing the wonderful magic potion developed by the psychic--just smoke one of his special cigarettes, drink a bit of coffee and you almost instantly fall asleep and tell the truth! If only this were true--imagine the fun you could have with your friends! This is a completely average outing for the series--not bad, nor especially compelling. For fans, it is pretty much what they'd expect and for the non-Chan fans out there, probably not enough to make them love the series.

Remake of "The Black Camel"

[admjtk1701 · 7/10 · 16 April 2000]

This film is a remake of the Warner Oland film, "The Black Camel". This is a short, at one hour, fun film. But it doesn't compare to the original. We do get to see Jimmy Chan dance in a night club in the opening. Victor Jory has the role played by Bela Lugosi in the original. Harold Huber is another police detective. It's good. But see "The Black Camel" first.

Charlie Chan in Rio is another highly enjoyable movie in the detective series

[tavm · 9/10 · 23 February 2010]

This is my fifth review on consecutive days of a movie in the Charlie Chan series. It's also the first one of a partial remake of a previous one, which in this case was The Black Camel from 1931 which was the first I commented on. As in that one, Chan is investigating a woman who killed someone in the past just before she herself is murdered...One positive change from The Black Camel to this one is the setting from the detective's residence of Honolulu to the South American city of Rio de Janeiro where we get treated to a lush tropical setting with occasional dance numbers with South of the Border warbling. As always, Sidney Toler as Charlie with Victor Sen Yung as "Number 2 Son" Jimmy provide amusing banter. Jimmy himself here gets a love interest with a maid played by the arrestingly beautiful Iris Wong who had appeared in a couple of pictures in this series. Other returning veterans include Kay Linaker, Truman Bradley, Ann Codee, and Hamilton MacFadden who also was director on many past entries including the aforementioned Black Camel. Another player, Leslie Denison, would subsequently appear in a couple more Chan entries at Monogram. This was another highly entertaining flick of the creation of Earl Derr Biggers so on that note, I very much recommend Charlie Chan in Rio.

Fun to watch

[LeRoyMarko · 7/10 · 13 May 2001]

Good mystery film about the famous detective Charlie Chan. He's in Rio to put under arrest Lola. But she's murdered before he can arrest her. Interesting murder case follows and like other Charlie Chan's movies, an array of suspects are in the room. Everybody seems to have a perfect alibi.

Good performance by Victor Sen Yung who plays Number Two Son. Toler is once again good in the role of Charlie Chan. Funny remarks here and there punctuate the script. Like this one: «This is very exciting». The lady to answer: «So is parachute jumping, but I don't like it».

Like other films in the series, lights go out for a second or two and there's one dead person!

Out of 100, I gave it 77. That's **½ on a four stars rating system.

Seen at home in Welland on VHS. Marko Roy - May 13th, 2001.

Not Exactly Carnival

[pbalos · 8/10 · 5 July 2000]

in Rio, but a really well thought out Chan film. A very interesting and familiar array of characters.One can almost feel the breeze coming in off the S.Atlantic.One of the better films for Jimmy Chan (Victor Sen Yung).It's easy to watch over again.

A must for fans of Victor Sen Yung

[gridoon2024 · 6/10 · 6 May 2016]

If you like Victor Sen Yung as Charlie Chan's "Number Two Son", you'll probably enjoy this film. This time he has one of his largest parts, which includes a couple of very funny scenes (being hypnotized - and "interrogated" by his father, trying to reconstruct the crime and testing his theories), as well as an exciting fight scene with a crook. And he looks quite handsome. The film is rather static (90% of the action takes place indoors, and apart from some music at the start there is nothing else to suggest Rio - it could have been set in any city), but fairly well-paced, and also has the minor novelty of a sympathetic murderer. My favorite Chan line: "Prefer not to walk across before coming to bridge". **1/2 out of 4.

Entertaining But Far Fetched

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 15 January 2016]

The classic whodunnit with all kinds of interesting character actors posing as suspects. A woman is murdered. She has been seen by a psychic-psychologist who uses caffeine and special cigarettes to make her tell the truth about having committed a murder. There are clues all over the place and Chan, his son, and a police detective attempt to get to the bottom of things. While so much of the byplay among a group of socialites is interesting, I can't take my mind off the cigarette thing. No one commenting on this seems to be wary of such a thing. What are these cigarettes? If they don't exist in some context, then the whole plot is, as number one son says, "Hooey!" I was interested to see Truman Bradley appear. He was the host of "Science Fiction Theater" which was one of my favorite shows as a child. Victor Jory is also in this as the aforementioned psychic. Good cast. Good acting. Cigarettes..........

Pleasant Little Mystery For Pursuit of Murderer

[DKosty123 · 7/10 · 28 April 2019]

For those who think of a long police pursuit, this one has Chan and son going from Hawaii to Rio to arrest a murderess. Then Chan delays making the arrest long enough for her to sing and dance at night club with song written for the film. After the song, she arranges to elope with boyfriend and leave Rio on same night.

Then in a twist, she is murdered in her home before Chan can arrest her but after she has confessed to murdering a man in Hawaii, to a guy who puts people in trance using cigarettes and coffee. (Funny, but if Starbucks allowed smoking, this would be the perfect place to drug people with this formula.)

As Sydney Toler has replaced Warner Oland, here is a remake of the former's "Black Camel" with a less well known cast. Still the story presents some twists and turns as everyone has to stick around the murder scene, including the murderer. As this is 1941, at the end of the movie it is revealed in letter from honorable mother, that Jimmy Chan has been drafted.

"Sweet wine often turn nice woman sour."

[classicsoncall · 5/10 · 5 September 2004]

A woman under suspicion of murder is herself murdered.

This Charlie Chan film breezes along fairly quickly at just an hour in length, and is brought to conclusion in a straightforward manner. The characters under suspicion all have a hidden past - the murderer/murdered Lola Dean was once Lola Wagner, in love with Manuel Cardozo who wouldn't leave his wife, only to be dispatched by the jilted Lola. Indian mystic/psychic Alfredo Marana, ably portrayed by Victor Jory, turns out to be Alfredo Cardozo, brother of Manuel on a quest to avenge his brother. Lola's aide Helen Ashby, is really the wife of murdered Manuel, who also has an ax to grind. The red herring in the mix is Armando the butler - the butler couldn't have done it because he himself is murdered.

Sidney Toler comes across convincingly as he unravels the mystery, except when he puffs on the potentially drugged cigarette offered by psychic Marana - he sports the goofiest look ever. Harold Huber as Captain of Detectives is allowed to play it straight and effectively, unlike previous roles in the Chan series. Even Sen Yung isn't as bumbling in his role as Number #2 son, but he does have his moments.

All in all, the mystery is plausibly played out. It's interesting to note that the name of another detective of the era is mentioned not once but twice in the film, as the Mary Beth Hughes character Joan Reynolds brings up Bulldog Drummond's name (she wanted to kill Lola too!). This isn't one of the better Chan films; it would rate higher if not for the blackout scene when the butler is dispatched, an overdone device in the Chan series. For my part, a 5 out of 10 is fair, but by all means, give it a try.

"Biggest mistakes in history made by people who didn't think"

[hwg1957-102-265704 · 7/10 · 9 August 2017]

Charlie Chan and number two son Jimmy come to Rio to arrest a murderer but she is murdered herself. Cue lots of suspects before the killer is detected by Chan and Chief Souto of the local police. Only an hour long but it is fine entertainment. It is mostly confined to one house but is never dull. Director Harry Lachman stands back and lets the narrative play out without any fuss.

Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan puts in another fine performance, mischievous, sympathetic and dogged. Sen Yung gives possibly his best playing of Jimmy Chan, whether making premature deductions or mooning over the Hawaiian maid he is a delight. Harold Huber as Chief Soto tones down his usual excitable acting and is all the better for it.

Another winner in the 20th Century Fox series of Chan films.

"Pretty girl, like lap dog, sometimes go mad."

[utgard14 · 6/10 · 22 March 2014]

Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) is in Rio de Janeiro to arrest a woman suspected of killing a man in Honolulu. When the woman is murdered, Charlie must investigate along with "Number Two Son" Jimmy (Victor Sen Yung). Pretty much a remake of The Black Camel. Adorable Iris Wong is fun as the murdered woman's maid. Her scenes with Jimmy are the movie's highlights. Harold Huber makes his last Charlie Chan appearance. Toler and Sen Yung are good as usual. Rest of the cast includes Victor Jory, Kay Linaker, and Hamilton MacFadden (who directed The Black Camel, interestingly enough). It's a pleasant and enjoyable entry in the series. Not one of the best or worst. This is the second-to-last Chan film at Fox before the dreadful Monogram series begins.

Chan remakes himself

[jonfrum2000 · 7/10 · 4 August 2010]

As others have pointed out, this is a remake of The Black Camel, which itself was one of the original Chan stories by Biggers. If you've seen the earlier film, then of course you know the twist by which this one is solved - which of course is very disappointing. Were people really not paying attention between the two versions of this story? Harold Huber gets to play a policeman straight this time, which is a big improvement over the usual clowning he was required to do in other Chans. Son Jimmy intrudes on the story too much for me, as usual, but doesn't express the worst of his pop-eyed hammyness in this one. There's not much Rio here, as others have complained, but this is a B movie, not a travelogue. The ladies are lovely, there's a musical number, and Jimmy gets an action scene near the end. All in all, quite good.

One of the best in the series!

[JohnHowardReid · 8/10 · 19 December 2017]

For this entry, "Charlie Chan in Rio", director Harry Lachman abandoned the close-up style he had devised for "Dead Men Tell" and asked photographer Joseph MacDonald to use plenty of long shots to get all the great production values on to the screen.

For this one, writers Sam Engel (who was also a producer at Fox since 1936) and Lester Ziffren (who died at the age of 101 not so many years ago in New York - I bet nobody ever bothered to interview him) -- concocted a neat and interesting puzzle. Admittedly, there is a glaring hole, but no-one is likely to notice it.

As usual, Toler gives a fine account of Chan. A number of friendly faces in the support cast include Mary Beth Hughes at her shrewish best; Harold Huber, more subdued than usual (thank goodness) in his series role as a police inspector; delightfully devious Victor Jory, fascinating as always; and even Fox contractee, Ham MacFadden, the director of Charlie Chan Carries On, The Black Camel and Charlie Chan's Greatest Case (whom Zanuck would not let behind a camera at Fox, but whom he was quite happy to lend out to Fox competitors). True, the no-action climax is a bit disappointing but we do get an opening musical production number instead.

Several Ex-Spouses, One Dead, One Widowed

[biorngm · 7/10 · 20 August 2018]

An entertaining Charlie Chan picture with number two son actually being a help to his father rather than usual annoyance. Of course, he was wrong on his immediate assumptions, but he did help capture the butler making off with the first victim's jewelry. Charlie makes his way through plenty of suspects in this movie set in Rio, part at a nightclub and mostly at a home. The butler was only guilty of greed, with extortion prevailing, but he did end up paying the ultimate price for his motive. Charlie's goal is to rightfully charge a nightclub singer with a murder occurring back in Honolulu. Before Charlie can arrest her, she is killed by the woman married to the man she murdered. The butler walked in on the crime and was silenced originally by taking the singer's jewelry in payment to be silent. The killer takes out the butler when he is caught with the jewels and is ready to squeal. Charlie goes through the steps of securing evidence and identifying who the suspects really are. How the characters were related to the off-camera original murder victim is a key to the ultimate capture of the guilty party. Very few of the speaking parts were left out as suspects, i.e. the cook Margo, the club attendant Armando, otherwise the suspects were numerous. It was envy wanting the singer killed because of the rich fiancé, but none knew she was a killer except the physic Marana and the widow Helen.

The killer is conveniently in the same house as all the other suspects, making it somewhat easier for Charlie to do his detective work. There were sure a lot of ex-spouses in this movie, most alive and on-camera. Chan's task was not made clear until a few minutes into the movie, at the nightclub, and you had to be perceptive to listen to his local police officer mention the arrest and Charlie to want to hold off until they reached the guilty party's home. It was a revenge killing of the hostess, singer by the wife of the husband she murdered in Honolulu, posing as her private secretary. From hearing something said and the way it was spoken, was enough for the widow to commit the crime. As for the butler, well, he was careless getting caught by Jimmy Chan, with the stolen jewels.

I would recommend this trip to Rio based on the roles played by professionals throughout the movie, two musical numbers, the on-screen collaboration between Jimmy and Lily, and the use of old-fashioned detective work on the part of Charlie to solve the crime. Robbing the jewels is not an admission of murder as Charlie told number two son. Some hard-investigative work solved the case and it was Charlie Chan doing that work.

Somewhere Earl Derr Biggers is smiling...

[FelixtheCat · 8/10 · 19 May 2000]

As the title implies, Earl Derr Biggers' master detective, Charlie Chan, is in Rio de Janeiro to arrest a murderess. Sidney Toler is in top form as Chan who, along with his Number Two Son, finds that the murderess he is after is herself murdered before he can detain her. The clues are in place and the suspects are gathered and Charlie must go to work. The film is breezy and quick to its conclusion, so that within its 62 minute running time, the solution is at hand. In this particular Chan film, the case is neatly presented with that added touch of humor, such as Charlie smoking a laced cigarette.

Latin rhythms and murder.

[michaelRokeefe · 7/10 · 9 May 2011]

Oriental sleuth Charlie Chan(Sidney Toler)travels to Brazil with #2 son Jimmy(Sen Yung). On the trail of a singer, who killed her lover in Honolulu, Chan finds her working in a Rio night club. The attractive singer is planning to elope with a rich playboy; but before she can leave and before Chan and the local police can make an arrest, she is found stabbed to death. While the body is found in her upstairs bedroom, a group of friends gather downstairs for a going away party. Chan will not be fooled by planted clues. Son Jimmy is actually helpful in solving this second murder. The cast includes: Cobina Wright Jr., Truman Bradley, Mary Beth Hughes, Victor Jory and Kay Linaker.

Historical Significance

[tgraca-95763 · 9/10 · 10 August 2018]

Spoiler Alert: It's interesting that this is listed as released on 5 September 1941, and Charlie's son is drafted into WW2, but the Pearl Harbor sneak attack didn't happen for over 3 months after the movie was released on December 7, 1941, and the US officially entered the war on December 11, 1941. What was it like back then where Hollywood would be grooming us for the war and the draft over 3 months before the war happened? They had actually implemented a peace time draft about a year before, and the US leadership had already picked sides and decided to go to war, so they had over a year build the message - "We are going to war." I knew the US was being propagandized back then, but I had no idea it was this blatant.

An understated Chan

[Jim Tritten · 6/10 · 20 July 2002]

Sidney Toler as Chan is in Rio to arrest Lola Dean for murder. Before he can do it, she is stabbed in the back, but why and by whom? Sen Yung playing his No. 2 son Jimmy and a straight Harold Huber as the `Delgado' or Chief of Police of Rio aid Chan.

The action in this who-done-it comes at a fast but steady pace without a lot of character development. There are plenty of misleading clues left by the real murderer and the writers. Unfortunately this is one of those films that the detective knows much more than the viewer thus denying us the ability to solve the full mystery along with Chan. `Long experience teach until murderer found, suspect everybody…'

As in some other Chan films, the names of the characters do not match their on-screen roles. Ted North clearly plays the part of Clark Denton yet is credited at the end with having played Carlos Dantas. We leave Charlie in Rio having just opened a communication from his wife telling Jimmy that he has been drafted in the military. `Good policy to have murderer consider detective dope.' Fair and just barely recommended.

An extradition job leads to murder

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 4 April 2013]

Although 20th Century Fox even gave Harry Warren and Mack Gordon an opportunity for an original song in Charlie Chan In Reno, the plot is recycled from The Black Camel the second film of the Charlie Chan series that starred Warner Oland ten years earlier. The plot has Charlie and son Victor Sen Yung in Rio DeJaneiro on an extradition charge to arrest and bring Jacqueline Dalya back to Honolulu to face a murder rap.

Dalya is a singer in a Rio nightclub and Sidney Toler and Brazilian police inspector Harold Huber decide to let her finish her act and arrest her at her home. But when they get there she's already been stabbed to death with several guests already there for a dinner party.

Which gives Toler a whole house full of suspects of both sexes. Apparently Dalya played around a lot and she's got some jealous women and men whom they're jealous over.

I won't say who did it, but it does go back to the case that Toler is in Rio on.

This was the next to last film in the Charlie Chan series that 20th Century Fox did and clearly they were running out of ideas and interest in the series. Charlie after one more picture would be doing his sleuthing for Monogram with much reduced production values even from a B picture at a major studio.

Still this one should satisfy Charlie's fans.

Funny Cigarettes

[boblipton · 6/10 · 21 February 2024]

In the 29th Charlie Chan movie, Sidney Toler and Number Two Son Victor Sen Yung are in Rio when they get involved in the usual series of murders.

It's Harold Huber's third appearance in the series as chief of police, and Iris Wong's second as someone for Yung to fall in love with. Hamilton MacFadden appears. Interestingly, this is a remake of The Black Camel, which he directed.

There's a gimmick of a funny cigarette which puts the smoker into a trance in which they must tell the truth, but it actually works well. As for the rest of it, the usual notable performers include Mary Beth Hughes and Victor Jory. Local color is provided by playing Carmen Miranda songs from 20th Century-Fox A musicals, and once again, Charlie's American nature is indicated when Yung finds he's been drafted and is all gung ho about it.