Charlie Chan on Broadway

CinemaSerf

Our eponymous sleuth and No.1 son "Lee" (Keye Luke) are returning to the United States when a fellow passenger on their liner plants something in his luggage. Safely home, she tries to retrieve it from his hotel but is soon herself the subject of a police murder investigation. What was she trying to smuggle in, and why did someone kill her for it? Oland and Luke are on fine form in this light-hearted, well paced, mystery with loads of red herrings and strong supporting efforts from J Edward Bromberg as newspaper editor "Murdock"; Harold Huber ("Nelson") the policeman leading the hunt as well as the engaging double act of newspaper folks "Patten" (Donald Woods) and snapper "Joan" (Joan Marsh) and gangster-type "Burke" (Douglas Fowley) all keeping guessing for an hour. Nothing to do with musical theatre....