JohnHowardReid
Warner Oland (Charlie Chan), Irene Hervey (Diana Woodland), Jon Hall (Philip Nash), Keye Luke (Lee Chan), Russell Hicks (Andrews), Halliwell Hobbes (Colonel Watkins), Frederick Vogeding (Marloff), Max Wagner (taxi-driver henchman), Neil Fitzgerald (Dakin), Gladden James (Forrest, the valet), David Torrence (Sir Stanley Woodland), Guy Usher (president, chamber of commerce), Sun Wong (Moy Ming), Colin Kenny, Jimmy Phillips, Pat Somerset, Phil Tead, Luke Chan, Jack Chefe (reporters), Lynn Bari (2nd hotel switchboard operator), James B. Leong (Shanghai police operator), Harrison Greene, Frank Darien (tourists in café), Charles Haefeli (crook on boat), Russell Hopton, Eddie Hart ("G"-men), Eddie Lee (servant), Torben Meyer (French diplomat), Pat O'Malley (Belden), Harry Strang (chauffeur), Walter Wong, Sammee Tong (waiters), Jehim Wong (rickshaw boy at dock), Charles Stevens (beggar), Francis Pierlot (missionary), Hamilton MacFadden (reporter at stern of launch), Regina Rambeau.Director: JAMES TINLING. Original screenplay: Edward T. Lowe and Gerard Fairlie. Based on characters created by Earl Derr Biggers. Photography: Barney McGill. Film editor: Nick DeMaggio. Art directors: Duncan Cramer and Lewis Creber. Costumes designed by Alberto Luza. Wardrobe master: Sam Benson. Camera operator: Rudolph Maté. Music director: Samuel Kaylin. Stunts: Chick Collins, Bob Rose, Dick Stoney. Assistant director: Aaron Rosenberg. Music recording: Vinton Vernon. Sound recording: Albert Protzman. Western Electric Sound Recording. Associate producer: John Stone. Executive producer: Winfield Sheehan.Copyright 11 October 1935 by 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation. Presented by Fox Film Corporation. New York opening at the Roxy: 13 October 1935. Australian release: 27 November 1935. 6,300 feet. 70 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Charlie Chan bests an opium ring operating in Shanghai. NOTES: Number twelve of the 48-picture series.COMMENT: Another highly enjoyable excursion for Chan fans. In this one, Warner Oland not only makes with the usual aphorisms, but speaks in Chinese and even sings! Keye Luke makes an engaging number one son. The other players are likewise well served by the script (despite the fact that it's packed with inside jokes): Russell Hicks has the role of his career as a G-man; the heroine is a really attractive little lass; and the hero is most ingratiatingly played by Jon Hall (under his real name, Charles Locher). Director James Tinling takes excellent advantage of some eye- catching sets and production values, keeping the action moving at a smart pace and staging one or two really spectacular stunts. Other technical credits, including Barney McGill's attractively atmospheric black-and-white cinematography, are likewise highly appealing.
Michael_Elliott
Charlie Chan in Shanghai (1935)** 1/2 (out of 4) Charlie Chan (Warner Oland) is in Shanghai where he's about to receive an award but at the ceremony and man is murdered in a very clever way. Soon Chan and Lee Chan (Keye Luke) are investigating the murder, which leads to several attempts on their own lives.CHARLIE CHAN IN SHANGHAI is certainly the weakest film in the series up to this point. That's not to say that this isn't an entertaining entry in the long-running series but it seems a lot of different things were asleep at the wheel including the story and the characters. It seems that they tried to make up for the lack of story by throwing more bits of humor surrounding Chan's son but even this doesn't quite pay off.Again, the biggest issue is certainly the story itself, which is pretty routine from start to finish. Outside the clever way the first man is killed, there's really nothing too interesting here. The lack of any real villain is another thing that doesn't work and the lack of any good supporting players is another issue. This here really shocked me because you could say that the earlier films had enough stories for two movies yet this one here isn't given one or any good supporting players.Where the film does work is the greatness of Oland in his role of Chan. Once again he manages to really build this character up and there's no doubt that he's working hard trying to make up for the lack of a plot. Luke is also good in his supporting role, although the screenplay gives him a tad bit too much comedy that doesn't always work. The rest of the supporting cast give decent performances but no one really stands out.CHARLIE CHAN IN SHANGHAI isn't a bad movie per say but it's certainly lacking the script and characters of previous entries.
tapestry-0
Just to let those who are more prejudice than they think: According to co-star Keye Luke Oland didn't need make-up when he played Charlie Chan; all he would do is curl down his mustache and curl up his eyebrows. In fact, the Chinese often mistook him for one of their own countrymen. He attributed this to the fact that his Russian grandmother was of Mongolian descent. It always makes me angry when people complain about actors who play other races let alone other characters, that is what actors do! Especially back in the 1970s people were always thin-skinned and did not even consider the era nor how people were in those days. They only look at these movies with modern eyes and their own set of prejudices are involved. Little people were in the entertainment business too they were making a living just like all actors do prejudice is not only harsh but rarely check the facts! These movies are awesome and should be watched to be enjoyed as the mysteries they are, I also may add Earl Derr Biggers didn't like the stereo type of the evil oriental. He wrote of a gentle, intelligent, family man, who's job was police detective, I would have loved to have known him. That he happened to be Chinese would have made no difference.
utgard14
While visiting China, Charlie Chan finds himself the guest at a banquet in his honor. At the banquet, a man is murdered. Now Charlie and "Number One Son" Lee must investigate. This is one of the best of the Charlie Chan series. A nice mystery coupled with some humor and more action than usual for the series. Keye Luke is great in his second appearance as Lee. He was sorely missed in Egypt. Warner Oland is pitch-perfect, as always. We even get to hear him sing! Solid support from pretty Irene Hervey, Halliwell Hobbes, Russell Hicks, and Jon Hall in a very early role (billed under his real name Charles Locher). Just a fun story for fans of classic detective movies.
