Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise (1940)

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Best movie of this year hands down!

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

Though maybe a trifle too long, "Murder Cruise" is a superior entry in the "Charlie Chan" series. I noticed at the start that the script is based on an actual novel written by Earl Derr Biggers and not just on the character of Charlie Chan that was created by him, and indeed this is a nice thick mystery with a whole lot of suspects and multiple twists (and double-twists). There is a strong cast at work, with some recognizable names like Lionel Atwill and Leo Carroll playing two of the suspects; on the women's front, there is the lively Cora Witherspoon and the gorgeous Marjorie Weaver. Number 2 Son is more helpful (if still somewhat clumsy), and more likable, than usual in this entry. The shipboard settings add some spice to the proceedings. My favorite Chan line: "To speak without thinking is to shoot without aiming". Ain't that the truth! *** out of 4.

Charlie Chan hustles a whole passel of suspects aboard their cruise ship, knowing one of them is a murderer. He risks his life by staying aboard himself. At least that's what suspect Leo G. Carroll tells him—to which Chan replies, "Life has been risked for jewels far less valuable than friendship."An old friend has been murdered right in Lieutenant Chan's office, and Chan takes it as a personal challenge. The clues all point to some member of a round-the-world cruise as the murderer…but which one?A great assortment of the usual suspects keeps this Chan mystery moving along nicely. Besides archaeologist Leo Carroll, there's Cora Witherspoon, a dizzy rich lady; Marjorie Reynolds, her secretary; Robert Lowery, handsome and suddenly wealthy nephew of a second murder victim; and Charles Middleton and Claire Du Brey as a weird couple who do séances. Cruise leader Lionel Atwill wants the whole story kept out of the papers—and how suspicious a character is he? Mr. Chan is assisted in his investigation by number two son Jimmy Chan, played with energy and style by Sen Yung, who gets a couple of laughs but plays it mostly straight. Sidney Toler is excellent as Mr. Chan; very much at the center of the action, his confidence and timing are superb. The suspects snap at Mr. Chan, bite at each other, make their noise…and Chan just keeps that little smile on his face, polite, slightly mocking, letting them have their say, waiting for someone to make a mistake…. An exciting and clever climax tops this one off and clinches it as a top notch series entry.

The now legendary sleuth Charlie Chan(Sidney Toler)boards a cruise ship from Honolulu to San Francisco to solve the murder of one of his pals from Scotland Yard. It is all but certain the killer has to be a passenger on board ship, but which one? Charlie is joined by Number Two son Jimmy(Victor Sen Yung), help or hindrance...only to find more murder and a handful of suspicious passengers. Capable killers are Professor Gordon(Leo G. Carroll), Dr. Suderman(Lionel Atwell) and Jeremiah Walters(Charles Middleton). One of the better capers from the Chan franchise. Other players: Marjorie Weaver, Robert Lowery, Kay Linaker and Don Beddoe.

This film is a very good and has a hilarious performance by the great Cora Witherspoon!! She must be from the Edna Mae Oliver school of acting--one of those ladies that can steal every scene that she is in. All the Charlie Chan films are very enjoyable to watch, at least the ones with Sidney Toler in them, as he was the best actor to portray Charlie Chan. All around good fun film to watch!!