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Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo
Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Distributed: Twentieth Century-Fox
Film Corporation, January 21, 1938
Production: September 20 to mid-October 1937
Copyright: Twentieth Century-Fox Film
Corporation, January 21, 1938; LP 8366
Opened: Roxy, New York, N.Y., the week of December 17, 1937
Sound: Western
Electric Mirrophonic recording
Film: Black and white
Length: 8 reels, 6,465 feet
Running Time: 71 minutes
Production
Code Administration Certificate Number: 3797
Source: Based on the character "Charlie Chan" created by Earl Derr Biggers.
Director: Eugene Forde
Associate Producer: John Stone
Assistant Director: Saul Wurtzel
Screenplay: Charles
Belden and Jerry Cady
Original Story: Robert Ellis and Helen Logan
Photography: Daniel B. Clark
Art Direction:
Bernard Herzbrun
Art Direction Associate: Haldane Douglas
Film Editor: Nick DeMaggio
Costumes: Herschel
Musical
Direction: Samuel Kaylin
Sound: Bernard Freericks and Harry M. Leonard
CAST:
Warner Oland: Charlie
Chan
Keye Luke: Lee Chan
Virginia Field: Evelyn Grey
Sidney Blackmer: Victor Karnoff
Harold Huber: [Inspector]
Jules [Etienne] Joubert
Kay Linaker: Joan Karnoff
Robert Kent: Gordon Chase
Edward Raquello: Paul Savarin
George
Lynn: Al Rogers (also called Albert Rogers)
Louis Mercier: Taxi Driver
George Davis: Pepite (First Gendarme)
John
Bleifer: Ludwig [Krauss]
Georges Renavent: Renault
Constant Franke: Croupier (not credited)
André Cheron: Croupier (not credited)
Joseph Romantini: Attaché (not credited)
Albert Pollet: Attaché (not credited)
Victor Delinsky, Alphonse Martell, Louis Lubitch,
Robert Graves,
George Sorel: Gendarme (not credited)
Jean Perry: Gendarme (not credited)
Jean De Briac: Doorman
(not credited)
Manuel Paris: Doorman (not credited)
Eugene Borden: Hotel Clerk (not credited)
Gennaro
Curci: Waiter (not credited)
Antonio Filauri: Waiter (not credited)
John Picorri: Waiter (not credited)
Sherry Hall: Bartender (not credited)
Marcelle
Corday: Concierge (not credited)
Leo White: French Butler (not credited)
Emile Bistagne (not credited)
Art Dupuis
(not credited)
Charlie Chan and number one son Lee are passing through Monte Carlo on their way to Paris
for an art show in which Lee has a painting. While there, they meet Inspector Jules Joubert, chief of police of Monte Carlo.
That evening, as father and son leave to catch the train from Nice, their taxi breaks down. Chan and Lee continue on foot
until they see an expensive roadster speed past them, leaving another car in which the two find a dead man. Two gendarmes
arriving at the scene misunderstand Lee's poor French, and understand him to say that they were responsible for the man's
murder.
Back in Monte Carlo, after Chan and Lee are released by authorities, an investigation reveals that the dead
man was Renault, a bank messenger who was on his way to Paris with $1,000,000 in metallurgic bonds, now missing, which belonged
to Victor Karnoff. It is also discovered that three metallurgic bonds were offered for sale that same day at a Monte Carlo
bank by Al Rogers, a bartender at the Hotel Imperiale.
Later, Chan and Lee recognize the expensive roadster in front
of the hotel and learns that it belongs to Evelyn Grey, who is a resident there. Inspector Joubert and Chan find her in the
company of Paul Savarin, a stockbroker and Karnoff's bitter rival. Although she admits stopping by the car, Evelyn says that
she had fled in fright when she had seen Chan and Lee approach, figuring them to be the murderers. Joubert learns that Karnoff's
chauffeur Ludwig, who had driven Renault, was in league with Savarin. Originally suspecting that Ludwig had committed the
crime, Joubert soon learns that the driver's body has been found in a swamp near the car.
The next day, Karnoff's
wife Joan, who had, the night before, begged Rogers to give her back the three bonds that she had previously given to him,
admits to him that she had stolen them from his room. Rogers then gives her until noon to repay him their value of $25,000.
At breakfast that morning, Evelyn promises Gordon Chase, Karnoff's secretary who is in love with her, that she will
not see Savarin again and that Savarin means nothing to her. After Chan learns that Evelyn has been living in luxury with
no visible means of support, and that Joan Karnoff had pawned jewelry that morning for $25,000, the value of the three missing
bonds, he and Joubert go to interrogate Rogers. However, upon arriving at his room, they find him dead with an open valise
full of Karnoff's stolen bonds. Joubert concludes that Rogers had committed suicide, and that the case is closed, but Chan
suggests that the evidence shows otherwise.
Chan and Joubert go to see Karnoff at his house where they also find Joan,
Savarin, Gordon, and Evelyn. Joan confesses that Rogers, whom she had married seven years earlier, and whom she had thought
had obtained a divorce, was blackmailing her. As a result, she had given him the three bonds, but had stolen them back when
she had learned of Karnoff's million-dollar deal from her brother, Gordon, who secretly replaced them for her.
CONCLUSION:
Chan has Lee bring in the valise containing the bonds only to find that
it is locked. Asking Karnoff for the key, Gordon supplies it and opens the lock. Chan then announces that Gordon Chase is
the murderer, as the valise had been found open with no damage to its lock in Rogers' room, and the only keys to it were in
the possession of the messenger, Renault, and Karnoff's secretary, Gordon. Other facts seal the case against Gordon who confesses
to the crimes, berating Evelyn Grey for whom he had stolen from Karnoff so that she could live a rich lifestyle. When Gordon
had felt he was in danger of being exposed, he had killed Rogers, attempting to make it look as if he had commited the crimes.
Gordon, swearing revenge against Evelyn, flees through an open window, but is run over and instantly killed by a speeding
car. Joubert "suggests" that Evelyn and Savarin leave Monte Carlo.
With the case successfully concluded, Inspecter
Joubert gives Charlie Chan and Lee another send-off as they haltingly depart in the same backfiring taxi that had broken down
earlier.
NOTE: Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo was
Warner Oland's last film. Oland began Charlie Chan at the Ringside in January of 1938, but the production was halted
when the actor walked off the set on the 17th of that month. According to news items, there was a dispute between Oland and
the studio.
Adapted from: AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE CATALOG - Within Our Gates: Ethnicity in American
Feature Films, 1911-1960
CHARLIE CHAN'S APHORISMS:
Humble presence of no more importance than one drop of rain in cloudburst.
Illustrious ancestor once say, "Destination never reached by turning back on same."
Action speak louder than French.
Tongue often hang man quicker than rope.
One picture still worth ten thousand words.
Questions are keys
to door of truth.
Truth cannot be insult.
Car with new sparkplug like flea on puppy dog - make both most active.
OTHER WORTHY STATEMENTS:
Contradiction of old saying that
"talk is cheap." (to Jules Joubert regarding Paul Savarin and Victor Karnoff who compete at high stakes gambling to "make
a statement")
(Lee: "Gosh, Pop, I haven't a cent in my pocket.") Rejoice that you still have honorable
pants.
(Lee: "I like detective work better than painting.") If paintings as full of imagination as detective work,
he will be Chinese Rembrandt.
French very difficult language. (To Lee as he signals in vain to a passing car while
hitch hiking)
(Lee: "There's another car down there, Pop! Must have been an accident.") Perhaps like
our own taxi - on sit-down strike.
Fortunately, assassination of French language not serious crime. (to Lee)
So sorry, but find Monte Carlo hospitality difficult to escape. (to Jules Joubert who is surprised to see Charlie Chan
and son Lee in a jail cell)
Present case, like too many cocktails, make very bad headache. Perhaps bartender provide
remedy for same. (to Jules Joubert regarding bartender Al Rogers)
Perhaps bright sunshine bring forth solution.
(to Jules Joubert)
Very doubtful petty larceny mouse attack millionaire lion. (to Jules Joubert regarding
Al Rogers)
Perhaps we now catch lion in mousetrap...or lioness. (to Jules Joubert)
Unfortunately,
Mr. Rogers already depart on long journey. (to Lee regarding Al Rogers' murder)
Will be facing greatest mystery
if award given to offspring's painting. (to Jules Joubert regarding Lee's painting in a Paris exhibition)
REVIEW:
Variety, December 22, 1937
Perhaps Hollywood's nearest approach to achieving perpetual motion is the regularity with
which 'Charlie Chan' cop-chase-crook mellers are milled out.
Finding the Chinese detective 'at Monte Carlo' also finds
Warner Oland in his 16th feature as Chan in the last six years. Pic, obviously aimed at the duals, should be o.k. on popularity
already built up and streamlined. But it's a bit under average for Chan celluloiders.
Culprit who commits the murders
is very well concealed; in fact, too well. Not enough clues are strewn about for the audience to have any chance of nailing
the one in advance through deduction. That's rather unfair and weakens the effect of the pic as a whole.
Plot finds
'Chan' passing through Monaco for a gander at the gambling casino. He is detained at departure when his taxi breaks down and
he discovers a murder and a theft of $1,000,000 worth of bonds. The usual several adjunctive murders follow.
Suspects
include almost all the cast characters, but motives for the crimes are too vaguely established and the progression of plot
moves too haltingly.
'Chan' seems to be running out of bon mots derived from 'Old Chinese proverbs' to sum up situations.
His 25-year-old son (Keye Luke) supplies rather lightweight humor by his bumbling when trying to independently track down
the villain. Harold Huber is swell source of humor as a gesticulating, apologetic chief of Monaco's police. It's an abrupt
departure from the heavy characterizations which Huber has always done in the past, and reveals him as an actor with more
facets than suspected.
There's no real romantic side to the yarn, which proves something of an oversight, in view
of the general plot weaknesses. Also poor judgment was having so much dialog couched in French, whole scenes thus being negated
for Yankee audiences.
Rest of the cast about o.k., with Sidney Blackmer and Edward Raquello in good form as smoothies.
In a bit, Louis Mercier scores as a muttering, clog-craniumed hack driver.
Direction might have speeded the yarn more;
camera didn't set the film off too well.
FILM NOTES:
DATE: August 25-26, 1937 (Wednesday and Thursday)
DURATION: Two days
LOCATION: Monte Carlo, Principality of
Monaco
THE TYPE OF CAR SHOWN ARRIVING AT THE CASINO DE MONTE CARLO:
Hispano Sutra town car
THE NAME OF THE COUPLE REGISTERING AT THE CASINO DE MONTE
CARLO AHEAD OF CHARLIE CHAN AND SON LEE: M. and Mme. de Chaigny
THE TEXT OF THE CARD ISSUED TO M. AND MME. DE CHAVIGNY:
"CASINO DE MONTE CARLO
Principaute de Monte Carlo
(hand written) M. et Mme. de Chavigny
CARTE D'ENTREE
(signed) Henry Lohor
Signature
Le
Directeur"
LEE CHAN'S FOUR REASONS FOR CONSIDERING THE NUMBER 25 TO BE LUCKY
FOR HIM:
The Chans' hotel room in Nice is number 125.
Lee is 25 years old.
The date is August 25.
It is the Chinese year 9325.
(Charlie Chan: "25 is also amount you borrow from me last week.")
THE ACTUAL CHINESE YEAR IN 1937: 4635
THE GAME PLAYED BY VICTOR KARNOFF AND PAUL SAVARIN:
Chemin de Fer (Baccarat)
THE AMOUNT OF PAUL SAVARIN'S BET: 50,000
Francs
THE AMOUNT ASKED FOR AND GIVEN TO EVELYN GREY
BY VICTOR KARNOFF TO USE AS A BET: 1,000 Francs
THE FIRST WINNING NUMBER CALLED OUT ON THE ROULETTE
WHEEL: "Vinct-quatre, noir." (24, black)
LEE'S FIRST ROULETTE BET: 20 francs on
25, red
THE SECOND WINNING NUMBER CALLED OUT ON THE ROULETTE
WHEEL: "Dix-sept, noir" (17, black)
LEE'S SECOND ROULETTE BET: 20 Francs on
25, red
THE THIRD WINNING NUMBER CALLED OUT ON THE ROULETTE
WHEEL: "Douze, rouge." (12, red)
THE VALUE OF THE MISSING METALLURGIC BONDS, ACCORDING
TO GORDON CHASE: $25,000
THE VALUE OF THE METALLURGIC BONDS THAT VICTOR
KARNOFF HAD PLANED TO SELL OFF TO "WRECK SAVARIN": $1 million
THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT JOAN KARNOFF HAD TO GET
THE MISSING METALLURGIC BONDS TO HER BROTHER GORDON CHASE: "About an hour."
THE NUMBER OF STRAIGHT HANDS WON BY VICTOR KARNOFF
AGAINST PAUL SAVARIN AT CHEMIN DE FER: Five
ACCORDING TO LEE CHAN, THE REASON THAT HE AND HIS POP WERE ON THEIR WAY TO
PARIS: "I'm exhibiting a painting at the Paris Exhibition, and we've got to be there for the showing."
THE HOTEL WHERE AL ROGERS WORKED AT THE BAR:
Hotel Imperial
THE DRINK ORDERED BY JOAN KARNOFF AT THE BAR AT
THE HOTEL IMPERIAL: Benedictine
THE DRINK ORDERED BY THE COUPLE AT THE BAR:
"Cocktail de Bronx"
THE HOTEL WHERE EVELYN GREY HAD A SUITE:
Hotel Imperial
THE BOND SERIAL NUMBERS AS READ BY RENAULT TO VICTOR KARNOFF:
"Series G - 18407 to 17."
"J - 2264 to 74."
"K - 2755 to..." (missing bonds)
"R - 9183 to 93."
VICTOR KARNOFF'S TELEPHONE CONTACT IN PARIS FOR
THE BOND SALE: Ramboullet
THE TYPE OF CAR SEEN BY CHARLIE CHAN AND SON LEE
LEAVING THE MURDER SCENE ON THE ROAD TO NICE: White Dussenberg roadster convertible
THE LICENSE NUMBER OF THE MONTE CARLO POLICE CAR THAT WAS FLAGGED DOWN BY LEE CHAN ON THE ROAD
TO NICE, FRANCE: 3475 921
AT THE TIME CHARLIE CHAN AND SON LEE ARE RELEASED
FROM THEIR MONTE CARLO JAIL, THE LENGTH OF TIME SINCE THEIR TRAIN HAD DEPARTED NICE, FRANCE: "...20 minutes ago." (perhaps about 11:00 p.m.)
THE CASES IN JULES JOUBERT'S DESK, MENTIONED BY
JOUBERT TO CHARLIE CHAN: "Mlle. Fifi Zaza report the loss of puppy dog...A doctor has the watch stolen...A bartender
attempts the sale of some bonds and the bank lift the eyebrows."
THE NUMBERS OF THE MISSING METALLURGIC BONDS AND THEIR VALUES:
M 2756 250,000 Francs
M 2757 250,000 Francs
M 2758 250,000 Francs
THE AMOUNT FOR WHICH AL ROGERS HAD ATTEMPTED
TO SELL THESE THREE BONDS: $25,000
CALCULATING FROM THE ABOVE INFORMATION, THE VALUE
OF THE FRANC TO U.S. DOLLARS ON AUGUST 25, 1937: A little over 3 cents (30 francs to the dollar)
EVELYN GREY'S SUITE NUMBER: 319
THE TIME AS EVELYN GREY LEFT THE CASINO TO TAKE
"AN HOUR'S DRIVE" ON THE ROAD TO NICE: !0 p.m.
THE TIME OF EVELYN GREY'S SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT
WITH GORDON CHASE AT THE CASINO: 11 p.m.
THE LOCATION OF THE RESIDENCE OF AL ROGERS:
Hotel Regale
AL ROGERS' ROOM NUMBER AT THE HOTEL IMPERIAL:
22
THE TIME AS PAUL SAVARIN TELEPHONED TO CHARTER
AN AIRPLANE TO FLY FROM NICE TO PARIS: 8 p.m.
THE TIME AS PAUL SAVARIN CALLED THE AIRPORT AT
NICE TO CANCEL HIS CHARTERED PLANE: 9:30 p.m.
PARTIAL BREAKFAST MENU OF THE HOTEL IMPERIAL:
"HOTEL IMPERIAL
PETIT DEJEUNER
FRUITS
Pomplemousse 1/2 8. Poire 12. Banana 4.
Oranges
Mandarines --
OEUFS
Omelette au Jambon 9. Oeuf Gelles 4.
Oeufs Frits Sauce Tomates 4.
Oeufs Brouilles au Croutons 9.
Oeufs Plat aux -------- 9.
POISSONS
FILLET DE SOLE CABLIER..."
LEE CHAN'S BREAKFAST ORDER: Strawberries
and cream and ham and eggs
CHARLIE CHAN'S BREAKFAST ORDER: Waffles
THE TIME OF CHARLIE CHAN'S AND SON LEE'S BREAKFAST
AT THE HOTEL IMPERIAL: 9 a.m. (based on Charlie Chan's statement to Lee: "Note: young lady [Evelyn Grey] keep appointment
[with Gordon Chase] ten hours late.")
THE TITLE OF THE MAGAZINE THAT WAS BROUGHT BY
THE WAITER TO CHARLIE CHAN FOR "BREAKFAST": 'CROSSWORD PUZZLES'
THE PRICE OF THE 'CROSSWORD PUZZLES' MAGAZINE:
10 cents
THE PLANNED TIME AND PLACE OF EVELYN GREY'S AND
GORDON CHASE'S MEETING TO HAVE COCKTAILS: 5 p.m. at the Hotel Imperial
PAUL SAVARIN'S ORDERS FOR THE STOCKS HE SOLD
OVER THE TELEPHONE: "...Sell them (unknown stocks) in 10,000 share lots. And offer 5,000 Burma Timber..."
EVELYN GREY'S ORDER AT THE HOTEL IMPERIAL BAR:
"...something strong."
THE POLICE INFORMATION ON EVELYN GREY AS TRANSLATED
TO CHARLIE CHAN BY JULES JOUBERT: "Age 24; born in London; unmarried; occupation: mannequin. Left position in
April. Since then, living expensively in Monte Carlo with invisible income."
THE POLICE INFORMATION ON AL ROGERS AS TRANSLATED
TO CHARLIE CHAN BY JULES JOUBERT: "Age 35; born in Chicago; arrested twice for petty larceny - no conviction.
Occupation: Vaudeville dancer. Appeared in French music halls in 1936. Since employed as bartender in Vichy and Monte
Carlo."
ACCORDING TO JULES JOUBERT, THE TIME AS JOAN
KARNOFF BROUGHT JEWELRY TO A PAWN SHOP IN NICE: "...at eight o'clock this morning."
ACCORDING TO JULES JOUBERT, THE AMOUNT THAT JOAN
KARNOFF HAD BEEN PAID FOR THE JEWELRY: 750,000 Francs (equal to $25,000) (Jules Joubert: "25,000 dollars!")
ACCORDING TO JULES JOUBERT, THE LENGTH OF TIME
SINCE THE LAST MURDER IN MONTE CARLO: "...25 years..."
THE DATE, ACCORDING TO JOAN KARNOFF, WHEN
SHE HAD MARRIED AL ROGERS: "...seven years ago." (1930)
THE TIME As SHOWN ON THE CLOCK ON THE WALL AT
THE VILLA OF VICTOR KARNOFF: 2:40 (p.m.)
ACCORDING TO JULES JOUBERT, THE APPROXIMATE TIME
OF AL ROGERS' MURDER: "...between ten and eleven (a.m.)."
THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THE BONDS MISSING FROM THE
RECOVERED BAG: $200,000
THE LENGTH OF TIME GIVEN TO EVELYN GREY AND PAUL
SAVARIN BY JULES JOUBERT TO LEAVE MONTE CARLO: 24 hours
GLOSSARY:
all in - (idiom) Very tired; exhausted.
Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo - Evely Grey: "I'm all in with
that session with the police last night."
asbestos - (as used) A fabric woven
from asbestos fibers, formerly used for theater curtains, firefighters' gloves, etc.
Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo - Charlie Chan: "Next time must buy asbestos
pants."
Benedictine
- A sweet cognac-based liqueur, flavored with various aromatics, fruit peels and herbs.
Joan Karnoff: "Benedictine."
Bourse
- The stock exchange in Paris, France.
Jules Joubert: "They are the enemies on
the Bourse as well as in the casino."
chemin de
fer - The French version of baccarat, chemin de fer is a casino game in which players bet on either
of two hands dealt on the table: the "player" or the "banker." The hand that comes closer to 9 wins.
Jules Joubert: "Perhaps you would like
to play a little roulette or chemin de fer,
cherchez la
femme - (French) "Look for the woman."
Jules Joubert: "Cherchez la femme
- always at the bottom of trouble is a woman."
Cocktail de
Bronx (Bronx Cocktail) - 1 oz vermouth, 1 oz gin, juice of 1/4 orange, 1 slice orange.
Shake all ingredients (except orange slice) with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Add the orange slice and serve. The
Bronx Cocktail was supposedly invented by Johnnie Solon of the Waldorf-Astoria bar in Manhattan.
A "Cocktail de Bronx" was ordered by a couple
at the bar in the Hotel Imperial.
crime passionelle - (French)
Crime of passion.
Lee Chan: "It's what the French newspapers
call a crime passionelle."
fan-tan
- (1) A Chinese betting game in which the players
lay wagers on the number of counters that will remain when a hidden pile of them has been divided by four. (2)
A card game in which sevens and their equivalent are played in sequence and the first player out of cards is the winner.
Charlie Chan: "Venerable grandparent once
have large holdings in fan-tan house."
garçon
- (French) A waiter or attendant.
Joan Karnoff: "Garçon,
my wraps, please."
in a jam
- (slang) In a difficult, threatening, or embarrassing position; also, unable to solve a dilemma.
Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo - Joan Karnoff: "You know I was in a jam."
metallurgic
- Of or pertaining to metallurgy or metals (in the case of bonds, probably relating to valuable metals such as gold or silver).
Gordon Chase: "$25,000 of the metallurgic
bonds are missing."
Rembrandt - (Rembrandt van
Ryn) (1606-1669) A very influential Dutch painter of the 17th century.
Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo - Charlie Chan: "...he will be Chinese
Rembrandt."
sit-down strike - A
strike in which workers refuse to leave the workplace until a settlement is reached. This form of protest was very much
in the news during the mid-1930s.
Charlie Chan: "Perhaps like own taxi,
on sit-down strike."
Vichy - A
small city in central France southeast of Paris noted for its spa and hot mineral springs. During the German
occupation from 1940-1944 this city was the capital of "free France."
Jules Joubert: "Since employed
as bartender in Vichy and Monte Carlo."
MONACO MAP:
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