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Charlie Chan in Honolulu
Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Distributed: Twentieth Century-Fox
Film Corporation
Production: October 31 to late November 1938
Previewed: Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, California,
December 16, 1938
Copyright: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, January 13, 1939; LP8722
Sound: Western Electric
Mirrophonic Recording
Film: Black and white
Length: 7 reels, 6,074 feet
Running Time: 67-68 minutes
Production
Code Administration Certificate Number: 4861
Source: Based on the character "Charlie Chan" created by Earl Derr Biggers
Producer: Sol M. Wurtzel (not credited)
Associate Producer: John Stone
Director: H.
Bruce Humberstone
Assistant Director: Saul Wurtzel (not credited)
Original Screenplay: Charles Belden
Contributing
Writer: Chandler Sprague (not credited)
Photography: Charles Clarke
Art Direction: Richard Day and Haldane Douglas
Film Editor: Nick DeMaggio
Set Decorations: Thomas Little
Costumes: Helen A. Myron
Musical Direction: Samuel
Kaylin
Sound: Joseph E. Aiken and William H. Anderson
Casting Director: James Ryan (not credited)
CAST:
Sidney Toler: Charlie Chan
Phyllis Brooks: Judy Hayes
Sen Yung: James
[Jimmy] Chan
Eddie Collins: Al Hogan
John King: [Chief Officer George] Randolph
Claire Dodd: Mrs. Carol Wayne
(alias Mrs. Elsie Hillman)
George Zucco: Dr. Cardigan
Robert Barrat: Captain Johnson
Marc Lawrence: Johnny ["Mac"]
McCoy
Richard Lane: [Detective] Joe Arnold (alias Mike Hannagan)
Layne Tom, Jr.: Tommy Chan
Philip Ahn: Wing Foo
Paul Harvey: [Chief] Inspector Rawlins
Grace Key: Mrs. Chan (not credited)
Florence Ung: Ling (not credited)
Iris Wong: Number Two Chan Daughter (not credited)
Barbara Jean Wong: Number Three Chan Daughter (not credited)
Faye Lee: Number Four Chan Daughter (not credited)
Margie Lee: Number Five Chan Daughter (not credited)
Sinclair Yip: Older Chan Son (not credited)
David Dong: Chan Son (not credited)
Frank Dong: Chan Son (not credited)
Allen Hoo: Chan Son (not credited)
Al Kikume: Police Officer (not credited)
Arthur Loft: Peabody (not credited)
Grace Hayle: Stout Woman (not credited)
Shirley Louie: Telephone Operator (not credited)
James Pierce: Police Officer (not credited)
Constantine Romanoff: "Stanislav Usepopokovski" (not credited)
James Spencer: Hawaiian Peddler (not credited)
Blue Washington: Seaman (not credited)
Billy Wayne: Seaman (not credited)
Richard Alexander: Tough Sailor with Cigar (not credited)
James Flavin: Desk Officer (not credited)
Charlie Chan, enjoying dinner with his "multitudinous family," receives news from his son-in-law,
Wing Foo, of the immanent arrival of his first grandchild. After Chan, Wing Foo, and most of the family rush off to the hospital,
a call comes in for the detective to investigate a murder aboard the freighter Susan B. Jennings. Chan's number two
son, Jimmy, who wants to start a detective practice of his own, is persuaded by his younger brother Tommy to answer the call
himself, and prove to his Pop that he is a good investigator.
Tommy secretly tags along as Jimmy goes to the freighter
which has just arrived in Honolulu from Shanghai. Captain Johnson assumes that Jimmy is the famous Charlie Chan, and explains
that the murdered man's identity is a mystery, and that secretary Judy Hayes is the only eyewitness to the fatal shooting.
Jimmy decides to question the rest of the freighters' passengers, who include animal keeper Al Hogan, Mrs. Carol Wayne, psychiatrist
Dr. Cardigan, criminal Johnny McCoy, and police detective Joe Arnold, who is taking McCoy back to the U.S. from Shanghai.
Judy reveals that that her lawyer employer in Shanghai had told her to deliver a package containing $300,000 to a
man who was to meet her in Honolulu. The man, who had identified himself by a pre-arranged signal, was shot by an unknown
assailant before the transaction could be completed.
First mate George Randolph, who has fallen in love with Judy,
takes Jimmy to interview the surly crewmembers. Jimmy's questioning angers the rough bunch, and when Joe Arnold appears on
deck and declares that Jimmy is no more Charlie Chan than he himself is, the group picks up the amateur sleuth to toss him
overboard. Boarding the ship and calmly witnessing the event with a reserved smile, Charlie Chan, who had received news of
the murder from his boss, Inspector Rawlins, while at the hospital, stops the crew members, noting, "Honolulu police frown
on choking bay with bodies."
Chan questions Carol Wayne, who states that she was on the freighter to rest while her
suit for divorce was being heard, and that she had recently become a widow anyway. Continuing his search aboard the freighter,
Chan finds a wrapper for some of the missing money in Dr. Cardigan's cabin. The detective becomes more suspicious of Judy
when she slips off of the ship to call her employer about the stolen funds during the momentary commotion caused by Oscar
the lion's appearance on the gangplank.
Wayne reveals that Randolph had given Judy a gun with which to protect herself.
Upon examination of the weapon, Chan finds that one shot has been fired. Randolph explains that he had earlier used the gun
to shoot at a shark that was following the ship. Judy then protests to Randolph that she is being framed when he questions
her about the missing money that had been found hidden in her cabin.
Later, after Chan and Jimmy find Carol Wayne
strangled in her cabin with a scarf, and the missing money is found in the possession of McCoy, who had hidden it in a lifeboat.
Chan announces that Arnold is actually Mike Harrigan, who, while in league with McCoy, had murdered the real Detective Arnold
after escaping from prison. The detective then calls everyone to meet in Captain Johnson's cabin.
CONCLUSION:
Before the meeting, Chan, with the help of Dr. Cardigan, sets a trap to catch the murderer. After the group assembles,
Chan reveals that Carol Wayne was actually Mrs. Elsie Hillman, the dead man's wife. Judy states that although she did not
know about Carol, she was delivering the money to the man so that he would not have to declare it in his divorce settlement.
Chan's trap works, as the killer shuts off the lights and attempts to grab the murder weapon, triggering a hidden
flash camera. After Dr. Cardigan develops the film, the murderer is revealed to be Captain Johnson. Chan explains that Johnson
had killed Mr. Hillman in order to get the money the money. When Carol had later become suspicious of him, he killed her,
too.
Minutes before, during the meeting, Chan had received a call from Wing Foo announcing that he was about to become
a father. He is called by Tommy, who, now back at the hospital, holds the telephone receiver near the newborn baby as the
proud detective listens as his grandson cries into the phone.
NOTES: This film was the first in which Sidney
Toler appeared as Charlie Chan. According to a Hollywood Reporter news item, associate producer John Stone had chosen
Toler to be the successor to Warner Oland, who had played Chan from 1931 until his death in 1938, after seeing him play a
Chinese character in the Paramount film King of Chinatown. Toler was the thirty-fifth actor tested for the role,
with Hollywood Reporter noting that others considered for the role included Leo Carillo and Cy Kendal, who had played
Chan on the radio. Toler continued to play Chan until his death in 1947. This was also the first film in which Sen Yung played
Jimmy Chan. Yung had replaced Keye Luke, who had portrayed Lee Chan in earlier entries in the series. Luke left the series
after Oland's death, when he and Twentieth Century-Fox disagreed on his new contract. According to Hollywood Reporter
news items, the search for Luke's replacement was "frantic," and led to casting director James Ryan seeking applicants among
the Los Angeles university students and Chinatown residents. The New York Times had speculated that Charlie
Chan in Honolulu would cost $300,000 to produce, and that Toler would receive $15,000 per Chan film. Many reviewers applauded
Toler's and Yung's performances and noted that followers of the series would be satisfied with the new actors. The Motion
Picture Herald review remarked on the novelty of a Chan film being previewed at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and stated
that the December 16, 1938 showing was very well received by the "top ranking executives, the most sought after reviewers
and commentators and invited guests" who attended. According to a Hollywood Reporter news item, Richard Lane was
originally signed to play the "romantic lead" opposite Phyllis Brooks.
Adapted from: AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE CATALOG - Within Our Gates: Ethnicity in American
Feature Films, 1911-1960
CHARLIE CHAN'S APHORISMS:
Ancient ancestor once say, "As mind is fed with silent thought, so should body absorb its
food."
Bills sometimes more difficult to collect than murder clues.
Hospital is for sick, not playground for
healthy.
When money talk, few are deaf.
Opinion like tea leaf in hot water - both need time for brewing.
Making
bedfellow of serpent no guarantee against snakebite.
Caution very good life insurance.
Bait only good if fish
bite on same.
Photograph does not lie.
OTHER WORTHY STATEMENTS:
Save football tactics for gridiron. (to his children at the dinner table)
(Jimmy: "I could probably
be the best [detective] in the Islands with your help.") Am afraid you overestimate ability of parent.
Do not ridicule
good intentions of elder brother. (to his children who were ridiculing their brother Jimmy after expressing his desire
to become a detective)
Wrong flavor. (to a nurse who presented him with a black newborn baby)
Honolulu
police frown on choking bay with bodies. (to the crew members of the Susan B. Jennings as they tried to toss
Jimmy overboard)
(Capt. Johnson: "...who's this young squirt?!") Young squirt merely chip masquerading as block.
(regarding Jimmy)
(Jimmy: "I thought I'd handle the case myself. I was making headway, too!") Making headway
toward ship rail.
(Dr. Cardigan: [to Chan and Jimmy] "Pardon me, gentlemen, I thought this cabin was
occupied only by the corpse.") Sorry to disappoint.
Have humble impression psychiatry of no value when brain
cease to function. (to Dr. Cardigan)
Young man suffer from over-developed impulses and under-developed control.
(to Dr. Cardigan regarding Jimmy)
(Joe Arnold: "Seems like I know you, I've seen your picture so many times.") Not in
Rogues' Gallery, I hope.
(Jimmy: "...I was almost unconscious!") Have suspected same since birth!
Must compliment
sparrow with eye of eagle. (to Jimmy)
Unlike old adage, much smoke, but no fire. (to Captain Johnson
regarding the fire aboard his ship)
(Dr. Cardigan: "What a wonderful contribution to science your brain would
make, Mr. Chan.") Thank you so much, but for present would prefer to keep same for own use.
(Hogan: "Congratulations,
Mr. Chan." [on the birth of Chan's grandson]) Contradiction, please. In present case, am only innocent bystander.
REVIEW:
Variety, December 21, 1938
Adventures of Charlie Chan get off to a fresh start, with Sidney Toler handling the title role in most capable fashion. His
Chan has more poise and lightness, and is less theatric than previously. Followers of the series should quickly accept him
as Chan, and if comparisons with the late Warner Oland's conception are made they will generally be made in his favor.
Toler is not new to Oriental roles, having handled such assignments several times in recent years. In addition to Toler,
sees the temporary - and likely permanent - departure of Key [sic] Luke, who handled the part of Lee Chan, oldest son of the
detective. Second son, Jimmy, is introduced to carry prominent spot in future pictures. Sen Yung has been tied by the studio
for the role, but possible return of Key [sic] Luke is carried in dialog, which describes his departure for art school in
the east.
Replacement of Key [sic] Luke was necessary, due to contract difficulties between 20th and the Chinese
player on a new deal.
Story is of standard murder-mystery pattern, with the wily Chan assigned to clear it up and
disclose the culprit's identity. This time it's aboard a tramper which drops anchor in Honolulu bound for the U.S. Victim
is shot while boarding the ship, and Chan ties up the boat until he can round up the suspects and catch the murderer.
While Chan is awaiting birth of his first grandchild, son Sen Yung ambitiously takes the assignment in his father's place,
complicating matters until the arrival of Toler to speedily clear matters by standard devious procedure.
Eddie Collins
romps through with several comedy passages as the keeper of a shipment of wild animals aboard, rating numerous laughs with
routines with a tame lion that is allowed to wander loose in the hold. George Zucco is good as the doctor at whom suspicion
is directed by the audience until the murderer is uncovered.
Story is typical of previous Chan murder mysteries,
providing several suspects for Chan to gradually eliminate. It's all quite interesting, with direction okay for this type
of picture.
'Chan in Honolulu' measures up to mark set by previous releases of the series, and will prove a good
programmer, especially in those spots where series enjoys a good following.
FILM NOTES:
POSSIBLE DATE: Fall 1938 (as Lee has recently begun attending a
"New York art school")
DURATION: One day
LOCATION:
Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii
LEE CHAN'S WHEREABOUTS, ACCORDING TO JIMMY CHAN: "...the
New York art school."
THE TEXT OF JIMMY CHAN'S NEW BUSINESS CARD:
"JAMES CHAN
ASSOCIATED WITH
CHARLIE CHAN, Private Detective
Expert in Criminology, Ballistics
(Bills Also Collected)"
THE ITEMS "OFFERED" BY CHAN FAMILY MEMBERS FOR JIMMY CHAN'S HOPED-FOR DETECTIVE'S
OFFICE:
Charlie Chan: "Will donate one desk and one hat rack to same."
Tommy: "I'll give you a couple of old blotters."
Unidentified Sister: "I have some nice rubber bands you may have, too."
THE NAME OF THE FREIGHTER WHERE THE MURDER OCCURRED: S.S. Susan
B. Jennings
ACCORDING TO THE HOMICIDE BUREAU OFFICER,THE LOCATION OF THE SUSAN B. JENNINGS
WHEN THE MURDER OCCURRED: "...off Kaneho (Kaneha) Point."
ACCORDING TO CAPTAIN JOHNSON, THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS ABOARD
THE SUSAN B. JENNINGS: "...just six."
THE NAMES THAT DR. CARDIGAN, WHILE FEIGNING POOR HEARING, CALLED
JIMMY CHAN: "Mr. Ham" and "Mr. Clam"
ACCORDING TO JUDY
HAYES, WHEN THE ATTORNEY IN SHANGHAI HAD HER SAIL TO HONOLULU ABOARD THE SUSAN B. JENNINGS: "Two weeks
ago..."
ACCORDING TO JUDY HAYES, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SHE WAS CARRYING: "300 thousand dollars."
THE NAME OF THE LION IN THE CARE OF ANIMAL KEEPER AL HOGAN: Oscar
THE DESTINATION OF THE ANIMALS ABOARD THE SUSAN B. JENNINGS, ACCORDING
TO AL HOGAN: "I'm takin' them to a 'Frisco zoo."
THE NAME GIVEN, WHEN ASKED BY JIMMY CHAN, BY THE NON-ENGLISH-SPEAKING SUSAN B.
JENNINGS CREW MEMBER: "Stanislav Usepopokovski"
CHARLIE CHAN'S CURRENT DETECTIVE RANK: Lieutenant (Charlie Chan: "Lieutenant
Chan, Honolulu Police.")
THE TYPE OF COIN TOSSED BY CHARLIE CHAN TO TEST THE HEARING
OF DR. CARDIGAN: A silver dollar
THE "MISTAKEN" REFERENCE MADE BY CHARLIE CHAN REGARDING
HIS SON TOMMY: "Number five son."
THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THE CHAN FAMILY AT THIS POINT:
13 (Charlie Chan: "Nine more at home.") Of the Chans' 13 children, two were not living at home. Daughter Ling
was married and was in the hospital having the Chans' first grandchild, and son Lee was, according to Jimmy Chan "at
the New York art school." With sons Jimmy and Tommy both aboard the Susan B. Jennings, there were, indeed, "nine
more at home."
THE NAME OF ONE OF THREE HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT. OFFICERS AT THE SUSAN B. JENNINGS
MENTIONED BY CHARLIE CHAN: Molokai
THE INSCRIPTION ON THE RING OF THE MURDER VICTIM AS
READ BY CHARLIE CHAN: "Engraving say: E.H. to R.H."
ACCORDING TO JUDY HAYES, THE NAME OF THE PERSON WHO SENT HER
TO HONOLULU WITH THE MONEY: "Mr. John Emory of Shanghai."
ACCORDING TO JUDY HAYES, HER POSITION WITH JOHN EMORY: "I'm just a secretary..."
ACCORDING TO DR. CARDIGAN, THE IDENTITY OF THE BRAIN THAT HE
HAD KEPT ALIVE FOR SIX MONTHS: "That of Chang Ho Ping, the famous Chinese murderer."
THE
MONEY AMOUNT PRINTED ON THE MONEY BAND FOUND BY CHARLIE CHAN IN DR. CARDIGAN'S CABIN: "$10,000"
THE
NAME OF THE BANK PRINTED ON THE MONEY BAND: "National Bank of Shanghai"
AL HOGAN'S AGE, ACCORDING TO HIMSELF: "I make it...37."
JOHNNY MC COY'S SENTENCE, ACCORDING TO JOE ARNOLD: "...a hundred and ten years, counting time off
for good behavior."
DR. CARDIGAN'S CABIN NUMBER: C
ACCORDING TO WING FOO, THE FIRST FOOD ITEM DESIRED BY LING IN THE HOSPITAL:
"...watermelon."
ACCORDING TO WING FOO, THE NAMES CHOSEN FOR THE NEW BABY: "Lotus,
Cherry - Leng if it's a boy." (NOTE: Leng is pronounced "Lung")
THE HEIGHT OF JUDY HAYES ACCORDING TO CHARLIE CHAN: "Five feet,
five inches tall."
THE HOTEL USED BY DR. CARDIGAN IN SHANGHAI:
The Shanghai Hotel
THE ITEMS THAT DR. CARDIGAN ADMITTED "STEALING" FROM HIS HOTEL:
"Two bars of soap"
THE DRINK REQUESTED BY CAROL WAYNE OF CAPTAIN
JOHNSON: Brandy
THE TIME INDICATED BY THE SHIP'S BELL OF THE SUSAN B.
JENNINGS: Six bells (7:00 p.m.)
THE INSCRIPTION ON CAROL WAYNE'S (ELSIE HILLMAN'S)
BRACELET, ACCORDING TO CHARLIE CHAN: "R.H. to E.H."
CAROL WAYNE'S CABIN NUMBER: A
JUDY HAYES' (ELSIE HILLMAN'S) CABIN NUMBER: B
JIMMY CHAN - "IT WAS A TRICK YOU ONCE TRIED, REMEMBER?": Jimmy used a "trick"
similar to that noted by his Pop and brother Lee in "Charlie Chan at the Race Track," which also related to a match
book "time fuse" being used to set a relatively harmless fire aboard ship.
THE NAME OF THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OWNERS OF THE SUSAN B. JENNINGS:
Mr. Peabody
THE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON MIKE HANNIGAN'S WANTED POSTER MUG SHOT: 95066
THE CRIME FOR WHICH MIKE HANNIGAN WAS WANTED: Murder
THE
LOCATION AND TIME OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE REAL JOE ARNOLD'S BODY ACCORDING TO CHARLIE CHAN: "Recovered from Yangtze
River in China ten days ago."
ACCORDING TO WING FOO, THE SECOND FOOD ITEM, DESIRED BY LING:
"...gumdrops."
ACCORDING TO CHARLIE CHAN, THE KNOT USED TO TIE SCARF AROUND THE NECK OF CAROL WAYNE
(ELSIE HILLMAN): "...a sailor's knot."
THE NAME OF CHARLIE CHAN'S NEW GRANDSON:
Leng (as the baby was a boy)
GLOSSARY:
all wet - (slang) Entirely mistaken.
Charlie Chan in Honolulu - Johnny McCoy: "You're all wet!"
big house -
(slang) A prison.
Joe Arnold: "The boys will love him back
at the big house."
bilge water - (slang) Nonsense.
Captain Johnson: "Aw, bilge water!"
boner - (slang) A blunder or an
error.
Joe Arnold: "Pull another boner like that and I'll losen up that thick skull
of yours."
cannon - (slang) A gun.
Al Hogan: "...somebody drops this cannon down the ventilator."
chump - A
stupid or foolish person; a dolt
Joe Arnold: "...this chump don't look any more like him than I do!"
cockeyed - (slang) Foolish; ridiculous;
absurd.
Joe Arnold [Mike Hannigan]: "Where do you get that cockeyed dope?"
cop a sneak - (slang) Steal.
Johnny McCoy: "Who wouldn't try to cop a sneak with his hooks on 300 grand?"
dame - (slang) A woman.
Joe Arnold: "You wouldn't be the first dame..."
dick - (slang) A detective.
Johnny McCoy: "You're acting just like a dick."
dope - (slang) Factual information,
especially of a private nature.
Joe Arnold [Mike Hannigan]: "Where do you get that cockeyed dope?"
eggs - (slang) Persons.
Randolph: "...some of them are pretty tough eggs."
frame - (slang) Made up evidence or contrive events so as to falsely incriminate a person.
Charlie Chan in Honolulu - Randolf: "They were trying to frame her."
framing - (see: frame)
Judy Hayes: "It was a beautiful little piece of framing..."
grand - (slang)
A thousand.
Johnny McCoy: "Who wouldn't try to cop a sneak with his hooks on 300 grand?"
heavy sugar - (slang) Flattery
(from the opposite sex.)
Joe Arnold: "You wouldn't be the first dame in the world to fall for heavy sugar."
hep - (slang) Keenly aware of
or knowledgeable about the latest trends or developments.
Joe Arnold: "If he ever gets hep that I'm Mike Hannigan..."
hooks - (slang) Hands.
Johnny McCoy: "Who wouldn't try to cop a sneak with his hooks on 300 grand?"
hot seat - (slang) An electric
chair.
Joe Arnold: "That's when I end up on the hot seat..."
on the up and up - (slang) Open
and honest.
Joe Arnold: "Do you think she's on the up and up?"
pinch - (slang) To take into custody;
arrest.
Joe Arnold: "I ought to pinch you for impersonating an officer!"
pipe down - (slang) To stop talking;
be quiet.
Randolph: "Pipe down, all of you!"
racket - (slang) A business or occupation.
Joe Arnold: "Yeah, what's your racket?"
sap - (slang) A gullible person;
a dupe.
Joe Arnold: "...that Chan guy is no sap."
snappy - (slang) Lively or energetic;
brisk.
Charlie Chan: "Make short and most snappy, please."
squirt - (slang) A small or young person.
Captain Johnson: "...who is this young squirt."
stem to stern - (nautical slang)
Front to back, throughout.
Joe Arnold: "I've been around this tub from stem to stern..."
stevedores - Workers who are employed
in the loading or unloading of ships.
Captain Johnson: "We've just docked and a gang of stevedores will be on board
any minute."
stir bug - (slang) A prisoner.
Joe Arnold: "Wait'll I get my hands on that stir bug!"
take a powder - (idiom) To make
a quick departure; run away.
Joe Arnold: "Trying to take a powder on me, eh?"
tommy rot - (slang) Utter foolishness; nonsense.
Captain Johnson: "I've listened to enough of this tommy rot!"
tub - (slang) A wide, clumsy,
slow-moving boat.
Joe Arnold: "I've been around this tub from stem to stern..."
washed up - (slang) To be eliminated or
be eliminated as unsatisfactory.
Captain Johnson: "I'd like to get this case washed up as soon as possible."
yammering - (informal) (1)
Complaining peevishly or whimperingly; whine. (2) Talking volubly and loudly.
Captain Johnson: "I have enough trouble without all this yammering."
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