Warner Oland is "Charlie Chan in London" in this 1934 film and, as others have pointed out, this is a very good entry into the series.
Chan is about to leave London after working for the government when a young woman, Pamela Gray (Drue Layton) begs for his help in saving her brother (Douglas Walton) from being hanged for a murder he didn't commit. And there are only about 2-1/2 days left before his execution. It's a troubling case, due to the evidence and the fact that Pamela's fiancée (Ray Milland, very young) doesn't believe in her brother's innocence.
Chan goes to the country home where the murder took place; after another murder (made to look like a suicide) he's sure that one of the people he's encountered is the true murderer.
Oland is in top form here, and the film boasts not only a fine cast of British actors (Alan Mowbray, E.E. Clive) but a great atmosphere. Though I'm more used to Sidney Toler for some reason (I was introduced to the Chan films in Boston, and apparently that's what was shown), Oland is very good in the role. Toler is an older, more sardonic Chan. Oland, crawling through windows and coming out from underneath a desk is definitely sprier! Very enjoyable.
Chan is about to leave London after working for the government when a young woman, Pamela Gray (Drue Layton) begs for his help in saving her brother (Douglas Walton) from being hanged for a murder he didn't commit. And there are only about 2-1/2 days left before his execution. It's a troubling case, due to the evidence and the fact that Pamela's fiancée (Ray Milland, very young) doesn't believe in her brother's innocence.
Chan goes to the country home where the murder took place; after another murder (made to look like a suicide) he's sure that one of the people he's encountered is the true murderer.
Oland is in top form here, and the film boasts not only a fine cast of British actors (Alan Mowbray, E.E. Clive) but a great atmosphere. Though I'm more used to Sidney Toler for some reason (I was introduced to the Chan films in Boston, and apparently that's what was shown), Oland is very good in the role. Toler is an older, more sardonic Chan. Oland, crawling through windows and coming out from underneath a desk is definitely sprier! Very enjoyable.