Charlie Chan at the Olympics

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Movie
German title Charlie Chan at the Olympics
Original title Charlie Chan at the Olympics
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1937
length 71 minutes
Rod
Director H. Bruce Humberstone
script Robert Ellis ,
Helen Logan ,
Paul Burger (original artwork)
production John Stone
music Samuel Kaylin
camera Daniel B. Clark
cut Fred Allen
occupation

Charlie Chan at the Olympics (Original title: Charlie Chan at the Olympics ) is a 1937 crime film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone , which is about a case of the Chinese-born police officer Charlie Chan invented by Earl Derr Biggers . It is about the theft of a strategically important air duct system, which Charlie Chan cleared up during the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin while fighting spies and enemy agents in order to get the system back. The film was produced by 20th Century Fox with Warner Oland in the title role and Katherine DeMille and Pauline Moore in other leading roles.

action

A pilot testing a device that enables him to operate his aircraft with a remote control is overwhelmed by an attacker who was hiding as a stowaway on board the aircraft. The attacker then kidnapped the flight and the valuable device. Charlie Chan and his younger son, Charlie Chan Jr., encounter the case when they discover the missing plane on a deserted beach in Hawaii . The air guiding device, which can make a fortune when sold to a foreign power, is gone, and Chan discovers the body of the pilot who was murdered. The body of Miller, the pilot's killer, is also discovered later.

It is determined that the person in possession of the device has left Honolulu for the US mainland and is likely on their way to Berlin . There the Summer Olympics, with its large crowds, offer sufficient camouflage for those involved in the foreign policy intrigue.

In a race to arrive in Germany before the owner of the stolen device, Charlie Chan, Hopkins, the owner of the stolen aircraft, and Cartwright, the inventor of the remote control device, take the Hindenburg airship . Charlie Chan's son Lee Chan, who is a member of the swimming team, is also on board the ocean liner Manhattan , which transports the US Olympic team. There are also a number of suspects on board in the case, such as Dick Masters, a pole vaulter and test pilot who failed to fly Hopkins' plane on the day of the theft due to a shoulder injury, Yvonne Roland, who visited Miller's hotel room, and Arthur Hughs Notorious arms dealer who had hoped to buy the Cartwright invention.

In Berlin, Chan finds out that the missing device was hidden in a box in the luggage of Master's friend Betty Adams, who is a member of the US women's team. He quickly replaces the device with a book and returns the box to Hopkins. When Hopkins later disappears, Cartwright tells Chan and the authorities that Hughes had accused Hopkins of fraud, threatening to expose his plan to sell the invention to a foreign government, and that Hopkins escaped with the device in the box. The suspicion now falls on Masters because the box was found in Betty Adams' luggage and because he was on the ship with Yvonne Roland.

Yvonne Roland finally brings the still unopened box to the residence of the foreign diplomat Charles Zaraka. The contents of the box turn out to be an English-German dictionary published by the US Olympic Committee. Charlie Chan is instantly suspected of fraud.

Lee Chan is kidnapped during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. According to the instructions of Lee's kidnappers, Chan brings the device, which has been replaced by a copy equipped with a radio transmitter. When he appears at an agreed meeting point, he is taken to the resident Zarakas. When Hughes is asked by Zaraka to examine the device, he explains that it is the real invention.

After Charlie Chan reunites with his son, Zaraka explains that he cannot allow witnesses to be left behind. At this moment Hughes appears with his helpers and can quickly overcome Zaraka's men. The device now turns out to be a fake.

When the Berlin police arrive, the sound of a pistol can be heard and Hopkins lies wounded and unconscious on the floor. Chan proves that Cartwright shot Hopkins and that he was also Miller's killer in Honolulu. It was he who made it appear that Hopkins had stolen the device.

After Lee Chan won the 100 meter swim some time later, his proud father points to a paddle that looks similar to one he used to teach his son to swim and explains, “Was prepared for emergencies! "('Was prepared for emergency!')

background

The film premiered on May 21, 1937 in the United States was the third of four films in the series directed by H. Bruce Humberstone.

In addition to Warner Oland as Charlie Chan and Keye Luke as Lee Chan and Layne Tom Jr. as Charlie Chan Jr., this film also stars a number of actors who have also appeared in other films in the series, such as Pauline Moore, C. Henry Gordon, Jonathan Hale and Frederick Vogeding. In some uncredited supporting roles, actors of German origin such as Arno Frey , Hans Fuerberg , Paul Panzer and William von Brincken can be seen. In addition, some athletes from the Olympic Games such as Jesse Owens , Ralph Metcalfe and Fritz Schilgen appear in documentary scenes .

Herschel McCoy , who was nominated for an Oscar for best costume design in both 1952 and 1954 , was responsible for the costumes . Harry M. Leonard , who was nominated for the Oscar for the best special effects at the 1946 Academy Awards, also worked as a sound engineer .

The airship LZ 129 Hindenburg seen in the film had an accident just two weeks before the film's premiere on May 6, 1937 while landing in Lakehurst . 36 people were killed in the accident.

Quotes

As in the other films in the series, Charlie Chan emphasizes his work with quotes that are reminiscent of Chinese proverbs . The always polite and calm-looking Chan thanks him as usual with a “Thank you so much” ('Thank you so much'). In addition, his “contradiction, please!” ('Contradiction, please!') Often appears when he wants to express his differing views.

Chan's sayings in this film include:

  • "A fish in the sea is like a flea on a dog - always present, but difficult to find" ('Fish in sea like flea on dog - always present but difficult to find')
  • "A good hunter never warns the tiger of the trap" ('Good hunter never warn tiger of trap')
  • "Like a football, the truth receives many kicks before it reaches its goal" ('Truth, like football, receive many kicks before reaching goal')
  • "All work and no play make Charlie Chan a very dull policeman"
  • “Premature accusations are like long gunshots in a horse race. The odds are good, the chances are doubtful "('Hasty accusation like long shot on horse race. Odds good but chances doubtful')
  • “An important lesson for good detectives: if all players hold suspicious cards, it is a good idea to have an ace up your sleeve” ('Important lesson for good detective - when all players hold suspicious cards, good idea to have joker up sleeve ')
  • "It is better for an Asian to lose life than to lose face" ('Better for Oriental to lose life than lose face')

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