Movie star Shelah Fane is seeing wealthy Alan Jaynes while filming in Honolulu, Hawaii, but won't marry him without consulting famed psychic Tarneverro first. Enter inspector Charlie Chan of the Honolulu Police, investigating the unsolved murder, three years earlier, of a Hollywood actor.
Warner Oland
Charlie Chan
Sally Eilers
Julie O'Neil
Bela Lugosi
Tarneverro
Dorothy Revier
Shelah Fane
Victor Varconi
Robert Fyfe
Murray Kinnell
Archie Smith
William Post Jr.
Alan Jaynes
Robert Young
Jimmy Bradshaw
Violet Dunn
Anna the Maid
J.M. Kerrigan
Thomas MacMasters
Mary Gordon
Mrs. MacMasters
Rita Rozelle
Luana
Otto Yamaoka
Kashimo
Dwight Frye
Jessop the Butler (uncredited)
C. Henry Gordon
Huntley Van Horn (uncredited)
Hamilton MacFadden
Val Martino (uncredited)
Richard Tucker
Wilkie Ballou (uncredited)
Marjorie White
Rita Ballou (uncredited)
James Wang
Wong (uncredited)
Robert Homans
Chief of Police (uncredited)
Director
Hamilton MacFadden
Adaptation
Hugh Stanislaus Stange
Dialogue, Screenplay
Barry Conners
Dialogue, Screenplay
Philip Klein
Novel, Original Story
Earl Derr Biggers
June 13, 2022
7
Warner Oland is "Charlie Chan" in this engaging marriage of the occult with the vanities of Hollywood stardom. "Sheila Fayne" (Dorothy Revier) is an actress being pursued by the wealthy "Alan Jaynes" (William Post). Before she will commit to his ardour, she consults her psychic medium "Tarneverro" (Bela Lugosi). Instead of a simple yeah or nay, though, he raises the spectre of the death of her erstwhile co-star "Danny Mayo" and next thing we know "Chan" is investigating a far more recent murder. Loads of possible culprits; some eerily lit settings, a bit of gently cerebral humour and the sight of his assembled family at a dinner table that would have made even the "Walton's" blush all helps the mystery develop nicely. Lugosi is effective as the clearly dubious mystic, and there's an early turn from the handsome Robert Young to look out for, too. It's well directed, written and the suspense builds nicely. Oland presents a "rotundness" of spirit with his performance; his frequent adages delivered with his tongue in his cheek - and I enjoyed this.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00