Charlie Chan at the Olympics (1937)

53% of users liked it
(58 ratings)

Actual footage of the 1936 Berlin Olympics is rabbeted into the action of this superior Charlie Chan entry. Assigned by the U.S. Navy to track down a gang of international spies, Charlie Chan (Warner Oland) heads to Berlin, where as luck would have it his son Lee (Keye Luke) is representing the… More Actual footage of the 1936 Berlin Olympics is rabbeted into the action of this superior Charlie Chan entry. Assigned by the U.S. Navy to track down a gang of international spies, Charlie Chan (Warner Oland) heads to Berlin, where as luck would have it his son Lee (Keye Luke) is representing the United States as a member of the Olympic swimming team. Among Lee's teammates is Richard Masters (Allan Lane), who has unfortunately fallen under the spell of the alluring Yvonne Roland (Katherine De Mille), much to the dismay of his sweetheart Betty Adams (Pauline Moore). What no one knows (but Chan suspects) is that Yvonne is one of the spies, in league with the mysterious Arthur Hughes (C. Henry Gordon). Yvonne hides a stolen secret weapon in Betty's luggage, leading to a not-so-merry chase through Berlin, and the ultimate kidnapping of Lee Chan by the villains. Plus, there's a murder to be solved, and Berlin police chief Strasset (Fredrick Vogeding) isn't about to let Charlie Chan get the credit. Ironically, Charlie travels from New York to Berlin via the dirigible Hindenburg -- which crashed into flames the same week that Charlie Chan at the Olympics was released (PS: The Nazi swastika on the tail of the airship was matted out by the special-effects crew). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 11 min.
Directed By: H. Bruce Humberstone
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: May 21, 1937 Wide
On DVD: Nov 25, 2008

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
This adventure story features some actual footage of the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

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Cast

            Warner Oland as Charlie Chan

            Katherine De Mille as Yvanne Roland

            Pauline Moore as Betty Adams

            Keye Luke as Lee Chan

            C. Henry Gordon as Arthur Hughes

            John Eldredge as Cartwright

            Layne Tom Jr. as Charlie Chan Jr.

            Jonathan Hale as Hopkins

            Morgan Wallace as Zaraka

            Fredrik Vogeding as Inspector Strasser

            Andrew Tombes as Chief Scott

            Howard Hickman as Dr. Burton

            Thomas Beck as Phil Childers

            Don Brodie as Radio Announcer

            Maurice Cass as Mr. Arnold

            George Chandler as Ship's Radio Operator

            William Demarest as Sgt. Kelly

            George Gaye as Enrico Barelli

            Nedda Harrigan as Mme. Lucretia Barelli

            Charlotte Henry as Mlle. Kitty

            Margaret Irving as Mme. Lilli Rouchelle

            Selmar Jackson as Navy Commander

            Boris Karloff as Gravelle

            Edward Keane as Colonel

            Fred Kelsey as Cop

            Allan Lane as Richard Masters

            Tom McGuire as Morris

            Philip Morris as Cop

            Minerva Urecal as Olympic Matron

            Guy Usher as Inspector Regan

            Emmett Vogan as Ship's Officer

            Frank Conroy as Mr. Whitely
See full cast

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