Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936)

Truly Dreadful Film

Strong and Moving!

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

Of all the mystery detectives who made their mark on the big screen, the most easily recognizable was Charlie Chan. Originally created by Earl Derr Biggers, he went on to star in some thirty or forty episodes, Although Warner Oland appears in this film " Charlie Chan, at the Opera " this would become his last as Sidney Tolar would later replace him. Director H. Bruce Humberstone makes much of the great talent he assembles when the late great Boris Karloff plays Gravelle. Keye Luke from 'Kung Fu' fame plays Charlie Chan's son. The story has Karloff playing a dark sinister character who seems quite mad. Escaping from an Insane asylum Gravelle promises to get revenge of the individual who tried to kill him in a fire. Besides the magnificent operatic voices, there is dark drama and intrigue in the film as the audience enjoys Karloff at his best as he matches wits with the great Honnlulu detective when murder and mayhem visit the Opera House. William Demarest makes for an appearance as a police officer. All in all, this is but one of the many movies, which intrigues audiences in the 30 and 40's. Recommended. ****

Murder at the opera house; and yes acclaimed detective Charlie Chan(Warner Oland)is available for investigation. Chan along with Number One son Lee(Keye Luke)find odds with the local constabulary Sgt. Kelly(William Demarest). A renown opera singer Gravelle(Boris Karloff)is confined to an insane asylum with amnesia and is assumed to be a murderer. Gravelle manages to escape and is expected to return to profess his quilt or go on a murderous rampage. Chan will ask for a little leniency to trap the real killer. Director H. Bruce Humbertone takes strides in making this Chan tale of mystery better than the last. Also in the cast: Margaret Irving, Gregory Gaye, Charlotte Henry and Guy Usher.

I have no idea whether this is T H E best Charlie Chan movie, but it's indeed among the few top ones among dozens that made up the series. This one mixes four separate story lines with good plot contrivance that don't get in the way: 1 a young couple wanting to get married but having their dream hampered. 2 a wife and 3 a husband who want to punish their adulterous spouses. 4 a mentally ill amnesiac who escapes from an asylum to exact revenge upon his adulterous wife who had trapped him years earlier in a building on fire. It will take time and turns to learn who is who, but all apparently have good reasons to kill a opera star...while the opera's on stage. The 'comedy moment' son#1 bit is present but doesn't get in the way and is less annoying that usual. Acting is good, although plagued by some drama queen 1930s clichés. There is also a cop who doesn't like Chinese people, but it's an odd character that sits between comedy relief and supporting roles. Recommended.

Charlie Chan At the Opera is one of the better Chan movies I've seen and is worth having in any collection as Boris Karloff is in it.Boris plays an opera star, Gravelle who escapes from an asylum where he was due to suffering amnesia. He heads to Los Angles where he turns up at an opera. It's not long before people start being murdered though and Gravelle is the chief suspect but as always in these movies, the murderer is the least person you would expect... Charlie Chan and his No1 son help with the investigation.We also get to see Boris singing in this (if it is his voice) and also includes the opera "Carnival".Joining Boris in the cast is Warner Orland as Charlie, Keye Luke, Margaret Irving and Guy Usher (The Devil Bat).Charlie Chan At the Opera is a must for all fans of Chan and Boris Karloff. Excellent.Rating: 3 and a half stars out of 5.