Charlie Chan at the Circus

Recently, I read a newly-published book reprinting the first year of a Charlie Chan comic strip originally published in 1938 & 39. The next day, Angela and I visited the Circus Museum located at the Ringling Museum of Art. So, the next step was obvious--we needed to watch the 1936 film Charlie Chan at the Circus. I believe this might actually have been required by law.

It's a Warner Oland/Keye Luke entry, which always gains a Chan movie a few extra points. The films starring Sidney Toler and Roland Winters are all tons of fun, but the Oland/Luke chemistry was never equaled.

In fact, Luke as "Number One Son" Lee Chan gave us the best of the Chan sons on several levels. His "look before you leap" enthusiasm (and, this time, his awkward romantic pursuit of a female contortionist) could generate sincerely funny moments, but Lee was smart and able to spot clues and make reasonable deductions. His dad might nearly always turn out to be one step ahead of him anyways, but Charlie is one step ahead of everyone.

And, though any of Charlie's kids would put their lives at risk to save their dad, it's Lee who never fails to jump without hesitation to put himself between Charlie and danger. This time around, though clearly terrified, grabs a pistol and pegs a cobra to save his father. Seriously, don't ever threaten Charlie Chan when Lee is around. It won't end well for you.

The movie itself starts strong, with a tracking shot of circus sideshow posters, that does a superb job of establishing both setting and atmosphere. Then we get to see Charlie's entire family--all twelve kids and his wife--for the first time (and one of the few times) in the series, as they visit the circus. Charlie was given free passes by one of the circus co-owners (played by Paul Stanton), who wants Charlie's advice about some threatening letters he's received.

And it's no wonder he's getting poison-pen letters. The guy is a jerk and we soon learn that at least a half-dozen circus workers and performers have reason to hate him. So it's really no surprise when he's found murdered, strangled while inside his locked-from-the-inside business wagon.

The body is found, by the way, when a sideshow midget climbs in through a ventilator. This part is played by George Brasno, who (with his sister Olive) had a popular music act and occasionally took roles in films. Brasno and Keye Luke later have an hilarious scene together when they are tailing a suspect, with Lee dressed as a mother and Brasno's character dressed as a baby (while smoking a cigar) while Lee pushed him around in a baby carriage.

Charlie agrees to help the local police, so he and Lee travel with the circus. Clues are uncovered, there's an attempt on Charlie's life, an attempt to murder someone else, and eventually a clever trap set to catch the killer.

The plot is solid and (within the confines of a B-movie universe) unfolds logically--yet another example that the B-movies of this era consistently provided us with straightforward, entertaining storytelling.

Also, Angela told me she was going to take a nap while I watched the movie, but ended up watching the whole thing with me. She's awesome.