Evengyny Thanks for the memories!

GazerRise Fantastic!

Cleveronix A different way of telling a story

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

hwg1957-102-265704 Charlie Chan and number two son Jimmy come to Rio to arrest a murderer but she is murdered herself. Cue lots of suspects before the killer is detected by Chan and Chief Souto of the local police. Only an hour long but it is fine entertainment. It is mostly confined to one house but is never dull. Director Harry Lachman stands back and lets the narrative play out without any fuss.Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan puts in another fine performance, mischievous, sympathetic and dogged. Sen Yung gives possibly his best playing of Jimmy Chan, whether making premature deductions or mooning over the Hawaiian maid he is a delight. Harold Huber as Chief Soto tones down his usual excitable acting and is all the better for it.Another winner in the 20th Century Fox series of Chan films.

Lechuguilla The film gets off to a good start with some nice south-of-the-border music and atmosphere, set in a Rio nightclub. Here we meet the future murder-ee and most of the suspects. Eventually, the plot shifts to a spacious mansion, where a party for the murder-ee brings forth all the nightclub suspects plus a couple of others.The story gives us an interesting puzzle. Despite the large number of suspects, (approx. nine), I correctly guessed the identity of the killer, but for the wrong reason. Clues are rather subtle, which is good. To correctly guess both the murderer and the motivation, a viewer will need to employ his or her powers of inference. A cigarette, a cup of coffee, and the sharp pin of a lady's broach give Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) what he needs to solve the case. But the clues do not explain the killer's motivation.B&W visuals are quite good. But there are no menacing shadows, nor are there other elements that create spine-tingling suspense. Casting is acceptable, as is most of the acting. Prod design is more detailed here than in other Chan films.In addition to lack of suspense, another problem is the presence of some filler scenes involving number 2 son Jimmy Chan. I suppose he's included for comic relief. But he overacts. And I find him annoying.Jimmy Chan aside, "Charlie Chan In Rio" makes for a pleasant way to spend an hour, as the production values and story are pretty good.

bkoganbing Although 20th Century Fox even gave Harry Warren and Mack Gordon an opportunity for an original song in Charlie Chan In Reno, the plot is recycled from The Black Camel the second film of the Charlie Chan series that starred Warner Oland ten years earlier. The plot has Charlie and son Victor Sen Yung in Rio DeJaneiro on an extradition charge to arrest and bring Jacqueline Dalya back to Honolulu to face a murder rap.Dalya is a singer in a Rio nightclub and Sidney Toler and Brazilian police inspector Harold Huber decide to let her finish her act and arrest her at her home. But when they get there she's already been stabbed to death with several guests already there for a dinner party.Which gives Toler a whole house full of suspects of both sexes. Apparently Dalya played around a lot and she's got some jealous women and men whom they're jealous over.I won't say who did it, but it does go back to the case that Toler is in Rio on.This was the next to last film in the Charlie Chan series that 20th Century Fox did and clearly they were running out of ideas and interest in the series. Charlie after one more picture would be doing his sleuthing for Monogram with much reduced production values even from a B picture at a major studio.Still this one should satisfy Charlie's fans.

Chris Gaskin I've just seen Charlie Chan in Rio for the first time and found it enjoyable like all of the Chan movies I've seen.In this one, Chan and his No 2 son are in Rio to arrest a murderer but she is then murdered herself, so he leads the investigation for this. After gathering clues including drugged cigarettes, the murderer is revealed...This includes a couple of rather catchy songs and No 2 son learning to dance.Charlie Chan is played well by Sidney Toler and is joined by Sen Young, Richard Derr and Victor Jory.If you like a gold old mystery, then you will like this. Excellent.Rating: 3 stars out of 5.