Charlie Chan in Honolulu (1938)

☆ ☆ ½

Charlie Chan in Honolulu (1938) – H. B. Humberstone

The first of the new series (still at 20^th Century Fox) with Sidney Toler as the wise detective after Warner Oland’s unexpected death.  This time, murder takes place on Charlie’s doorstep on a freighter docked in Pearl Harbor.  But Charlie is distracted with his first grandchild’s impending birth – so Number Two Son Jimmy tries to handle the case himself to comic effect.  In fact, there is probably too much intended comedy in this outing – the mystery itself almost plays second fiddle to Eddie Collins’ drunken clowning and a pet lion wandering around (not to mention Number Five Son getting into trouble too).  There are the usual red herrings strewn about to implicate one or more of the sketchily drawn cast of character actors.  Still, there is plenty of nostalgia value for dreams of late night TV watching with Dad.