The Black Camel (1931)

The first Charlie Chan movie that still exists is this offering. The title is based on a saying about a black camel kneeling at a doorstep as a sign of death. No camels in the movie which takes place in Honolulu. An actress has been murdered. She has been weighing the possibility of marrying a man and has been dissuaded by a mystic, played by the great Bela Lugosi. This film is filled with wonderful character actors. One of them, Dwight Frye, played Renfield, the madman, who is Dracula's henchman in the most famous of the films. Chan faces racism and avoidance. He must suffer respect from the rich populace. He is a master of precision, despite having an idiot partner who just gets in the way. One great line I loved has to do with his son, who is failing at school. When asked why he is last in his class, he replies that all the other positions were already taken. This is an entertaining, multi-layered whodunnit. There are some rather suspect events. For example a man is shot and lies dying in his bed. The law goes to extract information from him, but no-one makes the slightest effort to get a doctor. Off to a good start.

"The Black Camel" is the only Charlie Chan film adapted from the original Esrl Derr Biggers books to survive. "Charlie Chan Carries On" exists only in a Spanish version (which isn't bad) however, the other four, all starring Warner Oland have evidently been lost.The title by the way, refers to a symbol of death (a black camel) in that it is supposed to kneel at the door of a murdered victim.Shelah Fane is a movie star in Honolulu to film her latest feature. She wants to marry rich playboy Alan Jayner (William Post Jr.) but wants to consult her psychic Tarneverro (Bela Lugosi) for advice. He convinces her not to marry. We learn that movie director Denny Mayo had been murdered three years earlier in Hollywood and that the murder is unsolved. Many of those that had been connected to Mayo are among the guests in Honolulu. Later Shelah is found murdered in her tent on location by young lovers Jimmy Bradshaw (Robert Young in his first film) and Julie O'Neil, Shelah's friend (Sally Eilers).Inspector Charlie Chan (Oland) is brought into the case. He discovers that Tarneverro and the maid Anna (Violet Dunn) may be concealing secrets. Chan also learns Shelah's ex-husband and actor Robert Fyfe (Victor Varconi) was in Honolulu appearing in a play. He is immediately suspected. Chan gathers all of the clues, has an attempt on his life before finally identifying the murderer.Oland in his second appearance as Chan looks comfortable in his role. He is aided by his Japanese bumbling assistant Kashimo (Otto Yamaoka) a forerunner of Number One son who would not appear in the series until "Charlie Chan in Paris" in 1935. Bela Lugosi had just filmed his breakthrough role in "Dracula" (1931) and not as yet achieved international fame. Dwight Frye who appeared as "Renfield" in "Dracula", appears here as the sinister butler Jessop. Oland would appear five years later with that "other" breakthrough star from 1931, Boris Karloff in "Charlie Chan at the Opera".

It's rare that films from the early 1930's show us actual location films shot in Hawaii, and this fascinating early Chan mystery is loaded with glimpses of the local beaches as well as the lobby and veranda of the Royal Hawaiian hotel--in addition to a print that leaps off the screen in dynamic black and white seldom seen in such clarity.Technique and location aside, this is also a baffling mystery--sometimes slow-paced, to be sure, in comparison with the later "cheapie Chans," but jammed with appearances by some memorable character actors--Bela Lugosi in a turban, for instance, a year after he made Dracula his signature role, or an impossibly juvenile Robert Young in his first film appearance--dig that striped bathing costume! In so many ways, this is one of the very best Chan films, a treat for both fans of early talkie cinema, and certainly for followers of the intrepid Chinese detective as his character was beginning to jell.

The quality of the film isn't the best, the acting is stilted and over the top, but 1931's "The Black Camel," the earliest extant Charlie Chan featuring Warner Oland, makes for fun viewing. Charlie is on his home court of Hawaii, where an actress, Shelah Fane (Dorothy Revier) is found murdered after consulting a psychic (Bela Lugosi) about whether or not she should marry someone she has fallen in love with.This is only the first murder; another one follows. On investigation, Charlie discovers a connection to the case with a previous Hollywood murder, which went unsolved.It's an absolute riot to see Bela Lugosi as a psychic named Tarneverro whose real name is Arthur Mayo. Better yet is Robert Young, who looks like he's about 16, as Jimmy Bradshaw. Then there's this nut job (who at one point actually ran onto a scene and scared me), Otto Yamaoka, who plays Kashimo. Kashimo is the forerunner of Lee Chan and Birmingham the chauffeur but he's crazier than a coot with his flapping arms and explosive voice.We also get a chance to see Charlie at home with his large family, admonishing his son: "Why are you always last in your class? Can't you find some other place?" Son: "They were all taken." This particular entry into the series is steeped in cinematic history: it is the only surviving film out of five films starring Warner Oland that were based on the novels of Earl Derr Biggers; and it was shot in Honolulu in 1931. Back then location shoots were a rarity. Also, Earl Derr Biggers visited the set in Honolulu with a copy of his 1929 novel and gave it to Chang Apana, the real-life Charlie Chan.Definitely worth seeing, and a neat mystery. There is a gaping hole in the plot; see if you can find it.The title is based on the saying: "Death is a black camel that kneels unbidden at every gate."