Very disappointing...

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

In this Charlie Chan movie you find Chan trying to solve the mystery of several strangulation murders that occur during an ocean cruise put on by a doctor of dubious repute. Charlie Chan's number two son is along as a help(?) and provides a humorous aspect. There is also the black driver, who plays the stereotypical black man in this film era. Stupidly funny but not erudite. Several suspects show up and are cleared one by one until Charlie solves the case and the guilty party is found out and taken into custody. This is a typical Charlie Chan movie with several people as suspects and Chan's logic leads to the solution. Of course with good writing that is par for the course.

The now legendary sleuth Charlie Chan(Sidney Toler)boards a cruise ship from Honolulu to San Francisco to solve the murder of one of his pals from Scotland Yard. It is all but certain the killer has to be a passenger on board ship, but which one? Charlie is joined by Number Two son Jimmy(Victor Sen Yung), help or hindrance...only to find more murder and a handful of suspicious passengers. Capable killers are Professor Gordon(Leo G. Carroll), Dr. Suderman(Lionel Atwell) and Jeremiah Walters(Charles Middleton). One of the better capers from the Chan franchise. Other players: Marjorie Weaver, Robert Lowery, Kay Linaker and Don Beddoe.

Unlike many of the Charlie Chan films, this one had quite a few excellent actors in supporting roles. Among the stellar cast are Charles Middleton, Lionel Atwill and Leo G. Carroll, so already at the outset this film had a big advantage. Fortunately, this is not all it had going for it, as the plot was exceptional--making it among the best of the Sidney Toler films about the great fictional detective.The film is set mostly aboard a cruise ship where, naturally, a murder occurs. A detective investigating a strangling maniac is killed and naturally other murders occur throughout the film. What makes this interesting, though, is that the murders vary and several times 'red herrings' are tossed in to confuse the viewer. Much of the reason this worked well is that unlike the average Chan film, this one is about ten minutes longer--and so the audience naturally thinks the film is finished when there are still a couple surprises to come. As a result, you can't help but see this film as a notch above the typical B detective series film.

in this well rounded mystery.An early Toler film, which should be seen by all Chan fans. A fine cast including Leo G. "Topper" Carroll as Prof.Gordon. A familiar formula, but well done in all aspects.The antics of Jimmy Chan (Victor Sen Young) work well here as usual.Although Toler moves through the movie sounding like he's suffering from a cold, he does one of his finest jobs here as Charlie Chan. A must see.