Charlie Chan at the Opera

CinemaSerf

I think this might well be my favourite outing for our Hawaiian super sleuth. This time, Warner Oland must investigate some very suspicious goings on in a theatre. Unbeknown to all of us, this theatre has it's very own phantom... but whom? Why? Well, that's all rather entertainingly explained over the course of the hour as he - with the help of son "Lee" (Keye Luke) - must stop this from becoming an operatic game of Russian Roulette. Now there is absolutely no jeopardy - it is pretty clear early on who the culprit it; but our journey of discovery is quite cleverly managed by director Bruce Humberstone with engaging efforts from Margaret Irving, Charlotte Henry, Gregory Gaye and, of course, Boris Karloff. Oscar Levant and William Kernell provide us with some operatic numbers that authenticate the process and the thing has a good deal of fun to it, too. Definitely worth watching, this one..