*. A movie that probably deserves to be forgotten entirely today, its one claim to minor fame being that it’s the earliest surviving appearance of the detective Charlie Chan on film (a couple of earlier silent Chan films are now lost).
*. Despite that billing, Charlie Chan doesn’t show up until the movie is nearly over, and even then plays a very minor role. The novel by Earl Derr Biggers is very freely adapted, making the Scotland Yard detective Sir Frederick Bruce the hero. So it’s not really a Charlie Chan movie despite its pedigree. It’s also about twenty minutes longer and a lot duller than the Warner Oland films. That said, there are a few points worth noticing.
*. In the first place, Charlie is played by a Korean-American actor named E. L. Park who looks like a bouncer. Not ethnically Chinese then, but Asian. Though this may also be why he was relegated to such a bit part and we have to make do with the boring old stick from Scotland Yard.
*. Also worth flagging is the presence of Boris Karloff, pre-Frankenstein, as Beetham’s manservant. Not a big role, but he does stand out, even if he doesn’t have many lines.
*. It’s 1929, and Iran is still called Persia and China has an emperor. Another world! It’s also a time when women were more worried about the scandal of divorce than about marrying a murderer. Frustrated passion leads to some poetry in the desert: “If you think it easy to be a man and to know that you, a woman like you, is in the next tent, looking out over the same desert, feeling the same loneliness, staring up at the same moon wandering, with only a bit of tent between us . . . ” Whew!
*. At one point, while interviewing a suspect, Sir Frederick stops to ties his shoes. I was amazed by this. I couldn’t think of another movie where I saw a character tying their shoes. I still can’t.
*. Kind of hard to get excited by this one. It’s not a Charlie Chan movie. It’s not a mystery since the killer can only be one of two people and we’re shown who the “bounder” is pretty early. The script sounds like a radio play. The direction is uninspired, begging for the various conversation scenes to be broken up with the odd one-shot or close-up. This never happens. Oh well, it was the early days of sound. Just hearing anything was novelty enough back then.
Alex on Film 
Big Daddy? Coming to America? Kundun? Dozens of movies feature characters tying shoes, it’s a staple of family films and mentoring stories. You could make a quiz of shoes and shoe-laces in films.
I look forward to that quiz! When are you posting it?
I have no interest in setting quizzes. But keen to help out those with no ideas of their own.
You’re always wanting to help! I’m the same way. For example, whenever I see you having trouble with the velcro straps on your shoes . . .
Chelsea boots have no straps! And I’m here to help you with the basic grammar and punctuation which seems to evade you on a daily basis. Together we can make a better world!
I take my responsibilities running this daycare very seriously! Just don’t forget your clogs when you go out for recess!
What’s that? ANOTHER little accident? Well, we’ll just have to get you cleaned up! And maybe Charlie Chan will come and visit you on your birthday, wouldn’t that be swell?
I’d love to have Charlie visit on my birthday. Would you like to have one your cartoon kitten friends over? But only if you don’t eat all the tuna salad yourself!
I am having a tea party with Jiji and Thomas, they are my friends….What’s with your Earwig comment? Deleting it if that’s it. That all you got?
Censored. Sad.
Well, it’ll put people off leaving proper comments if I leave rubbish like this up.
*sigh*
Right, despite me leaving thoughtful and erudite messages on your blog, you seem incapable of doing the same on mine. I am cancelling you!
Well, Dix has firmly put me off leaving a proper, insightful comment after all that malarkey.
Well, I’m more forgiving. Never deleted a comment yet!
That’s a surprise with the rowdy bunch you get on here. You need to be more of a disciplinarian! Stand for nothing!
I can only try to lead, and elevate, by example.
Disagree. You can only try to punish, and lower everyone else, by the strictest of rules, which ,of course, I would adhere to.
My libertarian instincts undo me every time.
I’ll have to make a Parallax View style montage to brainwash you.
I’ll pass on the movie.
Good idea. No burning need to see this one unless you’re a hardcore Chan fan.