Charlie Chan no Prado

The tragic story of Phar Lap the great Australian thoroughbred who was imported to the Northern Hemisphere and poisoned by gamblers seems to be the basis for this Charlie Chan film. It's a bit happier an ending for the horse Avalanche who is the focus of the investigation.

Which starts in Charlie Chan At The Racetrack in Melbourne where Avalanche has just won the Melbourne Cup as did Phar Lap. Despite threats from a gambling syndicate, owner George Irving is bringing him to America to race at Santa Anita. On the ship bringing Avalanche and his stablemate Gallant Lad to America, Irving is kicked to death by his horse when he visited him in his shipboard stall. When the ship docks in Honolulu Warner Oland goes on board along with son Keye Luke to investigate.

Oland establishes that the horse was not the guilty party pretty quickly, but the problem of the gamblers and whatever nefarious scheme they have in mind is still there. They've even got a backup plan which almost works when it is put into play. Let's say like the real life Phar Lap, Avalanche is a game horse with a great heart.

Charlie Chan At The Racetrack is one of the best of Charlie Chan features. Other than the patronizing stereotypical portrait of the black groom the film holds up well for today's audiences.

This 'Charlie Chan' movie, like so many others, picks a background for its 'usual' complicated murder mystery that's very attractive and familiar for a lot of people: horse racing. The scent of the stables, the sight of the 'noble animals', as Charlie calls them, the excitement of the race itself - that alone must be enormously stimulating for a big part of the audience.

But, unfortunately, just like with prizefighting and so many other sports, along with horse racing many times comes - the gambling racket. Because there are millions at stake just for that great little moment when the first horse crosses the finishing line... And the great favorite of the season is 'Avalanche', who belongs to Charlie's old friend Major Kent. But, at the big Australian racing event, although he wins he is disqualified for a foul - which obviously was caused intentionally by his jockey. That makes Major Kent suspicious - and a few days later, during the sea voyage to the USA for the next big race, Kent is found dead, allegedly killed by his own horse's kicks; but Charlie Chan has got a different theory: murder!

Of course, there are lots of suspects and strange events that make the plot twist more and more; and besides, a whole gambling ring is a VERY powerful enemy... Will Charlie, with the help of 'number one son' Lee (who provides us with some magnificently comical scenes here, first as a ship's steward and then as a laundry boy!), be able to track down the racketeers AND to find his friend's murderer? A great, suspenseful, intricate mystery, with NO lack of entertainment whatsoever!

This is one of my favorites of the Chan series! Keye Luke as Lee Chan gave his funniest performance, in my opinion. His blabbering in Chinese when being led out of Charlie's stateroom; his antics while the fireworks are going off; notice how hard he hits one of the bad guys over the head with the bottle prop - really whacks him! Although I didn't care for the way the "Streamline" character was treated by some of the other cast members, this entry is entertaining! One of Charlie's great quotes - "Frequent spanking when young make rear view very familiar!"

Charlie Chan (Warner Oland) and son Lee Chan (Keye Luke) become involved "At the Race Track," from 1936.

When a friend of Charlie's is murdered by his race horse on board ship, Charlie is asked to investigate when the ocean liner stops in Honolulu. Looking at the horse's stall, Charlie doubts the horse had anything to do with it -- this was a human's doing.

His investigation continues, and Charlie and Lee board ship and travel to Santa Anita raceway to continue their investigation. He soon discovers fraud and a nefarious gambling ring, and he has to ferret out a murderer.

This is a very lively and fun Charlie Chan, with Lee posing as an attendant on the ship to find the typewriter on which threatening notes were typed; and later, at a crucial point, he drives a Chinese laundry truck. Charlie, meanwhile, is shot in the leg and laid up for part of the film.

Some excellent racing footage and beautiful horses are also shown.

It's not perfect. A horse falls, and I absolutely hate seeing that. They would trip them with chicken wire, and it was quite cruel. The second and more egregious thing, particularly by today's standards but I think it might have been embarrassing even then, was the role of the black stable boy, done as a Stepinfetchit type character. Cringe-worthy.

Frankly, I liked it much better when Mantan Moreland came on as Birmingham. First of all, he was hilarious, and secondly, he was treated as an equal. Yes, he had some scenes where he was supposedly afraid of his shadow, but it was better than what is in this film.

Oland is a warmer Chan than Sidney Toler, though both brought a great deal to the role. There is something a little less intimidating about Oland.

"Charlie Chan at the Race Track" is very enjoyable, somewhat reminiscent of the Sherlock Holmes story "Silver Blaze" -- so that's probably why the story is so good.

Like a breath of fresh air, director H. Bruce Humberstone breathes new life into the Warner Oland Chan series. A good murder mystery, and one that the viewer might actually solve if s/he is very observant, we are treated to Chan and No. 1 son Lee crossing swords with a gambling syndicate and ultimately unmasking their leader. `No man is poor who have worthy son.' We know that a horse has been manipulated and abused by its trainer Bagley but we still do not know who is the brains and money behind it all even after the gang is arrested. Chan outsmarts and outwits the leader who is tricked into revelation. Although this final exposure is initially unseen by the audience, there is a major clue played out earlier that should lead the viewer to suspect the right person – if you are watching. And of course there are many misleading clues: `Roots of tree lead in many directions.' Chan and son escape assault and kidnapping and Lee again gets to demonstrate his ability at disguise – this time as a Chinese laundry man. Lee gets to drive the laundry truck much as we have seen in earlier Mack Sennett comedies. Like in many Chan movies, portrayal of black stable boy with monkey must have been more acceptable to audiences of the time but today should simply be cut. Similarly Chan says at end: `Good wife best household furniture' brought a remark from my wife. Perhaps that too should be cut for today's audience. Minor note is that the director appears as one of the gang. Much better than most of this series. Recommended.