Charlie Chan in Honolulu (1938): Cast & Plot
Charlie Chan in Honolulu is a 1938 crime thriller directed by H. Bruce Humberstone, starring Victor Sen Yung as James Chan, Sidney Toler and Grace Lem. It runs 1 hour 7 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 7m (67 min)
- Director
- H. Bruce Humberstone
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- 20th Century Fox
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Charlie Chan in Honolulu About?
The premise of Charlie Chan in Honolulu without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
While Charlie is distracted with the birth of his first grandchild, son Jimmy impersonates his father in order to investigate a murder aboard a freighter in the harbor.
Charlie Chan in Honolulu Themes & Keywords
· 43 tags- impersonating someone
- human brain in a suitcase
- honolulu police department
- murder
- father
- candlestick telephone
- business card
- riding on rear bumper
- eating with chopsticks
- family dinner
- dead body
- freighter ss susan b. jennings
+31 more Show fewer
- zebra
- party line
- newborn
- wrestling with a lion
- grandson
- monkey
- unloaded gun
- film developing
- lights turned off
- silver dollar
- smoke
- fingerprints
- fistfight
- male african lion
- pseudonym
- lion on a leash
- leopard
- tiger
- handcuffed together
- fire alarm
- knock down punch
- human brain
- attache case full of money
- honolulu hawaii
- woman slaps a man
- strangulation
- charlie chan character
- caucasian actor plays an asian character
- animal in a cage
- criminal brain
- asian detective
Charlie Chan in Honolulu Cast & Characters
Victor Sen Yung leads the cast as James Chan, with Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan and Grace Lem as Mama Chan (uncredited). Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone; 15 actors are credited in all.
- Director H. Bruce Humberstone
- Victor Sen Yung as James Chan
- Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan
- Grace Lem as Mama Chan (uncredited)
- Layne Tom Jr. as Tommy Chan
Also Starring in Charlie Chan in Honolulu
· 11 more- Robert Barrat Captain Johnson
- Phyllis Brooks Judy Hayes
- Eddie Collins Al Hogan
- George Zucco Dr. Cardigan
- Claire Dodd Mrs. Carol Wayne
- Marc Lawrence Johnny McCoy
- Richard Lane Joe Arnold
- Paul Harvey Inspector Rawlins
- Philip Ahn Wing Foo
- Ruth Clifford Nurse
- John 'Dusty' King Randolph
More from H. Bruce Humberstone
More films directed by H. Bruce Humberstone: Madison Avenue, Tarzan’s Fight for Life, Tarzan and the Lost Safari and The Purple Mask.
Charlie Chan in Honolulu Plot Summary
What happens in Charlie Chan in Honolulu from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Detective Chan, Sidney Toler, rushes to the hospital to be with his daughter as she prepares to give birth to his first grandchild. While Charlie Chan waits at the hospital, his “number two” son Jimmy intercepts a message intended for Charlie about a murder on board the freighter Susan B. Jennings.
The freighter is on its way from Shanghai to Honolulu under the leadership of Captain Johnson, Robert Barrat. Jimmy boards the Jennings pretending to be Charlie Chan, with his younger brother Tommy Chan, Layne Tom Jr., in tow. The ruse doesn’t last long, and soon the real Chan arrives on board, interrogating a motley assortment of crooks, heiresses and crew as he works to solve a crime whose only witness is secretary Judy Hayes, Phyllis Brooks.
Full summary
The whole story of Charlie Chan in Honolulu, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Charlie Chan in Honolulu?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays Detective Charlie Chan?
Cars in Charlie Chan in Honolulu
1 car on screen: the 1930 Ford Model A.
-
1930 Ford Model A Minor role
Seen Charlie Chan in Honolulu?
Movies Like Charlie Chan in Honolulu
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise, Charlie Chan at the Circus and Charlie Chan at the Race Track.
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Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise 1940 -
Charlie Chan at the Circus 1936 -
Charlie Chan at the Race Track 1936 -
Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo 1937 -
Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat 1944 -
Charlie Chan in Panama 1940 -
Charlie Chan Carries On 1931 -
Charlie Chan in the Secret Service 1944 -
Charlie Chan at Treasure Island 1939 -
Charlie Chan’s Courage 1934 -
Charlie Chan in Rio 1941 -
Charlie Chan at the Olympics 1937
Charlie Chan in Honolulu FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Charlie Chan in Honolulu, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Charlie Chan in Honolulu?
Charlie Chan in Honolulu runs 1 hour 7 minutes (67 minutes).
When was Charlie Chan in Honolulu released?
Charlie Chan in Honolulu was released on December 30, 1938.
Who directed Charlie Chan in Honolulu?
Charlie Chan in Honolulu was directed by H. Bruce Humberstone.
More films by H. Bruce Humberstone Who is in the cast of Charlie Chan in Honolulu?
Charlie Chan in Honolulu stars Victor Sen Yung as James Chan, Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan and Grace Lem as Mama Chan (uncredited), among 15 credited actors.
Does Charlie Chan in Honolulu have a post-credit scene?
No. Charlie Chan in Honolulu has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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