Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise (1940): Cast & Plot
Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise is a 1940 crime thriller directed by Eugene Forde, starring Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan, Layne Tom Jr. and Victor Sen Yung. It runs 1 hour 17 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 17m (77 min)
- Director
- Eugene Forde
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- 20th Century Fox
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise About?
The premise of Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A murderer strikes aboard a cruise liner sailing from Honolulu to San Francisco, leaving a crimson coin—thirty pieces of silver—on each victim. Detective Charlie Chan must unravel this series of killings while also solving the slaying of his Scotland Yard colleague.
Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- charlie chan character
- four word title
- 1940s
- cruise ship murder
- bandage over eyes
- eye injury
- screaming woman
- in cognito
- hiding behind a curtain
- sorting mail
- honolulu hawaii
- discovering a dead body
+38 more Show fewer
- school report card
- mercury dime
- spanking
- reference to judas iscariot
- blackmail
- woman in a wheelchair
- disguise
- hiding in a closet
- paper hat
- playing mah jong
- taking an impression
- foggy night
- ruse
- arm sling
- bandaged eyes
- hobby horse race
- shoe laces
- framed for murder
- enthusiasm
- torn pocket
- sailing in fog
- woman faints
- smelling salts
- pacific cruise
- pipe smoking
- shining shoes
- fog horn
- film developing
- shot to death
- psychic
- man slaps a woman
- murder on a ship
- murder of uncle
- woman slaps a man
- strangulation
- woman snores
- caucasian actor plays an asian character
- cruise ship
Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise Cast & Characters
Sidney Toler leads the cast as Charlie Chan, with Layne Tom Jr. as Willie Chan and Victor Sen Yung as Jimmy Chan. Directed by Eugene Forde; 27 actors are credited in all.
- Director Eugene Forde
- Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan
- Layne Tom Jr. as Willie Chan
- Victor Sen Yung as Jimmy Chan
- Wade Boteler as Honolulu Police Chief
Also Starring in Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise
· 23 more- Harlan Briggs San Francisco Coroner
- C. Montague Shaw Inspector Duff
- Richard Keene Buttons, ship's steward
- Lionel Atwill Dr. Suderman
- Cora Witherspoon Susie Watson
- Leo G. Carroll Professor Gordon
- Marjorie Weaver Paula Drake
- Charles Middleton Jeremiah Walters
- Claire Du Brey Sarah Walters
- Harry Strang Seaman Guarding Pendleton
- Leonard Mudie Gerald Pendleton
- Kay Linaker Linda Pendleton
- Don Beddoe Frederick Ross
- Paul McVey Mrs. Pendleton's Doctor
- Emmett Vogan Hotel Manager
- James Burke Wilkie, house detective
Show all 27 cast members Show fewer cast members
- John Dilson Police Doctor at Hotel
- Cliff Clark Lieutenant Wilson
- Sherry Hall Radio Operator (uncredited)
- Robert Lowery Dick Kenyon
- Walter Miller Ship's Officer (uncredited)
- Al Kikume Cop Extra in Chan's Office
- J. Anthony Hughes Detective Wilson, Chan's agent
More from Eugene Forde
More films directed by Eugene Forde: The Crimson Key, Shadows in the Night, The Crime Doctor’s Strangest Case and Berlin Correspondent.
Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise Plot Summary
What happens in Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On a Pacific-ward voyage that soon twists into a deadly mystery, Charlie Chan takes on a case aboard a cruise ship that has docked in Honolulu with a chilling headline: a mass killer may be among the passengers. The tension widens when a New York judge is found strangled in his stateroom, and the arrival of Inspector Duff signals that a careful, cunning culprit is on the loose. Tragically, Duff is struck down by the killer as he leans in an open window to confront the danger, right after Chan leaves briefly to obtain permission from his superiors. Amid the shock, Chan learns there has already been another murder at the hotel where the cruise is staying, setting the stage for a race against time.
Full summary
The whole story of Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise?
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
Who is the chief detective investigating the murders on the cruise ship?
Cars in Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise
2 cars on screen: the unknown and the 1931 Ford Model A.
-
unknown Minor role -
1931 Ford Model A Minor role
Seen Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise?
Movies Like Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Charlie Chan at the Race Track, Charlie Chan in Honolulu and Charlie Chan at Treasure Island.
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Charlie Chan at the Race Track 1936 -
Charlie Chan in Honolulu 1938 -
Charlie Chan at Treasure Island 1939 -
Charlie Chan on Broadway 1937 -
Charlie Chan’s Chance 1932 -
Charlie Chan in Rio 1941 -
Charlie Chan’s Courage 1934 -
Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen 1981 -
Charlie Chan at the Circus 1936 -
Charlie Chan in Reno 1939 -
Charlie Chan’s Greatest Case 1933 -
Charlie Chan at the Olympics 1937
Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise?
Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise runs 1 hour 17 minutes (77 minutes).
When was Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise released?
Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise was released on May 2, 1940.
Who directed Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise?
Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise was directed by Eugene Forde.
More films by Eugene Forde Who is in the cast of Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise?
Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise stars Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan, Layne Tom Jr. as Willie Chan and Victor Sen Yung as Jimmy Chan, among 27 credited actors.
Does Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise have a post-credit scene?
No. Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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