I once had a 16mm print of Charlie Chan at the Circus, so I know the film well. The screenplay concocted by Fox's top writing team, Robert Ellis and Helen Logan, neatly combines a circus setting with a locked room puzzle. The mystery is intriguing and I love the gorilla at large.
Oland, in fine form, is supplied with many amusing bon mots, including "Mind, like parachute, function best when open" and "One grain of luck sometimes worth more than a whole rice paddy of wisdom."
In my humble opinion, the support cast is the best ever assembled for a Chan movie. Francis Ford (in a major role for once), Maxine Reiner, Shirley Deane, Paul Stanton, Drue Leyton and J. Carroll Naish are all most ingratiating, while comedy relief is amusingly handled by Wade Boteler, Keye Luke and the wonderfully spirited Shia Jung. And a special pat on the backs of George and Olive Brasno.
Director Lachman is also in fine form. Who could resist that opening tracking shot, or the scenes on the train, or the ape on the loose, or the big top menagerie? This picturesque background, however, is never allowed to swamp the film. Detection is always at the forefront. Production values are high
Oland, in fine form, is supplied with many amusing bon mots, including "Mind, like parachute, function best when open" and "One grain of luck sometimes worth more than a whole rice paddy of wisdom."
In my humble opinion, the support cast is the best ever assembled for a Chan movie. Francis Ford (in a major role for once), Maxine Reiner, Shirley Deane, Paul Stanton, Drue Leyton and J. Carroll Naish are all most ingratiating, while comedy relief is amusingly handled by Wade Boteler, Keye Luke and the wonderfully spirited Shia Jung. And a special pat on the backs of George and Olive Brasno.
Director Lachman is also in fine form. Who could resist that opening tracking shot, or the scenes on the train, or the ape on the loose, or the big top menagerie? This picturesque background, however, is never allowed to swamp the film. Detection is always at the forefront. Production values are high