Charlie Chan At The Opera is one of the better Warner Oland Chan films. I've always preferred Oland's interpretation of the character over Sidney Toler's, which is not meant to diminish Toler's Chan in any way, it's just a personal preference.
Anyhoo, we've got an escaped lunatic (Karloff) looking to avenge his attempted murder in an opera house fire several years before. Both his attempted murderers are, where else, at another opera house along with Charlie, number one son (Keye Luke), various assorted suspects, and the police who unfortunately include an incredibly racist sergeant (William Demarest). Demarest constantly makes racist insults to Charlie, who of course brushes them off with his usual Oriental courtesy. Frankly, the film would be far more enjoyable had Demarest's useless character never appeared at all, since he serves no observable purpose other than to very loudly bray his ignorance and bigotry.
Demarest aside, this is a fun ride with Charlie at the helm and the film moves briskly along with a couple of murders, numerous red herrings, and pithy Chinese proverbs right up to the surprising conclusion. Without Demarest I would give this film a higher rating, perhaps eight or maybe even nine stars but Demarest ruins each and every scene in which he appears.
Anyhoo, we've got an escaped lunatic (Karloff) looking to avenge his attempted murder in an opera house fire several years before. Both his attempted murderers are, where else, at another opera house along with Charlie, number one son (Keye Luke), various assorted suspects, and the police who unfortunately include an incredibly racist sergeant (William Demarest). Demarest constantly makes racist insults to Charlie, who of course brushes them off with his usual Oriental courtesy. Frankly, the film would be far more enjoyable had Demarest's useless character never appeared at all, since he serves no observable purpose other than to very loudly bray his ignorance and bigotry.
Demarest aside, this is a fun ride with Charlie at the helm and the film moves briskly along with a couple of murders, numerous red herrings, and pithy Chinese proverbs right up to the surprising conclusion. Without Demarest I would give this film a higher rating, perhaps eight or maybe even nine stars but Demarest ruins each and every scene in which he appears.