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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of fun and mystery, November 3, 2011
This review is from: Charlie Chan In Egypt (DVD)
Chan is sent to Egypt by the French Archeological Society in Paris in this 1935 film to find out why certain items that were excavated from a tomb and were supposed to be sent to the Society were stolen and ended up in other museums. Chan discovers that the man who ran the excavations was murdered. While Chan is still in Egypt, this man's son is also murdered. There are a number of suspects, including the man's daughter who hates her father, her boy friend who her father dismissed from his job, her uncle who is hiding something, the uncle's assistant who is overprotective of Egyptian finds, the uncle's female helper who sneaks around watching what people are doing, and the family doctor who may be administering drugs to the daughter. Claims are made against Chan that he is incompetent and the cause of the son's death. Chan's son is not in this film. Instead the very competent actor Stepin Fetchit plays, as he usually does, a stereotypical ignorant black man. He shuffles, shakes, whines, walks as if he is made of rubber, and is constantly scared. Fetchit is given the ridiculous name Snowshoes. He respond to everyone, "Yes'm," even to men. Humor is also added in a couple of scenes by an Arab swindler who tells Fetchit that he can reveal information about Fetchit's great great ancestors. Chan typically offers many witty epigrams, true, but stated in a humorous way, including: Drop of water on thirsty tongue is more worth than gold. Waiting for tomorrow is waste of today. Cannot read book until pages are cut. Theories like mist on eyeglasses, obscures facts. Impossible to develop defense until direction of attack is known. Journey of life is like feather on water, must go with stream.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun in Egypt, January 16, 2010
This review is from: Charlie Chan In Egypt (DVD)
This potpourri of Egypt, ancient excavations with curses attached, murder and Charlie Chan has an aroma of fun that never wavers for the entire seventy-two minute running time. For film buffs, it is a chance to see lovely Pat Paterson onscreen also. Louis King directed the screenplay of Robert Ellis and Helen Logan. Rita Hayworth fans will enjoy her small early role as Nayda. The pace is perfect, the mystery and romance blended nicely by King. Warner Oland brought a quiet dignity to the detective created by the talented Earl Derr Biggers. Though Toler is probably my favorite of the two Chans, taking over the role in 1938 when Oland fell ill and succumbed to pneumonia in his country of birth, Sweden, Oland was excellent, lending class and an air of distinction to Chan. Charlie Chan in Egypt is one of Oland's most fun turns as the famous sleuth. It starts off with a bang, in something resembling a scene from The Mummy; a man dropping dead during the unearthing of an ancient Egyptian room full of artifacts. A figure watching over the room may be bringing a curse upon those who've disturbed the site. Chan is sent by the French Museum to discover why various artifacts excavated are finding their way into private hands instead of theirs. More is amiss than just the missing artifacts, however, as Charlie soon discovers. Archeologist Tom Evans (Thomas Beck) proves to be his ally with many mysteries. Evans is sweet on Carol Arnold (Pat Paterson), the daughter of the expedition leader, now missing. It isn't long until Charlie discovers his body in an Egyptian sarcophagus, and knows there is a murderer about, helping the curse come true. Tom and Carol have romantic feelings for one another, of course, and Chan is disturbed by her bouts of illness which he suspects also have a very earthly cause. A second death soon transpires, and Chan's reputation is in doubt for a short time. Thanks to our favorite Hawaiian detective, Carol is no longer under the spell of the poison she was being given, which proves handy when Tom is shot helping Charlie find a killer's secret. Chan appears to be defeated but, of course, is only setting a trap. There is a bit of misdirection which will have the viewer suspecting everyone except the scared Snowshoes (Stepinfetchit) who wants nothing to do with curses and murder. A very nice ending wraps up both the mystery and the romance in this one. Fox gave this one a big boost with some fine sets, lending a fun atmosphere to a tight little mystery with just the right amount of romance. The romance between Beck and Paterson is quite nice, Beck making a solid romantic hero. Paterson is lovely here, and a big plus for film buffs. She married Charles Boyer on Valentine's Day in 1934, and when she died in 1978, Boyer took his own two days later, unable and unwilling to live without her. A fun film and excellent Charlie Chan entry with a sweet reminder of love the way it is supposed to be for those who know the story. If you can't find this fabulous one, it is also part of a boxed set, and well worth the price. A great time at the movies.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Charlie Chan solves a mystery in Luxor and inside a pyramid., August 20, 2011
This review is from: Charlie Chan In Egypt (DVD)
Now that Charlie Chan has solved his case in Paris, he comes to Egypt to the town of Luxor. Professor Arnold (George Irving) is inside a pyramid chipping away at a hieroglyphs seal in the wall. They are trying to reach the tomb of Ahmeti. He breaks through. With the help of his men, they carefully remove the stones from behind the wall. Ali (John George) looks through the space and suddenly he can't breath and collapses. He is dead. They shine the light through the hole. They have found Ameti's chamber. Upon arriving in Egypt, Charlie Chan (Warner Oland) meets Carol Arnold (Pat Peterson) and Tom Evans (Thomas Beck). Carol explains she has not seen her father, Professor Arnold, over a month ago since he opened Ahmeti's tomb. Charlie Chan is their to investigate why the artifacts in the tomb were taken out and found among private collector's and a museum in Berlin. Charlie Chan has two cases to solve. Also in the cast: Rita Hayworth, Stepin Fatchit, Jameson Thomas, Frank Conroy, Nigel DeBrulier, Paul Purcasi, Arthur Stone, Frank Reicher, John Davidson. Warner Oland's 8th movie as "Charlie Chan". DVD running time: 72 mins. Language in English. Option of Subtitles in English, Spanish. You're going to need the subtitles to understand what Stepin Fetchit as "Snowshoes" is saying. Special Features: "The Real Charlie Chan", Trail for Charlie Chan in London. Yes. Thomas Beck was in Charlie Chan in Paris (1935). John Davidson also appears in Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat (1944) and Mr. Moto's Last Warning (1939), Mr. Moto's Takes a Vacation (1939). Next Mystery: Charlie Chan In Shanghai (1935).
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