Charlie Chan in Paris is a cozy, low-stakes mystery

Is it worth your time?

Look, if you like black-and-white mysteries where people talk in rooms for eighty percent of the runtime, you'll have a decent time. It’s not exactly Roman Scandals in terms of spectacle. If you need explosions or constant movement, you are going to be bored out of your skull.

It’s the kind of movie you put on while it’s raining outside. Warner Oland is just so calm. It’s almost hypnotic.

The Paris backdrop

They spent a good chunk of money on the sets. Sometimes you can tell it’s just painted cardboard, but it has this weird, lovely charm to it. It doesn't look like Paris, really, but it looks like a version of Paris that exists only in 1935 studio backlots. I kind of prefer that.

There's this moment where someone walks down a hallway and the shadows are just perfectly placed. Like, way too perfect. It’s very noir, even if it’s technically just a whodunit.

Lee Chan is a riot

Keye Luke as Lee Chan? He’s the energy this movie desperately needs. He’s always running around trying to be helpful and mostly just causing more confusion. It’s a nice contrast to his dad’s endless, slow-motion proverbs.

“Pop, I found a clue!” he says, roughly. And you know, he usually did. He’s the classic eager sidekick archetype, but played with enough sincerity that you don't mind him.

The weird stuff

• There is a scene in an antique shop that feels like it lasts for three years.
• The dialogue is mostly just people being suspicious of each other while holding cigars.
• I’m still not entirely sure who forged those bonds, honestly.
• The cat-and-mouse game in the cellar is legitimately tense for about thirty seconds.

The pacing is honestly a bit of a mess. Sometimes the movie stops dead so Chan can say something vaguely philosophical. It’s not profound, but it makes you feel like you're watching a chess match where the players are also drinking tea.

It’s not as punchy as High Treason, but it has this steady, rhythmic pulse to it. You don't watch these movies to be shocked. You watch them to see the guy with the hat figure out the trick before everyone else.

The ending comes out of nowhere. It’s like the writers just got tired of being in Paris and decided to wrap it up before lunch. I don't hate it for that. It’s refreshing, actually.

Give it a spin if you're in the mood for something dusty and polite. 🕵️‍♂️