Charlie Chan in Shanghai: A Cozy Mystery That Barely Stays Awake

Is this thing worth a watch?

If you have a soft spot for 1930s detective yarns, maybe. If you hate slow-burn mysteries where the 'mystery' is mostly just people talking in rooms, skip it. It’s definitely for the rainy Sunday crowd who doesn't mind a bit of theatrical cheese.

I sat down with this one expecting a bit of globe-trotting grit. Instead, I got a lot of stagey lighting and guys in suits looking shifty near curtains.

The whole thing kicks off at a banquet, which is a classic trope for a reason. But the murder happens so fast I almost missed it while reaching for my coffee. Blink and you're behind.

Warner Oland is doing his thing, and honestly, he's the only reason this holds together. He’s got that calm, steady energy that makes the rest of the cast look like they’re vibrating with anxiety. His son, Lee, is there for comic relief, I guess. Mostly he just runs around looking confused and getting into trouble.

The Shanghai Vibe

Look, don't expect actual Shanghai. It’s clearly a backlot, and the fog machine was working overtime. There’s this one scene where a character walks through a doorway, and the background wall shakes just a little bit. I love that kind of stuff. It reminds you that movies are just giant craft projects.

The opium smuggling plot is paper-thin. You figure out who the bad guy is way before the characters do. It’s not about the 'who' anyway, is it? It’s about watching Chan walk around looking wise while everyone else stumbles over their own lies.

Random Thoughts

• The dialogue is mostly just people stating the obvious.
• I swear the same three extras show up in every crowd shot.
• The sound quality dips during the outdoor scenes, like they forgot to plug the mic in.
• One of the villains has a mustache that clearly cost more than his costume.

It’s not as tightly wound as The Return of Bulldog Drummond, which had a bit more snap to it. This one feels a bit more like a stage play that someone decided to film on a Tuesday. It’s not trying to change the world. It’s just trying to fill an hour.

There’s a weird rhythm to the editing that makes some conversations feel like they’re happening in a vacuum. People pause for way too long before answering, like they’re waiting for a cue that never came. It’s funny if you’re in the right mood.

I found myself zoning out halfway through the second act. But then a sudden gunfight happens, and everyone wakes up again. It’s an uneven ride, but sometimes that’s better than a perfectly polished one.