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6.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Charlie Chan's Courage remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old-school detective yarns where people talk in riddles and walk around in fancy suits, you’ll dig this. If you’re looking for high-octane thrills or modern pacing, skip it. Honestly, it’s mostly for the completionists or people who just want to see Warner Oland do his thing while wearing a disguise.
The whole setup is pretty simple. Chan has to haul some expensive pearls to a rich guy’s ranch. Of course, someone ends up dead before the coffee even gets served. It’s the kind of premise that fits perfectly into an afternoon slot on a rainy day.
There is this moment where Chan pretends to be a servant to get the scoop on everyone else. It’s a bit silly, and let’s be real, everyone knows it’s him. But watching him shuffle around while everyone else acts suspicious is the only reason to really pay attention.
The pacing is… well, it’s slow. Very slow. At one point, I realized I’d been staring at a wall for two minutes while someone was delivering a monologue about the ranch’s history. It’s not exactly The Show, but it has that strange, dusty charm you only find in these forgotten studio relics.
There’s a weird shift halfway through where the tension just sort of evaporates. It’s like the writers forgot they were supposed to be making a thriller and decided to focus on the ranch’s furniture instead. It feels a bit like Second Childhood in how it just kind of drifts along without a clear destination.
You can tell the budget wasn't exactly massive. The crowd scenes are mostly just a few people standing around looking confused. Still, there’s something oddly soothing about how low-stakes everything feels. It’s not trying to change the world; it’s just trying to fill an hour of runtime.
Don't expect a masterpiece. Just expect a detective walking around, saying wise things, and waiting for the bad guy to trip over his own ego. It’s fine. Just fine. 🕵️♂️
