Charlie Chan arrives in Egypt at the bequest of the French Archaeological Society to investigate missing relics that have turned up in the hands of private collectors and rival museums. When he discovers the body of expedition leader Professor Arnold in a sarcophagus, the case turns into a murder mystery.
Charlie Chan in Egypt does not have as many suspects or red herrings as Warner Oland's two prior films, "London" and "Paris". Chan allies himself with archaeologist Tom Evans (Thomas Beck) to uncover a series of clues pointing to the real murderer, that being an Arnold associate who was in on the discovery of a secret treasure room in the tomb of Ahmedi. Setting a trap for the killer, the case is wrapped up rather cleanly at film's end with not much of a surprise as to the identity of the murderer.
The film is notable for an early appearance of future star Rita Hayworth, here billed under her real name of Rita Cansino; her character is a servant girl Nayda. Stepin Fetchit portrays a black servant named Snowshoes, in a role that is almost painful to watch. His dialog is unintelligible at times, and he gets pushed around verbally by members of the expedition, a racist role that would be widely denounced today.
For it's rather exotic locale, "Charlie Chan in Egypt" is not one of the better entries in the Chan series. For completists though, it's a must see, and a not too bad way to spend a quick hour of mystery entertainment.
Charlie Chan in Egypt does not have as many suspects or red herrings as Warner Oland's two prior films, "London" and "Paris". Chan allies himself with archaeologist Tom Evans (Thomas Beck) to uncover a series of clues pointing to the real murderer, that being an Arnold associate who was in on the discovery of a secret treasure room in the tomb of Ahmedi. Setting a trap for the killer, the case is wrapped up rather cleanly at film's end with not much of a surprise as to the identity of the murderer.
The film is notable for an early appearance of future star Rita Hayworth, here billed under her real name of Rita Cansino; her character is a servant girl Nayda. Stepin Fetchit portrays a black servant named Snowshoes, in a role that is almost painful to watch. His dialog is unintelligible at times, and he gets pushed around verbally by members of the expedition, a racist role that would be widely denounced today.
For it's rather exotic locale, "Charlie Chan in Egypt" is not one of the better entries in the Chan series. For completists though, it's a must see, and a not too bad way to spend a quick hour of mystery entertainment.