Slow-moving (`No use hurrying unless sure of catching right train') Warner Oland mystery with Chan collaborating with No. 1 son Lee to catch murderer at the Kinney & Gaines Combined Circus. Despite authentic circus shots and comic relief by Lee and Colonel Tim and Lady Tiny, the action seems flat. Everyone disliked the victim who was obviously killed by Caesar the ape - but who let the ape loose? Co-owner Gaines is the obvious suspect but: `Cannot tell where path lead until reach end of road.' Chan escapes death: `Enemy who misses mark must coil to strike again.' Good scenes of entire Chan clan but this does not include Victor Sen Yung who will later play No. 2 son Jimmy. Lee resorts to dressing as woman to achieve disguise. Chan works this case with the police as willing co-conspirator. As in most Chan films, the detectives knows more than the audience, although in this case we can see what he saw but did not know how to interpret some of the key evidence. `One grain of luck sometimes worth more than whole rice field of wisdom.' In the end, `Death write finish to mystery.'
Review of Charlie Chan at the Circus
