Guest-starring Boris Karloff....
1937's "Charlie Chan at the Opera" is a better than average episode in the long running Charlie Chan series. Warner Oland stars as the titular Honolulu Police Detective, with Keye Luke as Number One Son, while Boris Karloff has an outstanding guest role as an escaped mental patient now haunting an opera house in the manner of "The Phantom of the Opera."

The story opens with Karloff's escape from a mental institution, then presents a murder at an Opera House to draw in Charlie Chan. Chan is his usual inscrutable self in his police work, with veteran character actor William Demarest (Uncle Charlie of "My Three Sons") as his none-too-bright foil on the local police force. The plot itself is filled with the usual collection of suspects and more than the usual number of red herrings; only the most attentive viewers may guess the plot resolution before the conclusion. Number One Son gets a little help from his college fraternity brothers on the case, as he and his intrepid father race to prevent another murder. Karloff is superb as Gravelle, an operatic singer and amnesiac who is by turns lucid and confused about what may or may not have happened in the Opera House during a fire several years earlier.

This Charlie Chan is a better than average entry in the series, with some good acting and an enjoyable plot. It is highly recommended to fans of the series and is long overdue for conversion to DVD.

Karloff Elevates This to a Whole New Level
I won't go on and on about this. I rented this a few years ago because I liked charlie chan when I was a kid. Well, guess what--boris karloff lifted this to a whole new level. He's the villain in this and, as usual, he delivers a pretty darn good performance that really worked, big-time. So, if this was a pie after you bit into it you would find it had a much better filling than you thought you were getting. Karloff was a much classier act than they usually had in these as the villain. In fact, he may be the best actor ever to appear in one of these. I predict it won't disappoint.

Drama at the Opera
It was a rainy night outside the sanatorium. One inmate sings opera and plays the piano; an amnesia victim who is unknown. A newspaper brings back a memory, so he overpowers the guard and escapes. The police search for this madman. Charlie Chan is called in to help, and shows his powers of observation. Opera singer Lilli Rochelle asks for police protection, she received a threat with her flowers. [There are funny comments sprinkled among the dialogue.] Back at the opera the madman remembers his name; he used to be a singer. Madame Rochelle has a jealous husband, and he threatens baritone Borelli. There is a mystery within the opera. The police chase Borelli, but he is found dead inside a locked room. Chan notices the blood is drying, there must have been a double on stage. The search finds Lilli but she is stabbed dead too! Then we learn more about Lilli's secret past.

Chan finds an old newspaper clipping and seeks an old photograph. We see the latest technology that sends a picture thousands of miles in minutes, facsimile transmission. Chan shows his wisdom and judgment, he makes no assumptions about the facts in this case. [Did you make an assumption about the guilty party before the ending?] The aria in the opera is repeated, then a shot rings out. Chan explains why the obvious suspect was innocent, and then reveals the real murderer! He then asks a favor of a young woman to save another life. There is a happy ending, and Chan can return to Honolulu on time.

This is another example where love or money leads to murder. Uncovering hidden facts leads to a solution. It is one of the better films in the series because of its higher production values.

fantastic
The whole series has some great movies and some awful movies...this one is just fantastic. Boris Karloff is great and the movie is a must have. I cant wair for the DVD!

You cant be serious?
Ok so Ive never seen a whole charlie chan movie and probably never will so I cant judge the quality of an entire film. Its not surprising that all the reviews here trying to justify racism are written by caucasians. So since all movies in the 30's were racist, it makes them ok....what a crock! So people shouldnt complain about this movie because they were generous enough to allow an Asian to star in a film instead of using makeup to make non-Asians into a what a stereotypical Asian is supposed to look like. Oh brother, do you guys know what the definition of racism is? Yes people have a right to watch this film if they are so inclined. But people also have the right to say films like this belong in the garbage. Would caucasians complain if Native Americans made a film that depicted the genocidal acts of caucasians which include racial overtones? Come on its 2006, get real people, and get out of the trailer park please.