Inspector Duff of Scotland Yard, traveling incognito as a cruise passenger, contacts Charlie during a stopover in Hawaii to enlist his help in apprehending a strangler that Duff believes is part of his entourage. Before Duff can get out of Chan's office he's murdered and Charlie takes the case as a personal mission. As with many of the Chan mysteries there's a rogue's gallery of suspects (at least 10 by my count) making keeping them all straight somewhat of a challenge. However, the actors making up the suspects are a who's who of the mystery genre headed up by Lionel Atwill and Leo G. Carroll. Also notable were Cora Witherspoon, Don Beddoe, and Leonard Mudie who turned in fine performances and Charles Middleton (Ming the Merciless of Flash Gordon fame) in a somewhat lesser role. And, of course, the overbearing Victor Sen Yung, who I was rooting for Charlie to just throw overboard. Dismissing Yung's nonsense, this is a fine if very complex mystery. And I admit that it took a couple of viewings to understand the finish. Still it's enjoyable especially for Chan lovers.
Review of Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise
