thejcowboy22 Some of my fondest memories was watching the portly white suited Asian super sleuth Charlie Chan. The Character was created by Earl Derr Biggers who traveled to Hawaii and was planning on writing a detective novel related to the tropical Island paradise. Biggers was taken with two Asian American police detectives from the Island of Oahu and from that created the soft spoken,parable filled Investigator. Up until that time Chinese were portrayed as evil characters in stories and Biggers who was ahead of his time felt a positive Asian on the right side of the law would turn the tides. Hollywood initially tried Asian actors in the role with no success.Then they used a Swedish born actor Warner Oland who was convincing and starred in 16 Films as Mr. Detective Chan solving Murders all around the globe.Ironically Chan's side kick was an Asian actor Keye Luke as his Number 1 son. Oland dies and the search was on for a replacement. This film Chan in Honolulu is the first film for newly appointed Mr. Chan by Sidney Toller who was chosen over 34 actors. American born Toler slid in nicely as Chan but with a slight edge when rattled especially by newly appointed Number 2 son Jimmy (Victor Sen Young)). Not as soft as the original actor Oland but always makes a fool out of his son who constantly under-minds his Father.Chan tries to instill patience with his junior rather than jump to initial conclusions. This episode is the first home based murder mystery on Chan's turf Honolulu bearing the title. Number one Daughter is expecting and is in long Labor. Exciting times for Charlie Chan on the birth of his first grandchild. Meanwhile Number two son Jimmy receives a phone call from the authorities that there has been a murder on the freighter the Susan B. Jennings out of Shanghai. Jimmy takes it upon himself to become his father and solve the murder with help of younger brother Tommy (Layne Tom Jr.) While the elder Chan waits in the Hospital Jimmy and Tommy board the ship and start asking questions to a colorful cast of suspects. Eventually the real Charlie Chan steps into action and solves the case just in time for the blessed event. Just a good clean family movie.

bsmith5552 "Charlie Chan in Honolulu" (1938) is notable as the first Chan film to star Sidney Toler in the title role. He had been chosen by Darryl F. Zanuck to replace Warner Oland who had passed away earlier that year. It also introduces (Victor) Sen Yung as No. 2 son Jimmy Chan. Layne Tom Jr. who had appeared in "Charlie Chan at the Olympics" the previous year as Charlie Chan Jr. with Oland, appears here as No. 5 son Tommy.The story is set in Honolulu but most of the action takes place on a freighter where a murder has been committed. We first meet Toler's Chan at home with his wife and umpteen children awaiting the birth of the family's first grand child. Charlie is called to investigate a murder aboard the aforementioned freighter but as Charlie has gone to the hospital to await his grand child's birth, No. 2 son Jimmy goes in his stead accompanied by No. 5 son Tommy. Jimmy attempts to investigate the murder but as always gets himself into trouble. Charlie arrives just in time to prevent Jimmy from being thrown overboard.Judy Hayes (Phyllis Brooks) is the only witness to the murder having been present when it occurred. She had been trying to transfer a mysterious $300K to the victim when he was struck down. Several persons of interest are placed under suspicion. First we have Judy Hayes, the mysterious Dr. Cardigan (George Zucco), Carol Wayne (Claire Dodd) who may not be who she seems, Dectective Joe Arnold (Richard Lane) and his prisoner Johnny McCoy (Marc Lawrence), the ship's Executive Officer Randolph (John King). Captain Johnson (Robert Barrat) assists Charlie and Jimmy in their investigation.The money disappears, another murder happens and an attempt is made on Charlie's life. Finally Charlie concocts a plan to fool the murder into revealing himself and........................................Sidney Toler takes a bit of getting used to as Chan but would fit comfortably into the role that he would play for the next decade. Yung makes an excellent foil for Toler and he too would continue on in the series. This film is enhanced by the presence of the ever sinister George Zucco in the cast. He was always a suspect. The comedy relief provided by Eddie Collins and his lion would fit better into a Three Stooges comedy rather than here.Just an added note, Philip Ahn who plays Charlie's son-in-law had a connection with Keye Luke who had appeared in the Oland Chans. Both appeared in the 70s TV series "Kung Fu" as Chinese mentors to star David Carradine.

utgard14 Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) is called to investigate a murder aboard a freighter docked in Honolulu. There's pressure on Charlie to solve the case quickly so the freighter can leave, as well as waiting on news about the birth of his first grandchild and dealing with meddlesome son Jimmy's attempts to be a detective.It was nice to see Charlie's family again, especially Charlie Chan, Jr. (Layne Tom, Jr.). This is also the first appearance of "Number Two Son" Jimmy Chan (Victor Sen Yung). He's not as charming as Keye Luke's Lee Chan, but he's fun and enjoyable in his own way. Supporting cast features Robert Barrat, Richard Lane, and the great George Zucco. This is Sidney Toler's first Charlie Chan film. Toler's Chan was different from Oland's. A little more snark from Charlie and more comic relief from sidekicks. While I prefer Warner Oland, Sidney Toler was an admirable replacement and most of his Chan movies are good. At least until the series moved to Monogram.

classicsoncall "Charlie Chan in Honolulu" opens with a view of the mailbox at the Chan family home, reading 'Chas. Chan' - I never really thought of the Oriental Detective as "Chas". The film is Sidney Toler's debut as the master detective, along with Victor Sen Yung's first portrayal of Number #2 Son Jimmy, although he appears in the credits simply as Sen Yung. Layne Tom, Jr. is back, this time as unnumbered son Tommy; he had appeared in "Charlie Chan at the Circus" and "Charlie Chan at the Olympics" as Number #2 Son Charlie Jr., but his age in those films does not coincide with the chronology of the Chan offspring, which is revealed in this film to be at thirteen.With Charlie off in a rush to the Maternity Hospital for the birth of his first grandson, Tommy intercepts a phone call from the Honolulu Police stating a murder has been committed aboard the freighter Susan B. Jennings. Tommy convinces brother Jimmy to get involved with the case, then manages to stow away aboard the ship to help with the investigation. Charlie meanwhile, about to view his first grandchild strikes a comedic note describing a nurse's mistake in bringing out a black baby - "wrong flavor".By the time the elder Chan gets wind of the murder case, Jimmy is deeply embroiled in the effort, having been mistaken for the famed detective. There's a colorful cast of characters offered here, led by the sinister presence of George Zucco's character Dr. Cardigan, a criminal psychologist who reveals his penchant for nursing a live human brain! The comedic chores of the film are handled by animal keeper Hogan (Eddie Collins), who spends most of his time keeping the free ranging Oscar the Lion in check.The murder victim was to have received three hundred thousand dollars in a business deal, delivered by Miss Judy Hayes (Phyllis Brooks). Fellow passenger Carol Wayne is eventually revealed to be the wife of the victim, seeking a divorce and in a pact with the ship's captain to steal the money; Ms. Wayne/Hillman eventually becomes victim number two. Rounding out the passenger list aboard the freighter, and thrown in as likely suspects are a supposed Detective Arnold (Richard Lane) and his captive Johnny McCoy (Marc Lawrence). Chan smokes out the phony detective, a McCoy accomplice, as he sets up the ship's captain (Robert Barrat) to reveal his identity with a rigged gun threaded to a hidden camera; the camera reveals the person who made an attempt on Chan's life as he comes close to solving the mystery.As Charlie Chan films go, this one is probably about middle of the road in terms of interest, though a fine effort for Sidney Toler's first portrayal of Chan. For the viewer, there's a little more to go on to solve the murders than the earlier Warner Oland mysteries, so the revelation does not come off as a complete surprise. But the real payoff comes at the end of the film when Charlie receives word that he has become a new "grand pop" - his response to the news: "In present case am only innocent bystander."