WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Aneesa Wardle The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

biorngm Review - Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise, released 6-21-40 This was the sixth production for Fox of the Sidney Toler starred Charlie Chan movies and the film was rated at eight or a B in comparison with any of the Toler roles. The story was believable, the plot moved along without non-essential scenes clogging its path to the great finish. The characters portrayed were recognizable actors, all playing their roles professionally, with plenty of red-herrings to be intrigued for the seventy plus minutes. One has to buy the premise to the Charlie Chan movies, and the program or film follows right along as solid Saturday matinee entertainment at a dark time in U.S. history. Buying the premise and accepting how the films were shot is understood at the onset when writing a review. There were rarely daylight scenes, at hotels, on shipboard or even at the morgue; fog enshrouded or nighttime occurring mystery and murder was the accepted norm, a pseudo-film-noir mode throughout the picture. A word to the screenwriters, people can be seen in the daytime committing murder, and lurking about in disguise. The plot revolves around the revenge of an ex-husband coming out of prison who pursues his ex-wife and her second husband. This former spouse blackmails a disreputable individual to carry out his clever killing spree and he begins his crimes by removing Charlie Chan's Inspector friend, who had been tracking him globally. When the opportunity was available to end the life of the blackmailed sole, he killed him before finally having a chance at the ex-wife; assaulting her at the end of the movie. Charlie follows the path of clues, deciphering each, and, as some evidence is destroyed, there was always self-incrimination to do in the killer.Follow Chan from the murder of his friend, through the mistaken identity of the second husband, next the second husband and then the blackmailed accomplice. The film begins with two murders, one off camera, setting Charlie on his journey to settling the tragic killing of his friend. The summary at the picture's close is quintessential Chan covering all the questions a viewer would want to know.

bkoganbing An old Scotland Yard Inspector friend Montague Shaw drops in on Charlie Chan in Honolulu asking for his help in catching a murderer whom he believes is on a cruise bound for San Francisco. Shortly afterward Shaw is strangled and Sidney Toler now has a personal reason for taking over Shaw's investigation.Also coming along is Number 2 son Victor Sen Yung as usual providing his unwanted assistance to Pop. Number 2 son as a stowaway earns his passage as a steward's assistant, but does prove useful in being able to search cabins of cruise passengers.With such worthy villainous types as Lionel Atwill, Leo G. Carroll, Charles Middleton, and Leonard Mudie in the cast it's going to be difficult to tell who the perpetrator can be. All have been cast as villains in many films. Jewelry salesman Don Beddoe also winds up dead before the cruise is over.With a really good cast to provide believable red herrings Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise is a top drawer feature of the Charlie Chan series. Captain Stubing never saw things like this going on with the Love Boat.

Lechuguilla The killer in this story appears to be a beggar, a person with a white beard, glasses, black pointy hat, and black coat. The beggar relates in some way to one of some ten suspects. In actual practice, there are about six or seven genuine suspects, since a few of them can be easily ruled out."Murder Cruise" is one of the better films in the Charlie Chan series. Production values trend above average. And the B&W lighting is quite effective.My only real complaint is the film's plot. At a certain point, the viewer can fairly easily identify the killer, despite the fact that the underlying mystery is complex and clever. It's one of those whodunits wherein the murderer is relatively easy to spot, but the motive and underlying story are rather opaque. A slight change in the plot could have prolonged the suspense a bit longer.The story's ending is amusingly hokey. The killer tries to strangle one last victim, and the woman screams and screams. Rather than killing her quickly, the murderer talks to her long enough for the police and Charlie Chan to arrive in time to save her.Despite a plot that is a bit too revealing too soon, "Murder Cruise" is an enjoyable whodunit. If only all the Charlie Chan movies were this high in quality. In the words of Charlie Chan ... "Thank you so much".

classicsoncall "Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise" is at the top of many fans favorite lists, as it is mine. Sidney Toler once again portrays the Oriental Detective, assisted by Victor Sen Yung as Number #2 Son Jimmy. Layne Tom Jr. also appears as numerically challenged Number #7 Son Willie; he had made prior appearances as Number #2 Son Charlie Jr. in "At the Circus" and "At the Olympics" with Warner Oland, and as unnumbered son Tommy in "Honolulu". Interestingly, the young Layne Tom appeared in Chan films with both Oland and Toler, though Sen Yung never appeared in a Warner Oland Chan film.The rest of the cast is an interesting mix as well; Lionel Atwill appears as mystery cruise director Dr. Suderman, Leo (minus the G.) Carroll is introduced as archeology Professor Gordon, and Charles Middleton and Claire Du Brey portray a nervously rigid couple, the Walters. Cora Witherspoon is also on hand as a member of the cruise party, offering comic relief as socialite Suzie Watson who bewilders Chan with her confusing descriptions of characters on board.When the dust finally clears, four murders have taken place; one in Charlie's Honolulu office, one in a Honolulu hotel, and two more on board a cruise ship heading to San Francisco. All are by strangulation using various means, a suitcase strap in one case, a leather shoelace in another. Adding additional intrigue, the murderer leaves an unusual calling card with victim number two, a small bag containing thirty dimes representing the Biblical Judas' thirty pieces of silver.With clever attention to detail, Chan is pointed in the right direction by Professor Gordon's slip up, commenting on an aspect of Chinese history. Gordon should have known better, particularly since it's later revealed that he had the foresight to have his accomplice Ross (James Beddoe) masquerade as his own disguised double as a street beggar to throw Charlie off track. Cunning as the ruse was, it was no match for Chan's investigative ability.Until this film, the body count in a Chan film had never gone higher than three. Sometimes more is not better, but in this movie it works, even though victim two was killed in a case of mistaken identity. The way the story unfolds, especially with the curve thrown by circumstances surrounding the second victim, makes for an entertaining and well played out mystery.One of my favorite lines from the film - Charlie refers to son Jimmy as "miniature Sherlock".