Its Asian stereotypes are offensive, but The Black Camel is beautifully shot (on location in Honolulu) and the costumes confirm my hunch that tailoring in the US peaked in 1931.
Charlie Chan is an aphorism-spouting Hawaiian detective who can't drive, has an enormous family and has enough cleverness to solve local mysteries. Those are all old saws but I had never heard of the stereotype of the Chinese kid that failed all his classes. It's all in pretty poor taste, especially Chan's sidekick Kashimo, who runs around shouting, "Crew! Crew!" (meaning, "Clue! Clue!"). Oh, yes. All ethnic claptrap aside, The Black Camel is beautiful to watch. It makes wonderful use of light and shadow, Hawaiian locations and everyone just looks gorgeous.
Dorothy Revier as Shelah Fane, naive Hollywood actress.
Dorothy Revier and Sally Eilers.
Geometric dress!
