CHARLIE CHAN IN EGYPT

Warner Oland and Rita Cansino (Hayworth)

CHARLIE CHAN IN EGYPT (1935). Director: Louis/Luis King.

Charlie Chan is investigating the theft and forgery of certain antiquities when he discovers that archaeologist Professor Arnold (George Irving) has been missing for weeks. Then the professor turns up in an unexpected place, setting in motion a series of often clever murders. There's the tomb that has hidden secrets and time-lost chambers that hold their own promise of death. Characters include Arnold's daughter, Carol (Pat Paterson), her sensitive violin-playing brother, Barry (James Eagles of The Story of Temple Drake), the family physician Dr. Anton Racine (Jameson Thomas of The Curtain Falls), Carol's fella Tom Evans (Thomas Beck), and Snowshoes, the whiny if lovable servant (Stepin Fetchit of Show Boat). A young Rita Hayworth, billed here as Rita Cansino, plays a servant girl, and is fine. There are perhaps not enough suspects, and some of the cast members over-act badly, but Charlie Chan in Egypt is fun.

Verdict: Not even dank tombs can stop Charlie. ***.

SHOW BOAT (1929)

SHOW BOAT (1929). Director: Harry A. Pollard.

This first film version of Show Boat is actually based on Edna Ferber's novel, and not on the stage musical, although there is some singing late in the picture (in scenes where the characters would sing naturally, such as when performing). The photography is excellent, and the strong, sensitive performances of the two leads -- Laura La Plante as Magnolia and Joseph Schildkraut as Gaylord Ravenal -- are what really put this over. Alma Rubens is also fine as Julie; in this version she is apparently not a mulatto. Stepin Fetchit is Joe; Otis Harlan is Captain Andy; and Emily Fitzroy plays his wife as a sneering termagant. This was filmed part silent and part sound; the sound for many of the latter sections are lost. Shown on TCM.

Verdict: Has it charms -- and fine actors. ***