Charlie Chan in Honolulu marked Sidney Toler's debut in the series. Confronting the late Warner Oland on what was his own turf, Toler proved a more than able substitute. True, he was a surrounded by a first-rate support cast, including Phyllis Brooks as the lovely lady in distress, George Zucco and Marc Lawrence as red herrings and, above all, rubber-faced Eddie Collins as the bravest comedian in the business. The plot, containing an intriguing puzzle by Charles Belden, was skilfully directed by Lucky Humberstone and atmospherically photographed by Charles Clarke.This movie debuted at New York's Central on December 31, 1938. The Fox DVD rates a perfect ten out of ten.

Warner Oland had died and Sidney Toler took over the role of Charlie Chan. While Lee is apparently in college, Number Two son, Jimmy, becomes the one aspiring to be a detective. During a rather tiresome beginning involving the birth of a grandchild, there is some banter between father and son and other child. While Charlie is at the hospital with the entire here, one of the boys gets a call about a murder aboard a ship. Jimmy and his stowaway brother end up on the ship, impersonating honorable father. In addition to two woman, a strange man who sleeps with a lion, is a weird character played by George Zucco, who was in many horror films. He has a kind of fish tank where he keeps a brain alive. Anyway, things go from bad to worse. One of the women came aboard with 300,000 dollars. It is soon missing. There are numerous suspects and eventually Charlie gets wind of his son's bumbling activities (not terrible, just not very insightful) and heads for the ship. This isn't a bad transition for the series as Toler picks up pretty well where his predecessor left off. This Chan, at least for now, is a bit harsher.

This was the first Charlie Chan movie to star Sidney Toler (following the death of Warner Oland). Along with a new Chan came a new Chan Child, as Victor Sen Yung (Jimmy Chan--also called #2 Son) took over from Keye Luke. In the case of Toler, he was a bit different from Oland--less servile and passive--more cranky and physical. I liked the jobs both men did as Chan and couldn't help but laugh at Toler's cranky comments about the bumbling Jimmy.The plot involves a murder on a freighter bound for Hawaii. When the police call the Chan household to ask him to investigate, one of the Chan children (Layne Tom Jr.) takes the call but instead of telling his father, tells Jimmy. Jimmy, like #1 Son, wants to be a detective and decides to investigate on his own. Later, fortunately, Charlie arrives to extricate Jimmy from the mess he created! The plot is okay though not great by Chan standards. The biggest fault I had with it was that some of the characters acted so stupidly you wish Chan had just arrested them all! For example, when he tells everyone to stay on the ship when it arrives so he can complete the investigation, one of them runs from the ship anyways! Also, George Zucco's character is just bizarre and crazy--like he should be in one of his B-horror films--yet he's supposed to be a psychiatrist! Despite these and other writing gaffs, the film is entertaining enough to watch and enjoy as well as not miss Oland's talents all that much. A good, but not great first effort from Toler.

This Charlie Chan, (Sidney Toler) keeps you busy seeing plenty of comedy performed by Jimmy Chan, (Victor Sen Young) oldest son to Charlie Chan who takes over an investigation of a murder which occurred aboard a freighter and claims he is Charlie Chan and gets himself deeply in trouble with his father. George Zucco, (Dr. Caredigan) appears in this film wearing glasses that look like the bottom of coco cola bottles and is very mysterious especially when he transports human brains along with him on his travels. Wild animals like tiger's, and lions also appear in this film and there are plenty of women who act very suspicious and one gal has in her possession $300,000 dollars which seems to disappear and more people are involved with this investigation. At the same time, Charlie Chan is expecting his first Grandchild and the entire family of fourteen all can be seen visiting the hospital room. You will never be able to figure out just who the killer is, because the film goes around like a Merry-go Round. Enjoy this 1938 B Film.