Watch The Black Camel For Free

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

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

The first Charlie Chan movie that still exists is this offering. The title is based on a saying about a black camel kneeling at a doorstep as a sign of death. No camels in the movie which takes place in Honolulu. An actress has been murdered. She has been weighing the possibility of marrying a man and has been dissuaded by a mystic, played by the great Bela Lugosi. This film is filled with wonderful character actors. One of them, Dwight Frye, played Renfield, the madman, who is Dracula's henchman in the most famous of the films. Chan faces racism and avoidance. He must suffer respect from the rich populace. He is a master of precision, despite having an idiot partner who just gets in the way. One great line I loved has to do with his son, who is failing at school. When asked why he is last in his class, he replies that all the other positions were already taken. This is an entertaining, multi-layered whodunnit. There are some rather suspect events. For example a man is shot and lies dying in his bed. The law goes to extract information from him, but no-one makes the slightest effort to get a doctor. Off to a good start.

THE BLACK CAMEL (Fox Studios, 1931), directed by Hamilton MacFadden, is not one set in the Sahara desert about a sheik riding bumpily on a camel's hump, but a murder mystery set in Honolulu, Hawaii. Taken from an original story by mystery writer, Earl Derr Biggers, best known for his creation of the Charlie Chan character, THE BLACK CAMEL, offers Warner Oland a second opportunity to carry on in the role of the famed Oriental sleuth following his character introduction from CHARLIE CHAN CARRIES ON (Fox, 1931), which would lead to future "Chan" cinema mysteries to follow.Following an opening passage of men surfing on the waves to the underscoring of "On the Beaches of Waikiki," and front page spreads filling the screen of Honolulu welcoming Hollywood motion picture company, and of its leading lady, Shelah Fane (Dorothy Revier) set to marry Alan Jaynes (William Post Jr.), a wealthy globe trotter she met on the boat and known for only a week. Unable to concentrate on her scenes for the upcoming motion picture, Shelah sends for Tarneverro the Great (Bela Lugosi), for advise about her future. Upon their meeting, the psychic reveals a dark secret about her past that occurred three years ago. Later at a gathering at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Shelah is found dead. Charlie Chan (Warner Oland) of the Honolulu police, passing himself as a Chinese merchant, investigates. Among the suspects are Julie O'Neill (Sally O'Neil), Shelah's friend; Jimmy Bradshaw (Robert Young), a slogan man and Julie's romantic interest; Robert Fyfe (Victor Varconi), actor and Shelah's ex-husband; Archie Smith (Murray Kinnell), an artist who holds a portrait painting of Shelah' Anna (Violet Dunn), Shelah's maid; and her husband, Jessop (the uncredited Dwight Frye), the butler. Others in the cast consist of Marjorie White (Rita Ballou); Richard Tucker (Wilkie Ballou); and its director, Hamilton MacFadden, playing a movie director.What does this have to do with the black camel? Nothing really except from a proverb recited from Charlie Chan himself, "Death is a black camel that kneels unbidden at every gate." Those familiar with the latter Chan mysteries starring either Warner Oland or his successor, Sidney Toler, would find THE BLACK CAMEL quite formula Chan material, even during its early stages. In a scene set during the midway point, there's the presentation of Charlie and his Chan clan seated at the breakfast table, consisting of his wife, and numerous off-springs, with one of them speaking in current day slang. Interestingly, Chan's bumbling assistant is a bespectacled Japanese named Kashimo (Otto Yamaoka) rather than the familiar Keye Luke as Lee, Chan's Number One Son,introduced into the series in "Charlie Chan in Paris" (Fox, 1935). Kashimo, like Lee Chan, is played for laughs, and gets them as well. Bela Lugosi, following his legendary success of "Dracula" (Universal, 1931), almost outshines Oland with his very strong presence as the fortune teller with a mysterious past. His crystal ball gazing with interesting camera angles is certainly one of the highlights with fine dark background photography in the "film noir" tradition.While no prints survive for Oland's Chan debut of CHARLIE CHAN CARRIES ON, THE BLACK CAMEL, remade as CHARLIE CHAN IN RIO (20th-Fox, 1941) starring Sidney Toler, is available for viewing on DVD (with 20th Century-Fox logo). Though rarely or hardly televised as part of the "Charlie Chan Festival" on the afternoon or late show broadcasts of decades ago, it's something to consider being the earliest known Oland/Chan mystery to exist and some actual location filming in Hawaii to hold enough interest during its fun-filled 71 minutes. Next installment: CHARLIE CHAN'S CHANCE (Fox, 1932). In conclusion to Chan's frequent close of sentence, "Thank you, so much." (***)

As with whodunits in general, the single most important element in this film is the story puzzle. Who killed the victim, and why? A sigh of relief as I watched the ending of "The Black Camel" and found the murderer was not who I was afraid it would be. In fact, I was way off in my guess.Although the story's premise is somewhat lame, "The Black Camel" is a whodunit film worth watching. It has all the classic whodunit elements: a camouflaged story puzzle, an adequate number of suspects, spine-tingling suspense, and of course a surprise ending. The two key scenes that reveal the killer's motive are pleasantly subtle.As a character, Charlie Chan (Warner Oland) is more direct and feisty, more angry, determined, and sharp edged than he is in later films. One of the weak elements here is the presence of Chan's sidekick, Kashimo (Otto Yamaoka), a manic and stupid character inserted in the script apparently for comic relief. But he isn't funny. He's just annoying.Another problem is that the plot does not provide enough background clues to point to the identity of the killer. Some additional back story could have helped to fill in missing pieces and added more red herrings.The script has some sharp dialogue, like when one suspect, trying to be helpful, tells Charlie: "You need a lie detector ... it's an invention that detects instantly when anyone is telling a lie". To which Charlie responds: "Oh I see, you mean a wife; I have one".The best element of "The Black Camel" is the cinematography. Shot in B&W, side lighting creates ghostly shadows that amplify suspense. Outdoor scenes were filmed in Hawaii, where the story takes place. A lot of care seems to have been taken in the framing of outdoor shots, giving the outdoor visuals a rich, sumptuous look. Indoor sets are okay, but driving scenes use rear screen projection, which creates a hokey look, but understandable given the era in which the film was made."The Black Camel" is an early talkie. As such, the sound effects are a tad impaired. But overall, this is a whodunit worthy of at least a one-time viewing, owing to a whodunit puzzle that is pleasantly obscure, a surprise ending, and stunning visuals. To quote Charlie Chan: "Thank you so much."

I really love these old time movies. The atmosphere warrants attention alone, but the plot is quite good, too. Of course it follows the cliché of the 'round all suspects up and follow the leads', but I found it pretty entertaining...much more than today's gory 'crime scene' bunk serials. The storyline is entangled enough to keep interest sustained until the end of an otherwise short movie (about 1h10mins). Hollywood actress filming in Hawaii is stabbed to death while her ex-husband, her fortune-teller and her betrothed are around...much like the ghost of a deceased actor she knew too well but doesn't want anybody to know about. Turns out the chambermaid killed the actress, but watch the movie to know why. Acting is fine, although there are bits of overacting and the 'clumsy Japanese attendant' bits are annoying. Good movie.