Charlie Chan (minus family members) has just delivered a British criminal he caught to London when a distraught woman tells him about her brother about to be executed for a murder she is convinced he did not commit, of a house guest at a country mansion. Though all others believe the brother guilty, Chan investigates the evidence and become suspicious, and visits the mansion. Unfortunately more deaths occur as Chan launches his own investigation.This is a straightforward story with some subplots and red herrings, no comic relief from Number One Son or anyone else. But at least the ending is not what I had anticipated.

In London, a woman enlists the help of Charlie Chan (Warner Oland) to prove the innocence of her brother, who is scheduled to be executed in three days. Charlie races against the clock to figure out who the real murderer is and expose them. Of all the detective film series of the '30s & '40s, Charlie Chan is my favorite. I particularly enjoy the Warner Oland Chan films. He was perfect in the role. Some nice support here from Alan Mowbray, Mona Barrie, and a young Ray Milland. None of Charlie's sons appear in this one. Instead, comic relief comes from E.E. Clive as a silly detective who takes copious notes and constantly refers to Charlie as "Mr. Chang." Fun detective story featuring one of filmdom's greatest detectives. You can't go wrong with Charlie Chan!

Warner Oland may work best under pressure as Charlie Chan In London shows. About to leave London he is moved by the pleas of Drue Leyton who is trying to save her brother Douglas Walton from the hangman. She has used her appeal up with the Home Secretary David Torrence and even Ray Milland, Walton's lawyer says he thinks his client probably did it. But apparently Charlie Chan is moved by a woman in distress.The murder was of an RAF officer and it took place in the stables of Alan Mowbray's estate during fox hunting season. Oland who is without the assistance of any of his kids, starts turning up clues and another murder of the groom Perry Ivins and an attempt is made against Mona Barrie and twice on Oland himself.To say Charlie Chan was under the gun in this film was putting it mildly. He has about 65 hours to find the real killer. Do you doubt he will succeed.The original motive if Walton were the killer is said to be personal, but it turns out to have far reaching implications when the real killer is apprehended.Charlie Chan In London is one of the best of Oland Charlie Chan films and holds up nicely today.

This won't go past 7/10 because of the overacting typical of many movies from the 1930s...people fainting, overdisplayed distress and other 'drama queen' tricks of the trade that do not appeal to me much. HOWEVER I really enjoyed this charming little movie, deprived of profanity, violence and nudity often associated with today's similar productions. Olund as Chan is very charming and inoffensive (or so he wants to look to fool suspects ): only 3 days to save an innocent from execution and many potential killers to choose from...hint by hint Chan turns what courts believed to be a 'crime of passion' into a case of industrial espionage (ingenious plot contrivance for those times ). Mona Barrie is the prettiest of the bunch and it's hard to believe she died in 1964. Barren the few 'drama queen' moments, acting is good and actors definitely help to support an interesting plot full of twists and intelligently argued. Too bad these silver screen movies are for the merely curious or the connoisseur these days.