Phantom Horseshoe Menaces Warner Gland

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 291, 9 December 1936, Page 11

Phantom Horseshoe Menaces Warner Gland

“CHARLIE CHAN AT THE RACE TRACK’ ’ HIS LATEST

(State: Screening Saturday.) Charlie Chan encounters the strangest and most baffling case of his career as he combats the deadly machinations of a ruthless killer in “Charlie Chan at the Race Track,” Twentieth Century-Fox picture. Murder with a phantom horseshoe, an infra-ray that liuris unseen death, anu a poison foam that bubbles venomously, are but a few of the macabre means ol murder that Chan deals with as he races neek-and-neek, half-way round the world, with au invisible killer. Warner Gland once again plays Charlie Chan, Earl Derr Diggers’ famous sleuth, with lvcye Luke, Helen Wood, Thomas Deck and Gavin Muir also featured in tho cast.

The film opens with a thrilLng horserace in Australia where Avalanche, the heavily backed favourite, loses the Melbourne .Sweepstakes through the operations of a gamuling r.ng, Majoi Kent, infuriated at the gamblers, cables Honolulu and requests unan to investigate the case, \vhon tho boat carrying Kent and Avalanche to America docks at Honolulu,. Chau finds tho Major dead —axiparently kicked to death by Avalancne.

Chan uucovers evidence that indisputably establishes the fact that Kent has been murdered —and tho wily sleuth decides to continue with the boat to America, thereby plunging headlong iuto the most amazing experiences of his career.

. Avalanche is run in tile famous Santa Juanita Handicap—and Chan makes the astonishing discovery that the horse has been switched with another and slower thoroughbred. Thrill follows thrill as Chau follows on tho heels of the murderer, culminating in the kidnapping of the detective on tho eve of the race. By a clever ruse Chan outwits his captors and reaches the track just before the start of tho big race. Aided by his son, Keye Luke, Chau creates a disturbance and in the ensuing excitement restores Avalanche to his true colours. The horses leave the starting post in a burst of excitement —and as they pound down the stretch with Avalanche in tho lead, the gambling ring strikes again. Chan is on hand, howevor, thwarts tho murderers, and uncovers the killer in his own inimitable fashion. “Charlie Chan at the Race Track” is unquestionably the best and most thrilling Charlie Chan picture ever brought to the screen.