Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen

Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen is a 1981 comedy–mystery film directed by Clive Donner that stars Peter Ustinov, Angie Dickinson and Lee Grant.

Plot
Retired detective Charlie Chan is asked for his help by the San Francisco police to solve a new series of murders. This time his usual sidekick, "Number One Son" Lee Chan, has been replaced by Lee's own son, Lee Chan, Jr.

The prime suspect in the killings is a shady lady known as the Dragon Queen, but soon Chan's suspicions fall elsewhere. Among those at risk are Lee's maternal grandmother, Mrs. Lupowitz. Even though Charlie Chan's son is, as is usually the case, rarely accurate in reading clues, he has the full love and support of Cordelia, his beautiful fiancée.

Cast
Peter Ustinov as Charlie Chan
Lee Grant as Mrs. Lupowitz
Angie Dickinson as Dragon Queen
Richard Hatch as Lee Chan, Jr.
Brian Keith as Police Chief Baxter
Roddy McDowall as Gillespie
Rachel Roberts as Mrs. Dangers
Michelle Pfeiffer as Cordelia Farenington
Paul Ryan as Masten
Johnny Sekka as Stefan

Reception

Critical response
Critic Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote in his review: "Clive Donner's Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen... is a looselimbed, immensely good-natured entertainment that moves easily between parody and slapstick without ever doing damage to the memories of the character who, in the 1950s and 1960s, gained something of a following as a figure of camp." Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 5.5/10 with 5 critics' responses. TV Guide gives Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen 0 out of 5 stars.

Release
Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen was released in theatres on February 13, 1981.

Home media
The film was released on DVD on September 7, 2004, by Trinity Home Entertainment.

References

External links

Category:1981 films
Category:1980s parody films
Category:American films
Category:American parody films
Category:Charlie Chan films
Category:1980s comedy mystery films
Category:English-language films
Category:Films scored by Patrick Williams
Category:Films directed by Clive Donner
Category:Films set in San Francisco