Story: What should have been a relaxing pleasure cruise turned into a violent nightmare, when a tourist was killed while on a leisure cruise. The evidence is thin and the leads are even thinner, but Detective Duff (Rafael Calvo) boards the ship soon after the murder to investigate. The vessel is filled with potential suspects, so Duff begins an exhaustive search to learn about the passengers, what they witnessed, and any potential motives, which is no small undertaking, to say the least. He is able to make some progress via his hard work, but before he can put the final pieces in place, he too is murdered. However, he knew he needed assistance and before he was killed, he enlisted the help of master detective Charlie Chan (Manuel Arbo). Can Chan finish what Duff started, or will the killer simply strike again?

Entertainment Value: This instalment in the Charlie Chan series is quite unique, as Eran Trece is the only surviving link to Charlie Chan Carries On, which is now considered a lost film. While that version seems to be lost to time, this production uses the same sets and narrative, while utilizing a different cast and a different language, as Eran Trece is a Spanish language picture. In the end however, the spirit of Charlie Chan is alive and well here, so fans of the series should find a lot to like. I wouldn’t rank this as one of my favorite mysteries in the franchise, but it is solid and has such a unique feel. The legendary detective arrives about halfway through Eran Trece, which might upset some fans, but the overall movie doesn’t suffer much. I appreciate the plot of Chan finishing off a tough case to both solve the case and honor the fallen detective, but I can see how some might not, especially if the Chan character is their main interest. But I found this to be an interesting, rock solid mystery that holds its own in this series of brisk thrillers.

The original Charlie Chan Carries On featured Warner Oland in his first turn as the detective, a role he would of course return to numerous times in his career. But here we have Manuel Arbo, who has just this singular effort as the master detective. Arbo looks the part and while you can debate his place amongst the Chan actors, his turn here is fine and feels at home within the series. He has the disadvantage of having half the screen time, since the Chan character doesn’t appear until the halfway point or so, but he makes good use of the time and delivers a familiar Chan, though one he adds some unique touches to as well. In short, I think Arbo is a capable Chan and handles a high pressure role quite well. The cast also includes Rafael Calvo, Ana Maria Custudio, Juan Torena, and Blanca de Castejon.

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