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. It is the last film to date to feature the titular character.
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 This time his usual sidekick, "Number One Son" Lee Chan, has been replaced by Lee's own son, Lee Chan, Jr.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 shadowy 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 Lee Jr. is (as usual) rarely accurate in reading clues, he has the love and full support of his beautiful fiancée Cordelia Farenington.
Cast Peter Ustinov as Charlie Chan Lee Grant as Mrs. Lupowitz Angie Dickinson as The 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 TV Guide gives Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen 0 out of 5 stars.
Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel loathed the movie, giving it two "no" votes on their public television series Sneak Previews, and later listing it as one of the worst movies of 1981."American Pop, Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen, The Day After Trinity, La Cage Aux Folles II, Tribute", Sneak Previews, Chicago Educational Television Association, March 5, 1981."Dogs of 1981", Sneak Previews, Chicago Educational Television Association, January 5, 1982.
Conversely, 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 loose-limbed, 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."
Release Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen was released in theatres on February 13, 1981, by American Cinema Productions.
Home media The film was released on DVD on September 7, 2004, by Trinity Home Entertainment.
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