Eran Trece (aka There Were Thirteen) (1931)

An around the world tour is disrupted when one of the tourists is murdered in London. The Scotland Yard detective (Rafael Calvo) investigating the case is stumped but he won't give up. Death follows the tour and three murders later, renowned detective Charlie Chan (Manuel Arbo) enters the case and attempts to solve the killings as the tour reaches its final destination of San Francisco. Based on the novel CHARLIE CHAN CARRIES ON by Earl Derr Biggers and directed by David Howard. In the early 1930s, it was not uncommon for films to be shot simultaneously for the Spanish language market. The 1931 DRACULA is perhaps the most famous example. Ironically, the English language version of CHARLIE CHAN CARRIES ON which featured the debut of Warner Oland as Chan is a lost film yet this Spanish language version survives. Chan doesn't enter the movie until past the 40 minute mark and unlike the English language films, no attempt appears to have been made to make Arbo look Asian. As to the film itself, it's a decent entry in the Charlie Chan canon. Perhaps, it helps that it was actually based on one of Bigger's novels which many of the subsequent films weren't. Fans of the Chan franchise should find much to enjoy in this curiosity. Remade in 1940 as CHARLIE CHAN'S MURDER CRUISE. With Ana Maria Custodio, Juan Torena, Raul Roulien, Martin Garralaga and Blanca De Castejon.