THE RETURN OF CHARLIE CHAN (1973)

THE RETURN OF CHARLIE CHAN (also known as Happiness Is a Warm Clue) is a 1973 American television film. It was directed by Daryl Duke and stars Ross Martin, Richard Haydn, Louise Sorel, and Leslie Nielsen.

Plot
Charlie Chan investigates a murder case aboard the yacht of a wealthy Greek shipping tycoon. This is overly complex updating of the Chan legacy--Charlie is now sixty years old and has been in retirement for ten years. Ross Martin as Chan is credible and grows on you with subsequent viewings. The mystery itself is quite confusing on the first go round but becomes clear on a second viewing. This complexity is what landed this pilot film on the shelf for so many years before it was finally released.

Cast
Ross Martin as Charlie Chan
Richard Haydn as Andrew Kidder
Louise Sorel as Ariane Hadrachi
Joseph Hindy as Paul Hadrachi
Kathleen Widdoes as Irene Hadrachi
Don Gordon as Lambert
Peter Donat as Noel Adamson
Leslie Nielsen as Alexander Hadrachi