Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) is in Rio on the trail of singer Lola Dene (Jacqueline Dalya) whom Chan believes killed a man in Honolulu. When Chan arrives at Lola's home to arrest her he finds her stabbed to death...
As usual with a Charlie Chan film there are many suspects including her fiancee, friends and an ex-husband. There is also a mysterious mystic (Victor Jory) who has recorded evidence of Lola's previous crime. Chan makes his way through the case, helped/hindered by number two son Jimmy (Victor Sen Yung). The local police chief Souto (Harold Huber) is more help...
This is a great entry in the Chan series with a solid supporting cast and the "Rio" setting plus plenty of samba dancing adds an exotic flair to proceedings.