In Charlie Chan at Treasure Island the plane in the opening scenes banks sharply disclosing through a window the yet-to-be completed Oakland Bay Bridge. What's curious is that the movie was released in 1939 while the Bay bridge had already been open since 1936. Could it have taken three years to produce and release the film? (I know it's not the Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937, being familiar with both bridges.)Have I got my details wrong?

Dear Doug,

You are correct. Stock footage was used for the view out of the window as the Pan American Clipper banked on approach in San Francisco Bay. The same Bay Bridge can be seen in the background as the arrivees disembark from the plane. In "Charlie Chan's Secret" (1936), the yet-to-be-completed Bay Bridge is also seen as Charlie Chan arrives in San Francisco aboard another Clipper flight from Honolulu. Same stock footage? We will have to take a look and see, perhaps...

You have a very keen eye, sir!

Sincerely,
Rush Glick