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 o you enjoy the old Charlie Chan movies? I do! They
take us back to a time when murder was a gentlemanly art, not a drive by
shooting. Charlie Chan gives us a view of 1930's and 1940's society; and a look
at how we viewed ourselves. It's just plain fun to watch him outwit the local
police while keeping his 'trying to be helpful' son in check. Charlie was 'The
Great Detective' and a great father! |
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 he films made by Fox, later 20th Century Fox, were
always high quality efforts with production values that put them above the 'B'
films they were meant to be. This quality was also reflected in the supporting
cast; Boris Karloff, Pauline Moore and C. Henry Gordon to name but a
few. |
 hat made his character different is that he
combined the best of Sherlock Holmes, James bond and Ward Cleaver. He knew what
was going on but was too clever to let on to that fact until the end. But,
unlike Bond, he was a loyal family man. We met his entire family (and newest
grandchild) in "Charlie Chan in Honolulu" and saw the family photo he traveled
with in "Charlie Chan in London." |
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 e comforted his son during a stormy plane flight in
"Charlie Chan at Treasure Island" and enjoyed a family outing in "Charlie Chan
at the Circus." He was a very loyal American, willing to give his life for his
country in "Charlie Chan in Panama" and a completely loyal husband who
dismissed any possibility of having a girlfriend in "Dead Men
Tell." |
 ome people accuse the series of presenting the
Oriental in a negative light. However, it's really just the opposite. Charlie
Chan was portrayed as humble and very intelligent. Rather, it was the police
that were caricaturized as bafoons who, without Charlie's assistance, would
never have solved the case. Also, we must always view any film within the
context of the time it was made. During the 30' and 40's it was not politically
incorrect for William Demerest to refer to an Oriental as 'chop suey' (Charlie
Chan at the Opera). Ironically enough, neither of the men who portrayed Chan in
the bulk of the movies made were Oriental.
 've provided a handy Charlie Chan movie list. If
you'd like more information please visit the filmography page. If you'd like to
share Chan info and trivia, please
Email me! Enjoy your stay! |
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ChanFilms