Few fictional characters are more beloved than writer Earl Derr Biggers Charlie Chan, the Chinese-Hawaiian detective whose adventures were chronicled in six books, nearly 50 feature films, a TV series, a continuing radio drama, and even comic books.
The Chinese sleuth was first brought to the screen during the silent era. However, it was not until the advent of talkies that the series really took off.
The character of Charlie Chan, created by Ohio-born Biggers, worked
for the Honolulu Police Force and was known worldwide as their crack
detective. He happened upon cases of murder in the most exotic
locations (Rio, Panama, Treasure Island, Paris. Egypt), usually not
Honolulu. One or two of Charlie's sons (usually identified
chronologically-- #1 son, #2 son...), detective wanna-be's
themselves, offered "Pop" their assistance. They would then spend
the rest of the film getting in the way, until Charlie solved the
case in spite of them.
The films were made by Twentieth Century Fox, then later by Monogram Studios, during the 1930s and 1940s. Fox's casting brought in the big-guns for Chan series: Boris Karloff, Leo G. Carroll and Cesar Romero to name a few.
Warner Oland's masterful performance helped make the films a huge success. When Oland, died in 1938, Fox studios rushed to find a worthy successor. After testing thirty-five actors for the part, the studio decided that Sidney Toler would be the new Charlie Chan. Toler made the role his own. His Chan was not at all like Warner Oland's. Toler's interpretation was more brooding and mysterious. In the Toler Chan's, #1 Son Lee Chan, played by Keye Luke, was replaced with #2 Son, played by (Victor) Sen Yung.
Wartime brought an end to Fox's Chan pictures, but after a brief
hiatus Charlie returned (again with Toler playing the role) in
several films made by the Monogram studio. Monogram introduced
black actor Mantan Moreland as taxi driver-turned assistant,
Birmingham Brown, whose comic relief is most apparent when played
against #3 son Tommy (actor Benson Fong).
Monogram, at that time, couldn't afford the supporting casts lavished on the Chan films by Fox, but it retained the basic whodunit format, and the character's charisma survived intact. With World War II exerting an influence on motion pictures as well as everything else, several of Charlie's 40s cases found espionage or subversive activity underpinning mysterious murders.
Sadly, Toler's long career as "Charlie Chan" came to an end in 1947.
Toler was 72 years old and battling cancer, when he appeared in his
last two Chan films, "Dangerous Money" and "The Trap". He made a
valiant effort, giving solid performances in each of the films, but
soon after completing "The Trap" Toler died. Like Warner Oland
before him, Sidney Toler left behind a screen legend and now Monogram
was faced with the difficult task of finding someone capable of
filling Toler's shoes.
Radio actor Roland Winters was finally selected by Monogram as the screens next "Charlie Chan". Winter's interpretation of the character, could be viewed as being somewhere between Oland and Toler's. Like Oland's Chan, the Winters Chan was a bit more humble than Toler's interpretation, though he wasn't above pointing out his mental superiority at times. However, like Toler, Winter's Chan could dish out an insults with the best. Moreland and Yung were still there to lend support.
Monogram had plans to reinvent the series, continuing on with Winters and Luke, in new films, produced in Britain. Surprisingly these plans did not include Mantan Moreland. Monogram's new plans for the series may have been an attempt to reestablish the formula popularized by Oland and Luke in the 1930's Chan films at Fox. The possibilities were endless, but unfortunately, funding for the series, which was to have been provided from production funds held in Britain, was suddenly blocked, when the British government devalued the Pound, thus, The Sky Dragon was the final entry in an almost twenty year long series of "Charlie Chan" films.
It is unfortunate that we are unable to see what might have transpired in future Chan adventures. Nonetheless, the Charlie Chan films have continued to provide countless hours of entertainment for fans throughout the years, first in theaters, then on television, and now on video & DVD. There were a total of 44 films in the series, more than any other series of mysteries. However, 44 Chan films is far too few.
Chan buffs generally prefer the Fox films, but the Monograms have their own charms, and they're very well remembered by baby boomers who saw them frequently on TV in the 50s and 60s.
The Charlie Chan mysteries, with their red-herring characters, confusing clues and last-reel explanations, provided the template for countless imitations on both big screens and small; such popular, relatively recent TV shows as Murder, She Wrote and Diagnosis: Murder sport the same formula that the Chan films first made popular more than 70 years ago.
Years after his Chan films, Keye Luke would star as the blind �Master
Po�, in the popular 1970's TV show Kung Fu.
After his Chan films, Victor Sen Yung would play Hop Sing,
the cook, on TV's �Bonanza.
Of the 44 films in the Chan series only 40 still exist. Lost are
Charlie Chan Carries On, Charlie Chan's Courage, Charlie Chan's
Chance and Charlie Chan's Greatest Case, all starring Warner Oland.
Both Sidney Toler and Roland Winters were non-Asian; however,
Warner Oland was part Mongolian.
Keye Luke never worked with Sidney Toler in a Chan film.
However, his brother Edwin Luke did, playing Eddie Chan in The
Jade Mask. "The Jade Mask" appears to be Edwin Luke's only film.
Though Keye Luke did not appear in a Toler Chan film, he did work
with Toler, in 1943's The Adventures of Smilin Jack.
After playing Charlie Chan, Roland Winters would appear in films
like "Abbott & Costello meet The Killer Boris Karloff" and Blue
Hawaii, playing Elvis's father.
If any films from the 1930s and 1940s should be preserved on DVD, it should most definitely be the Charlie Chan series. They're timeless classics and well-suited for all members of the family. Although the plots demand a little more thought than is usually put into films today, the actors handle them with such humor that even the younger members of the family can find enjoyment in viewing them. Plus, none of them last of 65 to 75 minutes, which is perfect for watching before bed-time, even on school nights.
Chan solves the mysteries with style and perception while managing to remain humble. His gentility and common sense never fails to offer a positive role model. As the father to the ever-growing Chan-clan, each of his offspring show constant respect and obedience towards their father. Chan, not the children, is clearly in control at all times.
To best understand Charlie Chan, it is important to understand the origin of the character. Charlie's creator, Earl Derr Biggers was a successful author and playwright who went to California. While there, he was horrified to see the way Chinese people were treated.
Apparently, while vacationing in Hawaii, he was made aware of a Chinese member of the Honolulu Police Department named Chang Apana, was the model for Charlie. Like Apana, the character Charlie Chan was also a member of the Honolulu Police Dept., had a huge family and was a brilliant internationally-respected detective. Charlie Chan was about respect.
It is true that Hollywood did not believe a Chinese actor would be accepted as a leading man. That was as true then as it was 40 years later when David Carradine was cast as the lead in "Kung-Fu" on television.
They did, however, do the next best thing. They selected a
distinguished and accomplished actor, Warner Oland, to play
Charlie. Warner Oland had already made a name for himslef in
the movies, sharing the screen with the likes of Marlene Dietrich
and Greta Garbo. He was also Al Jolson's Yiddish father in "The
Jazz Singer."
Of Swedish-Russian lineage, Oland did have something of an Asian appearance due to what he saod was some "Mongolian blood in his veins." As Chan, he wore no make-up. His performance as Chan was one of wisdom and dignity.
Wherever he went in the world, Charie was universally respected by the law enforcement community. In some films he was the victim of some racial taunts but it was the taunter who came off as foolish and ignorant. Charlie always dealt with racism with benign resignation and humor.
The Charlie Chan character was always proud of his heritage as he was constantly bemused by the antics of his numerous offspring who were always played by Chinese actors and never ridiculed for their ethnicity. Charlie was a devoted family man and his children adored him.
Charlie Chan was a wonderful character who appeared in a wide range of movies spanning the range from excellent to indifferent. Charlie, himself, was never indifferent. He is a lasting and immortal character, and a marvelous role model still today.
The Charlie Chan videos and DVD are available today, though not usually in rental stores or most retail stores. However, NJM has found that two good sources for the movies are Amazon and eBay. To see what is available, click on the two links below:
For those who want to start collecting these movies, click on the image below to print your own check-off list of all the Charlie Chan films:
