jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I bought a set of twenty-seven Charlie Chan movies from Amazon, and I've been watching several night. The earliest one I have is from 1931, and I've finished several from 1936. Aside from the "mystery" plot, I like watching them because I'm looking back in time. In one episode, men were loading a cargo ship. Each guy was wheeling a hand truck with a big box on it. What a change from today. In the old longshoreman days, boxes often "fell," and items "fell out." They wound up in the guy's house. With the big cargo containers being used today, more cargo is loaded faster.

I've mentioned this before about old movies: lots of old people. There are uniformed cops who look like they're in their 60s. I can understand that for films made in the 1940s, with young men fighting in WW II, but I doubt many real-life cops in the 1930s were over 60.

The cars and clothing are other interesting features. Cars in the 1930s were beautiful. All men wore suits and ties. Women wore stylish hats. So much has changed from then till now that it's worth watching just to see what life in the old days was like.

I find it unbelievable that no Chinese actors play Charlie Chan in these old movies. There were many Chinese actors in these movies - including Charlie's twelve children - so why not a Chinese Charlie? Roland Winters was awful. Most of the 1930s movies starred Warner Oland. After he died, Sidney Toler took over the role. Victor Sen Young played #2 son in eleven Chan movies, and Chinese actor Keye Luke played #1 son occasionally. Young also played the cook on Bonanza. Mantan Moreland, Charlie's Black chauffer and butler was in many of the early movies, maintaining his role as the Charlie actors changed.

More variety is available on eBay -
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1313&_nkw=charlie+chan+movies&_sacat=0

jimfl938 Loc: Acworth, GA

Charlie Chan movies were a favorite when I was young.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I'm hooked on them now, but I have only twenty-seven! I'll have to find more.

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

I record old movies from the local PBS station for later viewing. I really like the old silent movies. However, never cared for Charlie Chan.

BTW, did you know that Charlie Chan wasn't played by a Chinese actor. Yeah, I know you did.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes, all western actors.

If you watch several of those movies, you will see that many of the same actors played different parts in many of those movies. A man might be c op in one movie and the killer in another. Several actors played cops in several movies.

fantom Loc: Colorado

Be sure to watch one from 1938 or 39 that does not have Charlie's name in the title. There is controversy about whether Charlie's final statement was re-shot after the movie was made.

The plot background concerns Charlie in Paris and everyone is very worried about about Germany invading France. Steps are being taken in preparation for a possible invasion like curfews, blackouts etc. German villains are captured and case is solved.

Everyone is in the mayor's office discussing the capture when the phone rings. The mayor answers and suddenly becomes very ecstatic . He hangs up and says war with Germany will be avoided becuz Chamberlain from Britain is visiting Hitler in Germany and they are agreeing to peace terms. Everyone cheers except Charlie and they ask him why he isn't celebrating with them.

The camera goes to an extreme closeup of Charlie who says, "The fly must be very careful when the spider invites it into his home." "THE END" appears over Charlie's face and movie is over.

Was that the actual ending or a tag on? Who knows? I guess only The Shadow Knows. But, however you view it, Charlie was always a genius.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

What a coincidence! I finished watching that episode, "Charlie Chan in Dark City," less than five minutes before reading your email. I wondered about the timing of the story right from the beginning. It takes place in September 1939, but WW II had already started on September 1. I kept looking for details to explain further what was going on. No war, though. When he read the note indicating there would not be a war, I realized they made a big mistake setting the story in September. I don't think there's anything fishy about what Charlie said at the end. After reading the note, the man turned to Charlie and gave him the note. It was one smooth shot. Considering world conditions at the time, I think Charlie's comment fit in perfectly.

fantom Loc: Colorado

Yes, it was one very astute (prophetic?) comment, which begs the question, "when was the movie made". I think I read that was made in late 1938 or early '41 which would really make Charlie's comment astute, but even if it was made in late '41 the comment was brilliant.

The article I read said that the filming took longer than planned due to the actor's alcoholism delaying filming cuz of the many, constant remakes he caused. I guess I could google it--time and priorities permitting.

Because the Germans were already on the march it made it more probable that Paris would be in a state of alarm and that helped establish the plot line.

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

I asked my father about his driving a cab to put himself through medical school in the30's and was that good money back then. In a rare moment of honesty he told me he worked on the docks for one night then quit. His reason was that there were packs of wharf rats that were 80 to 100 pounds. The guy who was showing him around and told him there were rats bigger and pointed in a certain direction, told him to stay clear of that area and never go around anywhere alone. Seeing a pack of rats that big made up his mind to go drive a cab the next day. He was the sort of man that did not make things up.