FROM CHARLIE CHAN: “It is unasked question which prevent sleep."

OUR “NEW” CHAT ROOM: Our NEW Chat Room can be accessed the same way that we accessed our previous version. Just go to our “Chat Room” link at charliechan.info, or use this direct link: http://www.charliechan.info/id17.html

While our “new” Chat Room is not as “fun” as our old Parachat room (sadly, no sound effects!), still, it is proving to be quite functional as far as the “basics” are concerned, and it seems to be working well for the most part.

THIS WEEK: With “Charlie Chan in London,” the Chan film series headed off in a new direction, due to the passing of Earl Derr Biggers, whose stories had provided the basis for the pictures heretofore. So, “London” marked the first non-Biggers Chan mystery. It also began the practice of having the detective travel the world, solving crimes along the way!

OUR PRESENTATIONS: “Charlie Chan in London” (1934; 79 minutes) AND we have as our “extra” presentation, the FIFTH chapter of the 1943 movie serial, The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack (1943; 21 minutes), which features our Number One Son, Keye Luke AND Sidney Toler in supporting roles!

FILM SUMMARY: When a young Englishman, Paul Gray, is convicted of murder and sentenced to hang, his sister, convinced of his innocence, asks Charlie Chan, who is visiting London, to investigate and find the real murderer. To that end, Chan visits a large country manor house in England where the killing occurred. There are a number of suspects among the large group of fox hunters who are staying at the manor, and it soon becomes clear that the killer is still actively trying to avoid capture. Charlie Chan must work fast to discover the real murderer's identity and save Paul Gray from the gallows.

FILM NOTES: As noted above, this was the first film in the Charlie Chan series that was not based on a particular novel by Chan's creator, Earl Derr Biggers. The ‘New York Times’ commented that this film, written by Philip MacDonald, a noted detective novelist himself, "maintains the Chan tradition." “Charlie Chan in London” is the second-oldest film in the Charlie Chan series that we have available to us today for viewing as the intervening three following “The Black Camel” (at his time the oldest existing title in the Charlie Chan series, as the initial picture in the series, “Charlie Chan Carries On” is considered lost as are “Charlie Chan’s Chance” (1932), “Charlie Chan’s Greatest Case” (1933) and “Charlie Chan’s Courage” (1934).

TIME: We begin with arrivals and greetings at 7:30 EASTERN TIME. Then, we share our “extra” presentation which will be followed at exactly 8:15 when we roll our feature for our Monday evening, “Charlie Chan in London.”

LOCATION: Our Charlie Chan Family Chat Room, which is accessed at http://www.charliechan.info/id17.html.

IF YOU LACK A COPY OF OUR FILM: Often our features can be found online. Happily, both of our features are available online, as is our “extra.” Please use the links provided at our Chat Room. We have also provided a link there to our “extra.”

OUR MONTHLY POLL: Please take a moment to cast your vote in our new February 2019 Poll, located at our Entrance Page (http://www.charliechan.info/index.html)!

NEXT WEEK: Please join us on Monday, February 11 as we continue on with our Charlie Chan Film Tour for 2019 with “Charlie Chan in Paris” (1935), as Mr. Chan crosses the English Channel, ultimately pressed to solve a dangerous case of murder and international intrigue, all with the surprise arrival and assistance of his Number One Son, Lee!

SO, PLEASE JOIN US for this week’s Monday gathering as we continue our group tour through the entire Charlie Chan film series…and more…with “Charlie Chan in London.”

CHARLIE CHAN FAMILY NEWSLETTER: If anyone has yet to access it, Included as an attachment, please find a copy of “The Charlie Chan Family 2018 Newsletter” (Issue No. 1), edited by Lou Armagno, whom we know as HonoluLou. Mr. Armagno, as you will see, put together the contributions of a number of CCF members, creating a masterpiece that will be a shining star in Charlie Chan family lore! If, for any reason, you are unable to access the links provided, please view the copy that was placed into our Study at our Charlie Chan family Home: http://www.charliechan.info/id632.html. You may also access “The Charlie Chan family 2018 Newsletter” at this address online: https://thepostmanonholidayhome.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/2018-newsletter-master.1.pdf.

Sincerely,

Rush Glick