FROM CHARLIE CHAN: “Questions are keys to door of truth.”

GREETINGS… Hopefully everyone had a very happy Easter and Passover! Now, we follow Charlie Chan and Number One Son, Lee BACK to Europe as father and son make a brief stopover at Monte Carlo on their way to Paris for a showing of Lee’s art. Even though the stopover is brief, a LOT happens between their arrival and slightly delayed departure as we shall see! (Sadly, this was to be Warner Oland’s final appearance as Charlie Chan…)

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

THIS WEEK’S PRESENTATIONS: “Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo” (1937; 71 minutes) along with our “extra,” the SECOND episode of “Lost City of the Jungle” with Keye Luke! (1946; 26 minutes).

“Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo” CAST:

Warner Oland: Charlie Chan
Keye Luke: Lee Chan
Virginia Field: Evelyn Grey
Sidney Blackmer: Victor Karnoff
Harold Huber: [Inspector] Jules [Etienne] Joubert
Kay Linaker: Joan Karnoff
Robert Kent: Gordon Chase
Edward Raquello: Paul Savarin
George Lynn: Al Rogers (also called Albert Rogers)
Louis Mercier: Taxi Driver
George Davis: Pepite (First Gendarme)
John Bleifer: Ludwig [Krauss]
Georges Renavent: Renault

UNCREDITED CAST:

Edward Biby: Hotel Guest
Emile Bistagne
Eumenio Blanco: Waiter
Eugene Borden: Hotel Clerk
Jack Chefe: Attendant
Jean De Briac: Doorman
Marcelle Corday: Concierge
André Cheron: Croupier
Gennaro Curci: Waiter
Victor Delinsky: Gendarme
Art Dupuis
Fred Farrell: Townsman
Antonio Filauri: Waiter
Constant Franke: Croupier
Robert Graves: Gendarme
Sherry Hall: Bartender
Ramsay Hill: Casino Patron
Louis Lubitch: Gendarme
Alphonse Martell: Gendarme
Harold Miller: Casino Patron
George Nardelli: Casino Patron
Manuel Paris: Doorman
Jean Perry: Gendarme
John Picorri: Waiter
Albert Pollet: Attaché
Joseph Romantini: Attaché
George Sorel: Gendarme
Count Stefenelli: Casino Patron
Leo White: French Butler

FEATURE SUMMARY: Charlie Chan and number one son Lee are passing through Monte Carlo on their way to Paris for an art show in which Lee has a painting. They meet Inspector Jules Joubert, chief of police of Monte Carlo with whom they work to solve the murder of the courier of a wealthy financier, Victor Karnoff, who was carrying a fortune in bonds. Among the many suspects are Savarin, a bitter financial rival of Karnoff, Evelyn Gray, a beautiful blonde without visible means of support, and Al Rogers, a shady bartender who is blackmailing Mrs. Karnoff.

FEATURE NOTES: “Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo” was Warner Oland's last film. Oland began work on “Charlie Chan at the Ringside” in January of 1938, but the production was halted when the actor walked off the set on the 17th of that month. According to news items, there was a dispute between Oland and the studio.

TRIVIA: Harold Huber’s face was scarred in an amateur fencing match, adding to his signature character image in roles as film heavies.

THIS WEEK’S TERM:

fan-tan - (1) A Chinese betting game in which the players lay wagers on the number of counters that will remain when a hidden pile of them has been divided by four. (2) A card game in which sevens and their equivalent are played in sequence and the first player out of cards is the winner.

Charlie Chan: "Venerable grandparent once have large holdings in fan-tan house."

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. Fortunately, OUR FEATURE IS AVAILABLE ONLINE, so please use the link provided at our Chat Room.

OUR MONTHLY POLL: Please take a moment to cast your vote in our MARCH 2020 POLL, found as you scroll down our Entrance Page (http://www.charliechan.info/index.html)! This month’s question: Which of these two Charlie Chan films better exemplifies the current coronavirus threat that we are now experiencing in our time?

OUR MARCH POLL RESULT:

QUESTION: As, by all indications, the conclusion of Charlie Chan's case in “Charlie Chan in Egypt” occurred in late April 1934, and his next adventure, as seen in “Charlie Chan in Shanghai,” is documented as commencing on May 7, 1935, which explanation would you choose to best explain "Charlie Chan's off-year"?

Charlie Chan was engaged in "run of the mill" cases in Honolulu 13%

Charlie Chan was taking a break from his work to be at home with Mrs. Chan, his family, and to be there for the impending birth of the Chans' next daughter (first seen in Charlie Chan at the Circus) 34%

Charlie Chan was engaged in heretofore "undocumented" cases 13%

Two or more of the above 40%

DO YOU HAVE A POLL QUESTION? Please feel free to suggest a Monthly Poll question! Send your ideas to: charliechanfamily@lyahoo.com.

OUR CCF CHAT ARCHIVE: Please take a look at our growing collection of CCF Chat Texts from previous years and this year: http://www.charliechan.info/id630.html

NEXT WEEK: Please join us on Monday, April 20, for a shared viewing of “Mr. Moto’s Gamble,” the film that began filming as “Charlie Chan at the Ringside” starring Warner Oland.

AND… DON’T MISS THIS GREAT CHARLIE CHAN BLOG!: Continuing strongly in 2020, great blog site, The Postman on Holiday, offered by our own Charlie Chan and Earl Derr Biggers expert, Lou Armagno which is: "A place to explore all things surrounding Detective Charlie Chan, his creator Earl Derr Biggers, and their connection with Hawaii, Cleveland, and mystery fiction." It can be found at this address: https://thepostmanonholiday.com/

THE CHARLIE CHAN FAMILY NEWSLETTER FOR THE YEAR 2019 REMAINS AVAILABLE! HonoluLou has edited and produced this year's recap of the past year, 2019, for all things Charlie Chan. This tour de force issue can be accessed at: https://thepostmanonholidayhome.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/2019-newsletter-master1-dec-28.pdf ENJOY!

SO, PLEASE JOIN US for this week’s Monday Evening Chat and Film Viewing as we share “Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo.”

THANK YOU SO MUCH…

Sincerely,
Rush Glick

I only did this once, probably ten years ago (15?) at least. But having been out of work for a month now thanks to the virus scare, and having LOTS of free time (lol), I'd like to give it a shot again tonight, but need a brush up on details. How exactly does this work?

Dear Tenman,

Well, I missed your message originally, BUT, you were able to make it to our Monday Chat and it was great to see you again!

WELCOME BACK!

Sincerely,
Rush