Re: OUR CCF MONDAY EVENING CHAT AND FILM VIEWING FOR May 18: “Charlie Chan in City in Darkness”
When I first watched this film, I thought the Parisian setting and pre-WWII atmosphere would help create a Chan film that would be unique and memorable. Then, enter Harold Huber. I think his character of Marcel almost ruins the movie. He is likeable in the scene where he and Charlie are at the dead man's house, investigating the office, but most of the time he is too loud and bumbling, and he often distracts from the film.
Re: OUR CCF MONDAY EVENING CHAT AND FILM VIEWING FOR May 18: “Charlie Chan in City in Darkness”
Dear John,
Yes, Huber's Marcel was a bit over the top! Today, he would probably be diagnosed as being ADHD! Some years ago, Virginia Johnson, in writing to Kay Linaker, actually asked about Huber's portrayal of Marcel. Her answer was something to the effect that it was the director's (Herbert Leeds) "fault"! I guess we can at least see this as an example of Huber's "range" as an actor.
