FROM CHARLIE CHAN: “Wheel of fate has many spokes.”

GREETINGS! Charlie Chan flies off to San Francisco to investigate the mystery of a missing heir. The eerie path he encounters involves the paranormal and…MURDER!

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 PRESENTATION: “Charlie Chan’s Secret” (1936; 71 minutes); along with our “extra,” a Charlie Chan radio mystery, “The Landini Murder Case: The Premature Corpse”. (15 minutes).

FEATURE INTRODUCTION: An ocean liner sinks near Hawaii and Allen Colby, heir to the family fortune, is presumed dead. However, as his is the only body unaccounted for, Charlie Chan, who is seeking proof of Colby's demise, is not so sure. The detective, working for Henrietta Lowell, the sister of Allen's father flies to San Francisco to investigate further. The missing Colby appears at Colby House ahead of him, but is knifed by a hidden killer in the back before seeing anyone. Further events revolve around spiritualist Mrs. Lowell, her family of suspicious characters, and the spooky Colby House, where the body of Allen Colby dramatically turns up during a séance with Chan in attendance.

FEATURE NOTES: The working title of this film was “Charlie Chan in San Francisco.” In ‘Hollywood Reporter’ production charts, George Schneiderman is listed as photographer and Charles McNaughton as a cast member, but their participation in the final film has not been verified. However, Charles McNaughton is pictured in what appears to be butler's garb in a publicity still for “Charlie Chan's Secret.” The actor's name is absent from the credits on the still while Herbert Mundin, who played Baxter the butler, is among those listed.

CAST (as credited):

Warner Oland: Charlie Chan
Rosina Lawrence: Alice Lowell
Charles Quigley: Dick Williams
Henrietta Crosman: Henrietta Lowell
Edward Trevor: Fred Gage
Astrid Allwyn: Janice Gage
Herbert Mundin: Baxter
Jonathan Hale: Warren T. Phelps
Egon Brecher: Ulrich
Gloria Roy: Carlotta
Ivan Miller: Morton
Arthur Edmund Carew: Professor [Alfred] Bowan

UNCREDITED CAST (alphabetical):

Charles Ernest: Salvage Diver
Francis Ford: Salvage Boat Captain
Bud Geary: Police Officer
Chuck Hamilton: Police Officer
Jerry Miley: Allen Colby
William Norton Bailey: Harris
James T. Mack: Fingerprint Man
Landers Stevens: Coroner
Brick Sullivan: Police Officer

FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION ON OUR FEATURE: Please go to http://www.charliechan.info/id28.html

TRIVIA: About eight minutes into the picture, there is a brief scene of Charlie Chan’s flight passing over the unfinished San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

THIS WEEK’S TERM: Rifs - Berber people of Morocco with whom the French had fought.
Charlie Chan: "Was taken prisoner by Rifs."

THIS WEEK’S IMAGE: Charlie Chan carries out an investigation of the séance room at Colby House.



For a viewing of more than 500 images from ALL films in the Charlie Chan series, please visit our Gallery: http://www.charliechan.info/id448.html

IF YOU LACK A COPY OF OUR FILM: Often our features can be found online. GOOD NEWS, “Charlie Chan’s Secret” IS AVAILABLE online! You may access it above at “THIS WEEK’S PRESENTATION” and also at our Chat Room as a link.

OUR MONTHLY POLL: Please take a moment to cast your vote in our MARCH 2021 POLL, right here: MARCH 2021 Poll

OUR FEBRUARY POLL RESULT:

QUESTION: Which of these police officials was the most antagonistic to Charlie Chan?

Lt. Macy (“Charlie Chan at the Circus”) 14%
Sgt. Kelly (“Charlie Chan at the Opera”) 43%
Sheriff “Tombstone” Fletcher (“Charlie Chan in Reno”) 43%

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/id830.html

NEXT WEEK: “Charlie Chan at the Circus”

OUR CHARLIE CHAN FAMILY NEWSLETTER for this year!

This is our third annual Charlie Chan Family Newsletter! It contains the work of a number of Charlie Chan Family members and friends. Thank you so much to Lou Armagno, aka, HonoluLou, who has put together and published yet another masterpiece! Please use this link to access this year's newsletter which covers the year 2020. Please enjoy!

AND… DON’T MISS THIS GREAT CHARLIE CHAN BLOG!: AND… DON’T MISS THIS GREAT CHARLIE CHAN BLOG!: A great blog site, The Postman on Holiday, is 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." Updated each month, it can be found at this address: www.thepostmanonholiday.com

SO, REMEMBER, PLEASE JOIN US for this week’s feature, “Charlie Chan’s Secret.”

THANK YOU SO MUCH…

Sincerely,

Rush Glick