FROM CHARLIE CHAN: “In these troubled times, best to be economical.”

GREETINGS, as we conclude our Independence Day celebrations with Charlie Chan and Number Two Son, Jimmy, as they travel to Rio de Janeiro on a mission to return a suspected murderer to justice in Honolulu. However, the tides of fate suddenly shift!

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 in Rio” (1941; 62 minutes); along with our “extra,” a Charlie Chan radio mystery, “The Landini Murder Case: Blind Man’s Bluff”. (1936; 15 minutes).

FEATURE INTRODUCTION: Charlie Chan and son Jimmy visit the exotic city of Rio de Janeiro in order to arrest nightclub singer Lola Dean for a murder committed a year earlier in Honolulu. Later, they find the singer has been stabbed to death in her home. Her jewels have been stolen and a number of clues have been seemingly planted at the crime scene. The suspects are numerous, and Chan must sift through the evidence to unmask the killer.

FEATURE NOTES: According to ‘Hollywood Reporter’ news items, Jean Rogers was to have appeared in this film as Laura Thursday, but was replaced after shooting began by Katherine Aldridge when she became ill with the flu. ‘Hollywood Reporter’ production charts include Faye Helm in the cast, but her participation in the completed film has not been confirmed.

CAST (as credited):

Sidney Toler: Charlie Chan
Mary Beth Hughes: Joan Reynolds (also called Joannie)
Cobina Wright, Jr.: Grace Ellis
Ted North: Clark B. Denton (billed as Carlos Dantas)
Victor Jory: Alfredo Marana (alias of Alfredo Cardosa; also called Alfred)
Harold Huber: Delegado (Captain) of Police Souto (billed as Chief Souto; also called Senhor Souto)
Sen Yung: Jimmy Chan
Richard Derr: Ken Reynolds
Jacqueline Dalya: Lola Dean (alias of Lola Wagner)
Kay Linaker: Helen Ashby (alias of Barbara Cardosa)
Truman Bradley: Paul Wagner
Hamilton MacFadden: Bill Kellogg
Leslie Denison: Rice
Iris Wong: Lili [Wong]
Eugene Borden: Armando
Ann Codee: Margo

UNCREDITED CAST (alphabetical):

Abdullah Abbas: Police Officer
James Carlisle: Night Club Patron
Jack Deey: Night Club Patron
Harold Miller: Night Club Patron
Barry Norton: Night Club Patron
Victor Romito: Police Officer

FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION ON OUR FEATURE: Please go to http://www.charliechan.info/id44.html

THIS WEEK’S TERM: fold up - Collapse, break down.
Joan Reynolds: "I wonder why he doesn't fold up?"

THIS WEEK’S IMAGE: Charlie Chan inspects the heel of Helen Ashby's shoe. (British publicity still)



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

TRIVIA: Hamilton MacFadden, who appears as Bill Kellogg in “Charlie Chan in Rio,” also DIRECTED three Chan films: “Charlie Chan Carries On,” “The Black Camel,” and “Charlie Chan’s Greatest Case.” He began the direction of “Charlie Chan in Paris,” but handed over the reins to Louis Seiler after one week of production. MacFadden appeared on screen as Director Hal Martino in “The Black Camel,” and also acted in “Charlie Chan in Reno.”

IF YOU LACK A COPY OF OUR FILM: Often our features can be found online, and this week our good fortune again smiles as “Charlie Chan in Rio” 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 APRIL 2021 POLL, right here: July 2021 Poll

OUR JUNE POLL RESULT:

QUESTION: Have you watched all 40 of the existing movies from the Charlie Chan film series proper (those that were produced by Fox, 20th Century-Fox, and Monogram Pictures)?

Yes 87%
No 13%

DO YOU HAVE A POLL QUESTION? You are invited 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 (July 12): We will be sharing “Castle in the Desert.”

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 in Rio.”

THANK YOU SO MUCH…

Sincerely,
Rush Glick