FROM CHARLIE CHAN: “Detective without curiosity is like glass eye at keyhole - no good.”

GREETINGS! In our yearlong trip through the entire Charlie Chan film series, we have now reached the beginning to the Monogram Pictures era with “Charlie Chan in the Secret Service.” Although there was a resulting drop in budget at Monogram, this, we may notice, brought with it the necessity of a new creativity and style to fill the gap. We can also see how the era and changing culture of the 1940s bursts forth in these films.

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 the Secret Service” (1944; 65 minutes); along with our “extra,” a Charlie Chan radio mystery, “The Landini Murder Case: Conversation With Ah Sing”. (1936; 15 minutes).

FEATURE INTRODUCTION: A scientist, George Melton, is working on an important new invention which will protect Allied shipping from German U-boat attacks. Although he has been assigned Secret Service security protection he is murdered in his Washington, D.C. home. Charlie Chan, now working for the Secret Service in Washington, is assigned to the case. Chan is soon joined by two of his children, Number Three Son, Tommy, second daughter, Iris, as well as Birmingham Brown, the chauffeur of one of the guests. When the autopsy reveals the Melton was electrocuted, Chan must determine who among the numerous suspects is the guilty party.

FEATURE NOTES: This was the first Charlie Chan film that Sidney Toler made at Monogram Pictures after leaving Twentieth Century-Fox following the cancellation of the Charlie Chan film series at that studio. Toler, who had starred as Chan in many of the Fox films, bought the screen rights to the character from the widow of writer Earl Derr Biggers and continued to star as Chan for Monogram until his death in 1947, after which time Roland Winters assumed the role. This film also marked the beginning of Charlie Chan's work with the U.S. Secret Service for the remainder of the war. Mantan Moreland also made his debut as Birmingham Brown, a character who would become a mainstay of the series for the remainder of its run. Benson Fong appeared for the first time as Number Three Son Tommy, while his sister Iris, portrayed by Marianne Quon, made her sole series appearance in “Charlie Chan in the Secret Service.” The California State Building (1931-1975) in Los Angeles is the government building that was used for Charlie Chan's office at the Secret Service. Early in the film, Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan walks through the lobby of the State Building and out to the street to his awaiting taxicab.

CAST (as credited):

Sidney Toler: Charlie Chan
Mantan Moreland: Birmingham Brown
Arthur Loft: Jones
Gwen Kenyon: Inez Aranto
Sarah Edwards: Mrs. Hargue
George Lewis: Paul Aranto
Marianne Quon: Iris Chan
Benson Fong: Tommy Chan
Muni Seroff: Peter Laska
Barry Bernard: David Blake
Gene Stutenroth: Louis Philipe Vega (alias Philipe von Vegon)
Eddie Chandler: Lewis
Lelah Tyler: Mrs. Winters

UNCREDITED CAST (alphabetical):

Davidson Clark: Sgt. Billings
John Elliot: George Melton
Stan Jolley: Coroner's Assistant
George Lessey: Slade
Gene Oliver

FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION ON OUR FEATURE: Please go to http://www.charliechan.info/id46.html

THIS WEEK’S TERM: Manpower Commission (War Manpower Commission) - In January of 1942, as the United States shifted to a wartime economy, all employment services were federalized by executive order and transferred to the United States War Manpower Commission. The goal of the War Manpower Commission was to "stabilize" employment and bring about a full utilization of the labor force by "placing a man on a job where he will use his highest skill in furtherance of the war effort, and keeping him there." With the end of the war in 1945, the War Manpower Commission was dissolved.

Birmingham Brown: "Hello, is this the Manpower Commission?"

THIS WEEK’S IMAGE: At Secret Service headquarters in Washington, D.C., Charlie Chan is assigned to investigate the case of the mysterious death of inventor George Melton, who was working on a top secret government project.



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: The California state flag can be seen flying in front of the Secret Service building.

IF YOU LACK A COPY OF OUR FILM: Often our features can be found online, and this week our good fortune again smiles as “Castle in the Desert” 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 26): We will be sharing a viewing of “The Chinese Cat.”

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 the Secret Service.”

THANK YOU SO MUCH…

Sincerely,
Rush Glick