FROM CHARLIE CHAN: “Expert is merely man who make quick decision - and is SOMETIMES right.”

GREETINGS: This week, we continue Monogram Pictures’ phase of our Charlie Chan Film Tour with “The Chinese Cat.” Also, we include Hawaii Steve’s selections of this week’s “extras,” as well as other related bits of information regarding our feature film! AND, for those who took the challenge of answering the questions from the first part of “The Great Charlie Chan Quiz” which was put together by Mike in DC, we will now present the answers for you! (For those who have not yet attempted the Quiz, the questions will reappear above the answers (Don’t peek!)! Please ENJOY!!!

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

We Begin our evening at 7:30 Eastern Time with a 45-minute time for arrivals and greetings. During this time, we also have the opportunity to engage in open dialogue along with one or more “extras” (Thank you so much, Hawaii Steve!) that relate in some way to our feature presentation. Then, at precisely 8:15 ET, we begin our feature film simultaneously starting our personal or online copies of this week’s feature!

THIS WEEK’S PRESENTATION: “Charlie Chan in the Secret Service” (1944; 65 minutes)

FEATURE INTRODUCTION: Leah Manning enlists Charlie Chan's help in solving the murder of her stepfather, Thomas, who was found slain in his study. With no concrete leads, the police have given up and only Chan's deducing can refute a scandalous book that blames Mrs. Manning, Leah's mother, for the crime. Number Three Son, Tommy and Birmingham Brown assist the detective as the trail to the identity of Manning's killer leads to a ruthless diamond smuggling gang.

FEATURE NOTES: This was Monogram's second entry in the Charlie Chan series. The onscreen title is listed as Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat.” The working title of the film was “Murder in the Funhouse.” The film's title, “The Chinese Cat,” is doubtless a "nod" to the 1941 Humphrey Bogart movie, “The Maltese Falcon.”

CAST (as credited):

Sidney Toler: Charlie Chan
Joan Woodbury: Leah Manning
Mantan Moreland: Birmingham Brown
Benson Fong: Tommy Chan
Ian Keith: Dr. Paul Reknik
Sam Flint: Thomas P. Manning
Cy Kendall: Webster Deacon [referred to as George Deacon in a newspaper headline]
Weldon Heyburn: Harvey Dennis
Anthony Ward: Catlen
John Davidson: Karl Karzos/Kurt Karzos
Dewey Robinson: Salos
Stan Jolley: Gannett
Betty Blythe: Mrs. [Thomas] Manning
Jack Norton: Hotel Desk Manager
Luke Chan: Wu Song

UNCREDITED CAST (alphabetical):

Fred Aldrich: Police Officer
Daisy Bufford: Carolina
George Chandler: Taxicab Dispatcher
Danny Desmond: Bellboy
Terry Frost: Police Officer Writing Ticket

THIS WEEK’S IMAGE: (Attached) Tommy Chan verifies that Webster Deacon has "flown the coop."



IF YOU LACK A COPY OF OUR FEATURE: Often our features can be found online, and happily, the good news continues! Our feature IS available through the link provided at our Chat Room.

FROM HAWAII STEVE’S DESK…THIS WEEK’S EXTRAS & INFO:

At the beginning to the Charlie Chan series, produced by Monogram Pictures, two special actors are introduced into the cinema family of Charlie Chan.

First, we have actor and comedian Mantan Moreland (1902-1973), playing the part of Birmingham Brown, Chan's personal valet.

Second, we have actor Benson Fong (1916-1987), playing the part of Tommy Chan, Number 3 Son, in the Chan family.

Both these actors add greatly to the Monogram films.

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The Movie Extras

Our introduction to Charlie Chan, near the beginning of this film, comes as he boards a cab to the Francis Hotel. Naturally the cab is being driven by none other than Birmingham Brown who is less than thrilled at renewing the acquaintance.

One of the charms of viewing the Charlie Chan movies is seeing the vintage cars that appear in the films. Therefore, please enjoy our first Chan Extra tonight.

TITLE: One Cab's Family (1952 MGM) complete version

ABOUT: When a married couple of taxicabs have a son, their hopes of him following in his father's footsteps are almost dashed when it is revealed he wants to be a hot-rodder.

DIRECTED BY Tex Avery.

VOICE ACTORS: Daws Butler and June Foray.

One Cab's Family (1952) - Bing video (https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=one+cab%27s+family+1952&view=detail&mid=F84F5AA3C5D10BF75A6DF84F5AA3C5D10BF75A6D&FORM=VIRE)

RUNNING TIME: 8:00.

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Our second Chan Extra features Mantan Moreland and Ben Carter.

TITLE: Mantan Moreland and Ben Carter: The Soft-Shoe Routine

ABOUT: During the 1940s, Moreland teamed up with Ben Carter as his straight man, touring America in vaudeville and making personal appearances in the nation's movie theaters. Moreland and Carter performed comedy routines the former learned when he became Flournoy Miller's understudy in the 1930s.

In this film clip, please note Moreland and Carter's excellent rapport and impeccable timing. The partnership lasted until Carter died in 1946.

FILM CLIP: Dressed to Kill (1941 TCF)

Ben Carter and Mantan Moreland - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgQszQrjxks)

RUNNING TIME: 0:50.

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Our third Chan Extra features Benson Fong and Juanita Hall.

TITLE: Benson Fong in "Flower Drum Song" (1961 Universal Pictures)

ABOUT: Benson Fong as Wang Chi-Yang, master of the Wang household.

SONG: "The Other Generaton"

Performed by Benson Fong, Juanita Hall, Patrick Adiarte, Cherylene Lee,

and Virginia Ann Lee

Flower Drum Song - The Other Generation - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmXqVZpOObs)

ADDITIONAL NOTE: Patrick Adiarte, the young male dancer, is the same dancer who taught me jazz dancing when I entered the movies as a background dancer (c.1984).

RUNNING TIME: 3:51.

AND…FOR YOU ENJOYMENT, A CHALLENGING CHARLIE CHAN TRIVIA QUIZ:

The World’s Greatest Charlie Chan Quiz

by Mike in DC

Part I

Inspector Duff: “Pity he’s wasted in a place like Honolulu, isn’t it?”

Inspector Hayley: “Well, it can’t be any worse than here.” (“Charlie Chan Carries On”)

Part I: “Begin at best place—beginning.” (Charlie Chan in London) – 36 pts.

A light warm-up for experienced Chan Fans. For newcomers, a survey of the essential knowledge from which greater things flow. (One point each, 36 points total.)

1. What is the name of the greatest Chinese detective in history?

2. Where was he born?

3. What was the location of his home in his adult life?

4. What was the name of the author who first chronicled Charlie’s exploits?

5. What was the name of the Honolulu policeman who captured that author’s imagination and led him to chronicle Charlie’s exploits?

6. What was Charlie’s first chronicled appearance in a case?

7. What was the first case in which Charlie had a significant role throughout the entire story?

8-10. List the names of the three actors who most frequently portrayed Charlie Chan in films.

“Father who depends on son is happy or foolish according to son.” (Charlie Chan at Treasure Island)

11-13. List the given names of the three sons who most often accompanied Charlie on his cases.

14. Which actor played three different Chan sons?

15-20. Name those three sons and the films in which they appeared.

21. What was the final number of children in Charlie’s “multitudinous family?”

22. In which film was that “final number” revealed?

23. How many surviving films are in the “Chan canon” (i.e., those featuring the three main actors)?

24. What is the name of the earliest surviving “canonic” film?

25. What is the name of the last?

26. Charlie was famously courteous. What phrase did he commonly use to indicate appreciation?

27. How did his children usually refer to him?

28. What was the name of Charlie’s employer for most of his career?

29. What was his final rank in that organization?

30. Charlie had one famous foray into the world of politics, making a plea for moviegoers to support a referendum. In which state was this election?

31. What was the year?

32. What was the referendum about?

"Beauty of Chan family also have brains. Very fine combination.” (Black Magic/Meeting at Midnight)

33-34. Name the two daughters who accompany Charlie in an adventure.

35. Which of these daughters did Charlie call the “Beauty of the Chan Family?”

36. Name one of the two movies in which a Chan daughter serves as one of his assistants.

The World’s Greatest Charlie Chan Quiz, Part I – Answers:

1. Charlie Chan

2. Guangzhou (Canton), China

3. Punchbowl Hill, Honolulu, Hawaii Territory (it was NOT a state!)

4. Earl Derr Biggers

5. Chang Apana

6. The House Without a Key (a novel by Biggers)

7. The Chinese Parrot (also a novel by Biggers)

8-10. Warner Oland, Sidney Toler and Roland Winters

11-13. Lee, Jimmy and Tommy

14. Layne Tom, Jr.

15-20. Charlie Chan, Jr. (…at the Olympics); Tommy (…in Honolulu); Willie (…Murder Cruise)

21. 14

22. Charlie Chan in the Secret Service

23. 40

24. The Black Camel

25. The Sky Dragon

26. Thank you so much; often abbreviated as TYSM among the Chan-savvy

27. Pop!

28. Honolulu Police Department

29. Detective Lieutenant

30. Pennsylvania

31. 1935

32. Whether to allow movie theaters to open on Sundays

33-34. Iris; Frances

35. Frances

36. CC in the Secret Service; Black Magic/Meeting at Midnight

Thank you so much for playing! See where you fall in the Chan pantheon of notable sleuths…

34-36 POINTS - Most Worthy Successor: There will, of course, never be a replacement for Charlie Chan. But you have demonstrated the skill and knowledge to be deemed a most worthy successor to the intelligent and wise Master. Your knowledge of Charlie’s cases and films is prodigious. Great work!

30-33 POINTS- Lee: Most knowledgeable and adroit of all of Charlie’s assistants, your knowledge of the Chan canon is most impressive. With just bit more experience you’ll be able to take over the Chan agency when pop retires—just in case the art thing doesn’t work out!

27-29 POINTS - Jimmy: Pop! Pop! A few bumbles here and there, but you know a great deal about Charlie’s cases. Keep mind on present task (“and not on pretty Chinese cousin”)—soon you’ll be solving puzzles like your illustrious father!

25-26 POINTS - Senhor Souto: Intellectually capable and quite knowledgeable, you handle most complicated tasks well—and you know Chan trivia quite well too. There are a few situations, though, in which you still need to have “Senhor Shan” around to step in and save the day.

23-24 POINTS - Tombstone: Sometimes inscribed with words of wisdom but occasionally covered with moss, your flashes of insight wax and wane. A worthy effort, but perhaps better suited to busting cattle rustlers in Tonopah than to the intricacies of Charlie’s cases.

0-22 POINTS - Kashimo: Very enthusiastic, but not quite up to the task at hand. You can console yourself that the wages of your efforts is not “hunt for new job,” but rather an opportunity to increase your level of Chan-ological expertise. Clue! Clue! Perhaps too late now, but there is always a next case…

OUR MONTHLY POLL: Please take a moment to cast your vote in our JULY 2022 POLL, right here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7CW752H

LAST MONTH’S POLL RESULT: To see our JUNE 2022 Poll result as well as ALL of our polls going back to 2003, please use this link: http://www.charliechan.info/id93.html

NEXT WEEK (AUGUST 1): Please join us as we continue our Charlie Chan Film Tour 2022 with a shared viewing of “Black Magic” (AKA: “Meeting at Midnihght”)!

AND, AS ALWAYS… 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

OUR 2022 CHARLIE CHAN FAMILY NEWSLETTER!

This year’s Charlie Chan Family Newsletter, chronicling the year 2021, is now available! Thank you so much, Lou, for your continued, masterfully hard work and dedication! It can be accessed at the following link:

https://thepostmanonholidayhome.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/2021-newsletter-lou-final.pdf

AND, FINALLY, REMEMBER: PLEASE JOIN US on Monday, July 25 for this week’s feature, “The Chinese Cat.”

AS ALWAYS: THANK YOU SO MUCH…

Sincerely,

Rush Glick