FROM CHARLIE CHAN: “What is my reputation compared to man's life?”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Earl Derr Biggers (Augist 26, 1884)

NOTE: PLEASE vote in our August Poll! The poll can be reached at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HFSDBKR

GREETINGS: This week our feature film is “Dark Alibi.” In this film, we find Charlie Chan once again racing the clock to clear an innocent man from execution. Out Chat Room is located at: 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: “Dark Alibi” (1946; 61 minutes)

FEATURE INTRODUCTION: Ex-convict Thomas Harley is arrested for robbing a bank and killing a bank guard. He claims that he was summoned to a theatrical warehouse by a note that sent to him by a former cell mate named James Wyatt and was subsequently locked inside at the time the robbery and killing took place. The police do not believe his alibi because Wyatt has been dead for eight years. Fingerprints belonging to Harley are found at the crime scene, and he is put on trial, found guilty, and condemned to death. Desperate to prove her father innocent, Harley's daughter, June asks Charlie Chan to help her and her father.

FEATURE NOTES: The film's working titles were “Fatal Fingerprints,” “Fatal Fingertips,” and “Charlie Chan in Alcatraz.” Stock footage used in “Dark Alibi” shows California's San Quentin State Prison. The opening title card reads: "Charlie Chan in 'Dark Alibi.'" The Call Bureau Cast Service lists Minerva Urecal as "Mrs. Foss." However, production information included in the file on the film at the American Motion Picture Arts and Sciences library states that she was replaced by Edna Holland, who is listed in the onscreen credits.

CAST (as credited):

Sidney Toler: Charlie Chan
Mantan Moreland: Birmingham Brown
Ben Carter: Benjamin [Brown]
Benson Fong: Tommy Chan
Teala Loring: June Harley
George Holmes: Hugh Kensey
Joyce Compton: Emily Evans
John Eldridge: Anthony R. Morgan
Russell Hicks: Warden Cameron
Tim Ryan: Foggy
Janet Shaw: Miss Petrie
Edward Earle: Thomas Harley
Ray Walker: Danvers
Milton Parsons: Johnson
Edna Holland: Mrs. Foss
Anthony Warde: Jimmy Slade
George Eldredge: Brand
Meyer Grace: Punchy

UNCREDITED CAST (alphabetical):

Chet Brandenburg: Convict
Frank Marlowe: Barker
Matthew McCue: Convict
Tom Quinn: Criminologist
William Ruhl: Thompson
BIRMINGHAM BROWN’S WORDS OF WISDOM: (to Charlie Chan after he and Tommy packed luggage into Chan's car) "All packed, Mr. Chan; tighter than toothpaste in a tube!"

THIS WEEK’S IMAGE: (Attached) Warden Cameron and Charlie Chan stand over the prone body of prisoner Slade who feigns being shot following a shootout during his escape attempt.



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:

FEATURE FILM: Charlie Chan in "Dark Alibi"

“Dark Alibi” is the seventh Charlie Chan film made with Sidney Toler at Monogram Pictures. It was released on May 25, 1946 in the USA.

Dark Alibi - Wikipedia

OPENING FILM CREDITS from Pathe Pictures, Ltd.

Pathe Pictures, the distributor of Monogram film product in Great Britain, replaces the opening titles in this film.

FILMING LOCATION/FICTITIOUS SETTING

A metropolitan city in California. Stock footage of Los Angeles buildings.

STORYLINE OF FILM

An ex-convict is falsely accused of a bank robbery and murder.

THEME OF FILM

Charlie Chan has to prove an ex-con innocent of murder.

CURTURAL AND HISTORIC CONNECTION between Feature Film and Short Extras

Please see below.

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Charlie Chan in 1946

With the end of World War II, Charlie Chan moves from being a U.S. government agent to private investigate. He remains on the mainland working on unique cases for special clients. Dark Alibi is an early example of Chan's new role in cinema.

A Salute to Earl Derr Biggers, Creator of Charlie Chan

On August 26, 1884, author Earl Derr Biggers was born in Warren, Ohio. Though he wrote other things (i.e. plays and short stories), Mr. Biggers will always be remembered for creating the Chinese-Hawaiian sleuth from Honolulu. In honor of his birthday, we wish to remember Mr. Biggers. Please join me in raising a glass of Oland's "tiger tea" in a salute to Mr. Biggers. Cheers.

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EXTRA #1: The Aphorisms of Charlie Chan (2012)

Earl Derr Biggers Quotes - YouTube

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcP7QV2HwXE)

Running Time: 3:08

Film Noir

Near the end of World War II, crime films with a dark edge (i.e. film noir) became popular with the movie audiences in Europe and the United States. A few of the Chan films, beginning in the late 40s, border on film noir. One may wish to study these films carefully.

Film noir - Wikipedia

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_noir)

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EXTRA'S #2: Top 10 Film Noirs (2014)

A good detective never sleeps.

Top 10 Film Noirs - YouTube

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1DKL-BNXqw)

Running Time: 11:19 Watch Mojo.com.

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Something new

The presentation of a classic Charlie Chan movie in color!!!

Charlie Chan in Dark Alibi (1946)[FULL COLOR][FULL MOVIE] - YouTube

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r5rrl4ONp0)

Running Time: 1:01:30

MIKE FROM DC’s GREAT CHARLIE CHAN QUIZ, PART IV:

Part IV: "The Master’s Voice!" - 40 pts.

Charlie’s aphorisms are legendary. Complete these immortal quotes and name the films from which they come. (One point for each correct answer, one for the film, 40 points total) (ANSWERS: NEXT WEEK!)

Admitting failure like drinking_____.
Alas, ____cannot cast shadow like elephant.
Am detective, not____.
Any powder that kills ____ is good powder.
Best place for _____ is in family closet.
_____ happy combination of foolish accidents.
_____ no hindrance to fond thoughts.
Mice only play when cat supposed to be___.
Perfect case, like perfect____, has hole.
Death is a ___ that kneels unbidden at every gate.
To speak without thinking is to___.
_____speak from any chair.
____ ears for every tongue.
Man has learned much who has learned ____.
Man who fears ______ die thousand times.
____ cannot cook rice.
Lovers use element of surprise—also ____.
Good detective never ask "what" and "why" until _____.
Happiest ____ in life of mailman are on holiday.
Fingerprints very valuable if detective can catch____.
OUR MONTHLY POLL: Please take a moment to cast your vote in our AUGUST 2022 POLL, right here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HFSDBKR

LAST MONTH’S POLL RESULT: To see our JULY 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 (September 5): Please join us as we continue our Charlie Chan Film Tour 2022 with a shared viewing of “The Red Dragon.”

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, August 29 for this week’s feature, “Dark Alibi.”

AS ALWAYS: THANK YOU SO MUCH…

Sincerely,

Rush Glick