FROM CHARLIE CHAN: “Nothing ever entirely disappear - something always remain.”

NOTE: PLEASE vote in our SEPTEMBER Poll! The poll can be reached at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H3BZY6C

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: “The Red Dragon” (1945; 64 minutes)

FEATURE INTRODUCTION: In Mexico City, an attempt is made to steal the papers of the mysterious Alfred Wyans. His secretary, Walter Dorn, is working undercover for the U.S. government. At the U.S. embassy, he begs that they send for Charlie Chan. The next day, Dorn is mysteriously shot during a luncheon party at Wyans' home. Chan arrives in Mexico City, accompanied by Number Three Son Tommy and his chauffeur and assistant Chattanooga Brown. Chan reveals that Wyans' papers relate to the discovery of a new, 95th element which could be used to make a bomb much more powerful than an atomic bomb. The detective suspects one of the party guests, setting out to find which one is responsible for Dorn's death.

FEATURE NOTES: The film's working title was “Charlie Chan in Mexico.” The title card reads, “Charlie Chan in ‘The Red Dragon’.”

CAST (as credited):

Sidney Toler: Charlie Chan
Fortunio Bonanova: [Inspector] Luis Carvero
Benson Fong: Tommy Chan
Robert E. Keane: Alfred Wyans
Willie Best: Chattanooga Brown
Carol Hughes: Marguerite Fontan
Marjorie Hoshelle: Countess Irena [Countess Irena Massack]
Barton Yarborough: Joseph Bradish
George Meeker: Edmund Slade
Don Costello: Charles Massack
Charles Trowbridge: Prentiss
Mildred Boyd: Josephine
Jean Wong: Iris Ling
Donald Dexter Taylor: Walter Dorn
Lucio Villegas: Chemist

UNCREDITED CAST (alphabetical):

Richard Lopez: Bellboy
Augie Gomez: Cab Driver
Artie Ortego: Police Officer
Toni Raimondo: Woman in Powder Room

THIS WEEK’S IMAGE: (Attached) Charlie Chan and Inspector Luis Carvero witness the mysterious killing of Countess Irena.



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 (THANK YOU SO MUCH, HAWAII STEVE!) through the link provided at our Chat Room.

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

FEATURE FILM: Charlie Chan in "The Red Dragon"

“The Red Dragon” is the seventh Charlie Chan film made with Sidney Toler at Monogram Pictures. It was released on February 2, 1946 in the USA. Last week's film, "Dark Alibi" was the eighth Chan film made with Mr. Toler at Monogram Pictures. It was released on May 25, 1946. For unknown reasons, the films were switched in release order for viewings at this website.

The Red Dragon (film) - Wikipedia

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_Dragon_(film))

OPENING FILM CREDITS from Monogram Pictures

The film print is from Monogram Pictures, as stated in the opening titles in this film.

FILMING LOCATION/FICTITIOUS SETTING

Mexico City, Mexico. Stock footage of landmark buildings are included in the film.

STORYLINE OF FILM: Attempts to steal scientist's plans for an atomic bomb.

THEME OF FILM: An undercover agent requests that Charlie Chan be called in on the case.

CURTURAL AND HISTORIC CONNECTION between Feature Film and Short Extras

Please see below.

==========

Charlie Chan in 1946

In this film, Charlie Chan is a U.S. government agent called to Mexico City.

EXTRA: Mexico City (c1950)

Colorful Mexico City and its surroundings around 1950 [A.I. enhanced & colorized] - YouTube

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH5VryrBq1M)

Running Time: 22:00 Rick88888888, 2021.

==========

On-Line Viewing of Charlie Chan Film here

TITLE: “The Red Dragon”

Charlie Chan in The Red Dragon 1945 - RetroVision Media - Bing video

(https://archive.org/details/red-dragon-1945)

Running Time: 1:04:22 RetroVision Media.

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

Part IV: The Master’s Voice I - 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) (THE ANSWERS FOLLOW THE QUESTIONS, BELOW! NO PEEKING!)

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____.
THE ANSWERS:

Admitting failure like drinking bitter tea. (Charlie Chan in Egypt)
Alas, mouse cannot cast shadow like elephant. (The Black Camel)
Am detective, not magician. (Dark Alibi)
Any powder that kills flea is good powder. (Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum)
Best place for skeleton is in family closet. (Charlie Chan's Secret)
Luck happy combination of foolish accidents. (Charlie Chan at the Opera)
_____ no hindrance to fond thoughts. [“Distance”; Charlie Chan in Shanghai]
Mice only play when cat supposed to be___. [“in bed”; Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum]
Perfect case, like perfect____, has hole. [“doughnut”; Charlie Chan in Paris]
Death is a ___ that kneels unbidden at every gate. [“black camel “; The Black Camel]
To speak without thinking is to___. [“shoot without aiming”; Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise]
_____speak from any chair. [“Truth”; Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum]
____ ears for every tongue. [“Two”; Charlie Chan in Shanghai]
Man has learned much who has learned ____. [“how to die”; Dead Men Tell]
Man who fears ______ die thousand times. [“death”; Castle in the Desert]
____ cannot cook rice. [“Talk”; Charlie Chan in Shanghai]
Lovers use element of surprise—also ____. [“criminals”; Castle in the Desert]
Good detective never ask "what" and "why" until _____. [“after he's seen”; Charlie Chan in Paris]
Happiest ____ in life of mailman are on holiday. [“walk”; The Shanghai Chest]
Fingerprints very valuable if detective can catch____. [“owner of fingers”; Charlie Chan's Secret]

OUR MONTHLY POLL: Please take a moment to cast your vote in our SEPTEMBER 2022 POLL, right here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H3BZY6C

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 12): Please join us as we continue our Charlie Chan Film Tour 2022 with a shared viewing of “Shadows Over Chinatown.”

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, September 5 (LABOR DAY) for this week’s feature, “The Red Dragon.”

AS ALWAYS: THANK YOU SO MUCH…

Sincerely,

Rush Glick