OUR CCF MONDAY EVENING CHAT FOR February 26, 2024: “Charlie Chan’s Secret”
CHAT NUMBER: 1,244
FROM CHARLIE CHAN: “If strength were all, tiger would not fear scorpion.”
THIS WEEK: We continue this year’s Charlie Chan Film Tour, with “Charlie Chan’s Secret.”
OUR CHAT ROOM: Go to our “Chat Room” page, and, at the bottom of that page, click on the “Charlie Chan Family Chat Room ENTRANCE” link. You may then enter as a “Guest,” choosing the name you wish to use.
OUR FEATURE PRESENTATION: “Charlie Chan in Shanghai” (1936; 71 minutes) Happily, this film IS available online for those who lack a personal copy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LjcZABfVhs&t=5s
FEATURE SUMMARY: An ocean liner sinks near Hawaii and Allen Colby, the heir to the family fortune, is presumed dead. However, as he is the only body unaccounted for, Charlie Chan, who is seeking proof of Colby’s demise, is not so sure. The detective, working for Henrietta Lowell, the sister of Allen’s father flies to San Francisco to investigate further. The missing Colby appears at Colby House ahead of him but is knifed by a hidden killer in the back before seeing anyone. Further events revolve around spiritualist Mrs. Lowell, her family of suspicious characters, and the spooky Colby House, where the body of Allen Colby dramatically turns up during a séance with Chan in attendance.
FEATURE NOTES: The working title of this film was “Charlie Chan in San Francisco.” In ‘Hollywood Reporter’ production charts, George Schneiderman is listed as photographer and Charles McNaughton as a cast member, but their participation in the final film has not been verified. However, Charles McNaughton is pictured in what appears to be butler’s garb in a publicity still for “Charlie Chan’s Secret.” The actor’s name is absent from the credits on the still while Herbert Mundin, who played Baxter the butler, is among those listed.
THIS WEEK’S EXTRAS:
EXTRA #1: San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge Construction 1935
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA69lHpfEwc
Running time: 1:03
EXTRA #2: Building The Oakland Bay Bridge 1935
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Sy7CXDIfrk
Running time: 2:21
EXTRA #3: A Day in San Francisco 1930s in color [60fps,Remastered] w/sound design added
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JJAUFL_Y9Q
Running time: 8:32
OUR MESSAGE BOARD: Please consider visiting our Message Board. Feel free to add a message to a post or begin a conversation…or state a thought! Our Message Board has been there for YOU since 2004!
AS ALWAYS, WE BEGIN OUR EVENING at 7:30 Eastern Time with a 45-minute block of time for arrivals and greetings, and the sharing of an extra…or two...or even three! (please see above). Then, at precisely 8:15 ET, we begin running our feature film simultaneously starting our personal or online copies of this week’s feature!
AT OUR BULLETIN BOARD: THE CHARLIE CHAN FAMILY HOME 2023 NEWSLETTER is available for your enjoyment at our “Bulletin Board” and “Study” (under the “Charlie Chan” category) at our Charlie Chan Family Home!
OUR FEBRUARY POLL is available on our Bulletin Board or directly at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X2BNWWF
NEXT WEEK: “Charlie Chan at the Circus”
SO… Please join us as we share “Charlie Chan’s Secret.”
