OUR CCF MONDAY EVENING CHAT FOR April 15, 2024: “Mr. Moto’s Gamble”
CHAT NUMBER: 1,251
FROM CHARLIE CHAN: “Thousand friends too few.” (“Charlie Chan in Panama”)
THIS WEEK: We share “Mr. Moto’s Gamble,” the film that began shooting as “Charlie Chan at the Ringside.”
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: “Mr. Moto’s Gamble” (1938; 72 minutes) Yes, this film IS available online for those who lack a personal copy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSSBlNAEzms
FEATURE SUMMARY: Bad blood exists between Bill Steele and Frankie Stanton, the leading contenders for the heavyweight title, and a grudge match is scheduled. Steele's knockout victory is tainted by his opponent's untimely death, ostensibly from a concussion caused by hitting the canvas. A post-mortem reveals that poison was somehow introduced into a cut above Stanton's eye although it is unclear how and why. (Gabe Taverney, IMDb)
FEATURE NOTES: “Mr. Moto’s Gamble” began production as the Charlie Chan film "Charlie Chan at the Ringside,” but when Warner Oland walked off the set, the 20th Century-Fox set out to salvage what could be used from what had already shot, minus the scenes with Warner Oland. The script was rewritten to accommodate Fox's other Asian sleuth, Mr. Moto. Chan's Number One Son, Lee, remained in the film at the orders of producer Sol Wurtzel.
THIS WEEK’S EXTRAS: Our weekly “extras” are offered to provide enhanced background information for our featured film, hopefully enriching our viewers’ appreciation of each film’s place in actual history, culture, and context.
EXTRA #1: Harold Huber: From Scholar to Star | Actors & Actresses Biography
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwwM9qpepVA
Running time: 3:32
EXTRA #2: Peter Lorre - The Life and Times of a Screen Icon - Biography
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sJ_1MKRbsU
Running time: 11:48
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 APRIL POLL is available on our Bulletin Board or directly at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/72WF3VN
PAST POLL RESULTS: https://charliechan.org/past-monthly-poll-results/
NEXT WEEK: “Charlie Chan in Honolulu,” as Sidney Toler portrays Charlie Chan on the screen for the first of 22 times.
SO… Please join us as we join together to share “Mr. Moto’s Gamble.”
