Return to Website

The Charlie Chan Family Message Board

Welcome to our Message Board. Please feel free to post your thoughts, questions, or information.

The Charlie Chan Family Message Board
Start a New Topic 
Author
Comment
View Entire Thread
Re: Charlie Chan's Influence in Asia

Hi,

I've said this before, but I don't think there was anything inherently negative or insensitive in Mantan Moreland's appearances.

Mantan was a very funny and capable actor who was used effectively for comic relief. He just happened to be black. His antics aren't any different than those of many other comically oriented actors such as Lou Costello or Herbert Mundin or Huntz Hall all of whom just happened to be white.

Why can't funny just be funny without having to analyze the role of the actor's race, religion, or ethnicity?

Mantan was also given a prominent and meaningful role in the series and was a large contributor to the popularity of the Monograms. To be honest, it is insulting to his memory for a modern day analyst to demean his contributions by placing racial overtones to them.

Regarding Snowshoes and Streamline, Rush's assessment is dead on. Lincoln Perry laughed all the way to the bank during his career and topped it off by receiving the NAACP's "Image" award.

Steve

Re: Re: Charlie Chan's Influence in Asia

Dear Steve,

Another thing comes to mind regarding racial issues and movies: How will future generations view the black ("comedies," etc.) and Asian (mattial arts) "exploitation" films that are being pumped out today by movie studios? Stereotypes galore...

Sincerely,
Rush