Watching Black Camel the other night got me to fantasizing. I always get a kick out of watching Lee Tung Fu and all the neat things he was able to do with the very small parts he was cast in. If Charlie had had a detective assistant in some of the films, wouldn't he have been great in the part! I would love to see what he would have done with the Kashimo role in Black Camel.

If he's the one I think he is . . . the part he did with Keye Luke as James Lee Wong in Phantom in Chinatown rather backs up your arguement.

I think that Lee Tung Fu would have done a great job whatever the studio might have given him as a larger part.

Virginia

He's the one, Virginia. I love the kitchen scene where he has the detective in the refrigerator!

Dear John,

I think that Lee Tung Fu would have made an interesting partner for Charlie Chan. As Kashimo, I don't know, though, as Kashimo's frenetic nature would not, I feel, have been suited to the more reserved demenor of Lee Tung Fu. I think that an original character could have been created, instead. Perhaps he could have played a more traditional cousin who wasn't pleased with his cousin Charlie Chan and his family having become so westernized! (I believe that in one of the Biggers books that some cousin actually did have such qualms.)

Sincerely,
Rush

What I meant was how he would have interpreted the same role, same dialogue with his own mannerisms. It always fascinates me how different actors can give different meanings to the same role.

Dear John,

This is certainly true.

Sincerely,
Rush