I was watching "Mr. Moto's Last Warning" last night on DVD and about 3/4 through the movie, or so, came a very quick shot of a poster size playbill(list of enterainment acts) on the side if a building and at the very bottom was listed, Showing- Charlie Chan in Honolulu, but what was most surprising about that, was the star listed was not Sidney Toler, but listed the star as Warner Oland. Part of the printing on the playbill is covered up by another small playbill, but you will be able to make it out. Also, you will have to use your pause button and then your frame by frame advance because it does go by quick, but if you use this method, it can be seen.
Yes, your eyes were not playing tricks on you. Warner Oland and Keye Luke were slated to be in "Charlie Chan in Honolulu." Unfortunately, with the untimely passing of Oland, Sidney toler was chosen (from more than 30 who tried out for the role) to be Charlie Chan. Fox then offered Keye Luke less pay to resume the role of Lee Chan, perhaps thinking that the series would be less popular without Oland as Chan. Of course, Mr. Luke declined under those circumstances and Victor Sen Yung was added as Number Two Son Jimmy, and the rest, as they say, is history...
That's right! That was a fun moment in "Charlie Chan in Shanghai," as was the reference to the character Fu Manchu, which Warner Oland had previously played which was pointed to in the little song, "Princess Ming Lo Fu," that Charlie Chan sang to the group of children aboard the ship to Shanghai.