Our Monday Evening Chat and Film Viewing: "Charlie Chan in Reno"
Our Monday Evening Chat and Film Viewing for this week is “Charlie Chan in Reno,” starring Sidney Toler in his second appearance as Charlie Chan. At the behest of a good friend in Honolulu, Charlie Chan flies to the mainland to try to prove the innocence of his friend’s estranged wife who stands accused of murder. Can Mr. Chan punch a hole in what appears to be an open and shut case in the divorce capital of Reno, Nevada? We shall see…together!
We begin, as usual, at 8:00 p.m., EASTERN time with arrivals and greetings and a trip to Virginia’s virtual beverage cart. Then, thirty minutes later, we begin running our personal copies of this very worthy film, which allows us to watch it together as our evening’s discussion progresses.
Our Chat Room is located RIGHT HERE at our Charlie Chan Family Home. Please use any of the “Chat Room” links to join us!
Even if you do not happen to have a copy of our featured movie, please do join us, as you will NOT be left out of our ongoing chat and festivities. Also, as is our custom, newcomers are offered the seat of honor at our humble table.
Let’s get together for much more fun as we watch Sidney Toler in "Charlie Chan in Reno”…
Re: Our Monday Evening Chat and Film Viewing: "Charlie Chan in Reno"
Virginia also has a link for tonight . . . at www.rhyolitesite.com/bottle1.html.
It's where our own Evan Thompson, aka THE BLOT!, spent time with his grandparents. You can still see pitcures with them there!
Virginia
As I watched “Charlie Chan in Reno” I couldn’t help but think that if he was revived today this is the kind of film they should make. It is one of a healthy number of Chan films whose consistent high quality contributed to the continued popularity of the character and series. It has all the elements of a fine Chan mystery without any of the negatives. It has the able, yet sometimes bumbling assistance of a Chan son. It has the mention of Mrs. Chan and by inference the entire Chan family, always an endearing element. It has the local police providing Charlie with a respectful and eager welcome. In particular, it has Slim Summerville in a very fine performance as the resentful local official/comic relief who doesn’t know how grateful he should be. In his “clueless ness” is revealed the prejudice and wrongfulness of his ideas and attitude. Proof positive that Charlie Chan is far from a bad example, but rather this confrontation serves as good condemnation of the foolishness of preconceived notions. And who cannot love the scene where Charlie serves as bartender. A classic scene. This film, filled as it is with a great slate of suspects, more then a few red herrings and a couple of twists is a very solid entry with a strong cast and solid plot. I for one just love it.
Another thought provoking analysis, thank you! I agree that this one does have many of the elements, as you mention, that make the Charlie Chan series so dear to so many people.
