Please join for our Monday Evening Chat/Film Viewing as we watch and discuss Charlie Chan in the Secret Service,” starring Sidney Toler. With this picture, we begin our run through the 17 Charlie Chan films produced by Monogram Pictures. While these movies certainly pale when compared to the production standards of their Fox counterparts, many agree that the Monograms have much to offer Chan fans. Indeed, without these additional films, the Charlie Chan series would have ended in 1942 rather than in 1949. Those additional seven years were important to the Chan legacy. Indeed, these were the very movies that served to introduce many to that most famous of American detectives – Charlie Chan. With the advent of television, it was most often the Monogram Chan pictures that filled the small screen on late shows across the country!

In “Charlie Chan in the Secret Service,” we see that Mr. Chan now works for the United States Secret Service fighting the enemies of his country during World War II. We are introduced to two Chan offspring, Tommy and Iris, who work with their famous Pop in this adventure. It would be Tommy who would work with his father on a number of cases thereafter. We also meet Birmingham Brown, who would become a valued regular in the series, adding much life and humor to the tales.

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 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.

So, let’s get together for yet another fun Monday evening as we gather to Charlie Chan in the Secret Service”!

(PLEASE NOTE: If you would like to receive weekly email announcements regarding our Monday Evening Chats, as well as receive high-quality scanned movie still images (one per week) from our films of the week, please email us at: charliechanfamily@yahoo.com)

Sincerely,
Rush Glick

Hello Rush,

Thank you for providing us with an introduction to the "new" Charlie Chan at Monogram Pictures. I agree with you. These low-budget films are worth viewing because they take the adventures of Charlie Chan in a different direction.

It's great to see the familiar cast of characters: Sidney Toler and Victor Sen Yung. They're still in character, but they have changed a bit. The country had changed a bit too.

When the Monogram Chans began, we, the USA, were deep into World War II. The world was changing, and so was Charlie Chan. The fresh-faced youth of America was going off to war. The average "Joes" and "Janes" on the home-front were sacrificing household items for the war effort.

The Monogram films have a different feel to them from the 20th Century-Fox films. The movies had changed from the beautiful, elegant, exotic travels of the Oland Chans to a "Naked City" type of inner-city crime scene.

The Monogram Chans are almost film noir, but not quite. When we get into the Roland Winter period, one can sense a darker Chan mystery. The playfulness is gone. The plots are serious.

Thank you for sharing the wonderful photograph of Sidney Toler. This is a fine portrait of a great character actor.

See you at the movies.

Speaking of Virginia's beverage cart . . . I have posted my grandmother's recipe for turkey dressing.

Yes, I know I'm about two and a half months early but tonight's movie IS Secret Service . . . in Washington, D.C. . . .too often the land of stuffed turkeys!

But not to worry! I have also posted a simple recipe for cinnamon rolls!

And don't forget that all recipes are archived at http://tommenterprises.tripod.com/id131.com by title and ready to be pulled up and printed out!

Virginia