So help me out, there is a film in which Charlie turns to his son (no I don't know which one) and says something along the lines of - Why don't you remember what your honorable ancestor said - and then quotes a bit of wisdom.

What movie is this?
and thanks in advance

Pete - it seems to me this happens in more than one. I will remember this post, and get back with you.

One quote I remember hearing more than once, but perhaps only once citing "honorable grandmother", was "words cannot cook rice" (or something like that).

Will keep my ears open. My husband and I both enjoy Chan movies, and usually watch one a night, before bed. I started taping them when they started showing them on TV in the early '80s. (I would copy them from tape to tape, bleeping out the commercials. I couldn't tape them doing the bleeping, as I might miss some of the movie, if I was even at home when it came on.)

So, to make a long story short, we've had some kind of copy of most of the movies for almost 30 years, and can "pick them apart" with the best of 'em.

Hubby will notice something, then "worry" over it until he can figure out a logical explaination, or chalk it up to the fact that the folks making the movies, way back when, had NO IDEA that one day folks like us (read weirdos?) could watch their movies over and over again, when ever we wanted to....

An example came from "Murder Over New York". It bothered him no end that there was a different stewardess in NY (than the one who saw in our victim in LA). Didn't bother me at all, I never even thought about it, even after he pointed it out. (Why would the same one have to see them out, anyway?)

Last night, as we settled down, "Oh, I figured out that thing about the Stewardess". (UH?, I thought.) The flight schedule... that flight stopped in what seemed like 8 places, and probably took all day, so they'de have picked up a new crew somewhere along the way....

Well, now HE feels better. Actually we both have fun with the movies, and bounce these kind of things off each other. Oh well, we could have worse vices?

Diana

Dear Diana,

I had a great time reading your post. Did you and your husband enjoy Charlie Chan so much before you were married or after? I don't think that my venerable wife has ever watched a full Chan film with me, let alone before going to bed every night. I think that it is wonderful that you share what is obviously a passion! Very good!

Also, I congratulate your husband for coming up with a logical answer with regard to the stewardess question in "Murder Over New York." I do this, too, with the "errors" that are sometimes noted by fans.

"Thank you so much!"

Sincerely,
Rush Glick

Rush -

Thank you for your kind words.

About our Chan history, Jerry grew up in a large town/city and saw the Chan movies on TV when young. I grew up in a smaller town, and really do not remember ever seeing a Chan movie until they started showing up on TV. We have been married 45 years, and our watching Charlie together only started, as I said before, about 30 years ago. And yes, Jerry loved the Chan movies back when he was a kid. He actually grew up across the street from a movie theater, so has lots of "favorite" movies.

As we discuss other questions about movies, I will have to ask here, won't I?

One thing we always laugh at is timelines. One example is in "Dark Alibi". The policemen are let out of the dining room (I guess dining room), by Mrs. Foss. When Harley comes in a moment later, they tell him that he is being arrested for a bank robbery that occurred "less than 45 minutes ago". Geez those guyz are good! They must have really good finger print folks, or some early AFIS (?sp) that we are unaware of.
Or maybe the crooks that left the print labeled it, as well?

Another thing that happens, occasionally, is that an autopsy is performed AND tox results come back, while suspects are still at a dinner party (or whatever). Even Dr. G. isn't THAT good!

Great to "talk" to you,
Diana

Dear Pete,

Fun question! There were four films where Charlie Chan stated an aphorism that refered to an "ancestor." Here they are:

Ancient ancestor once say, "As mind is fed with silent thought, so should body absorb its food." (Charlie Chan in Honolulu)

Ancient ancestor once say, "Even wise man cannot fathom depth of woman's smile." (The Shanghai Cobra)

Ancient ancestor once say, "Words cannot cook rice." (Charlie Chan in Reno)

Illustrious ancestor once say, "Destination never reached by turning back on same." (Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo)

If you would like to see a list of ALL of the sayings of Charlie Chan, we have gathered them at our "Aphorisms" section at this site.

Sincerely,
Rush Glick

Actually Rush, I am going to let the cat out of the bag for this one. Why I wanted to know this is because I am trying to build a Chan family tree, which is laying the ground work for a bigger project.

A Charlie Chan Biography similar to those that have been done for Tarzan, Doc Savage etc.

Its a huge project, but my wife and I are committed to having it done in time for the centennial (so we have 12 years).

We already have a few great ideas, and I would love to hear suggestions for important events in his life etc.

And contrary to popular supposition Charlie Chan's father was not Fu Manchu, but I have a good idea who it was, and it explains a lot. I am also fascinated by the events of Charlie Chan in the City of Darkness where he has gathered together his old intelligence team from WWI. Who were those guys and what did they do?
The only problem I have is I don't yet have copies of Softly walks the Strangler and Silent Corpse. So if anyone has access to these I would love to borrow a copy.

I can be emailed directly at prawlik@comcast.net

Pete -

I congratulate you on your project and ambition. I am anly trying to put together a book for my family about (one set of) my 4th great grandparents, and it will only be for family, and it is a "project".

About Charlie's family, didn't he say at the start of "Monte Carlo" that "honorable grandparent" ran a fantan (?sp) house? That is all I can think of concerning his ancestors.

Diana

There are a few mentions here and there in the books, in Black Camel he muses on the fact that his mother is buried on the hill, and that he brought her over from China to spend the last few years of her life in his house.

To be honest there will have to be much supposition, but the times are right for so much. Britain establishes trade concessions in Tientsin around 1850, the Opium War and the Boxer Rebellion are in full swing, The Chan family is really mportant during this period, with a Chan being one of the founding members of the Chinese communist party.

Oh may you be born in interesting times

Dear Pete,

A very worthy project, indeed! If you would like my admittedly feeble help in any way, I would certainly be honored.

You might start by taking a look at two things. First, here at this present web site, you may wish to pay a quick visit to our "Family Room." There we have compiled a probable rundown of the structure of the Chan family. Of course, if your research leads to any corrections, they will be most welcomed! Next, Dr. Howard Berlin wrote a very thorough article regarding the Chan family a number of years ago. His article can be found in our "Study."

Now, you mention a couple of Chan stories that you have not been able to read. Although, in my humble opinion, apocryphal at best, you will find links to all of the complete stories from that short-lived series, which originally appeared in "Charlie Chan's Mystery Magazine" in the early 1970s, among our "Charlie Chan Links."

Happy hunting!

Sincerely,
Rush Glick

Rush I can't seem to find those links to the Davis stories, and all the ones I have found on the web seem to be broken, can you email them to me? I would be most appreciative.

Dear Pete,

I apologize! You are correct. Some years ago we used to have those links here at our web site. However, as you note, they are no longer working, and, thus, they were removed. I was thinking of the links we now have to the Biggers stories. You may try to search out those stories on one of the online book seller sites such as www.abebooks.com. The stories, or at least a couple from that series you mention, were re-released a few years ago in book form. Also, you may even be able to come across a copy or copies of the original publications.

Somewhere, I have a notebook containing the stories that were printed from the web site that once housed the complete collection of the stories you mentioned. If worse comes to worse, and you cannot get your hands on the material you wish, let me know. If I can find the copied material, I'll be happy to share it with you.

Sincerely,
Rush Glick