Our Monday Evening Chat/Film Viewing: "Charlie Chan in Rio"
Greetings, all. Hard to believe, but July is speeding toward it’s conclusion!
Our film for this week’s Monday Evening Chat and Film Viewing will be “Charlie Chan in Rio,” starring Sidney Toler and featuring Victor Sen Yung. In this “remake” of the classic “The Black Camel,” Charlie Chan and son, Jimmy seek to unmask the killer of a well-known performer in a case that has its roots back in the Chans’ own Honolulu.
FILM NOTES: Although Ted North's character is called "Carlos Dantas" in the film's onscreen credits and in reviews, in the picture he is called "Clark Denton." According to ‘Hollywood Review’ news items, Virgil Miller was originally assigned as the photographer on this film, but was replaced by Joseph P. MacDonald, who was promoted after serving as an operative cameraman with Twentieth Century-Fox for eight years. An April 30, 1941 ‘Hollywood Reporter’ news item noted that Jeanne Kelly had been loaned by Universal to appear in the next Charlie Chan film, and, while it was presumably this picture, her participation has not been confirmed. “Charlie Chan in Rio” bears a striking resemblance to “The Black Camel,” directed ten years earlier by Hamilton MacFadden, who appears in the cast of “Rio.” It is perhaps of interest to note that MacFadden also appeared briefly in “The Black Camel,” and he also had a minor role in “Charlie Chan in Reno” (1939).
So, please join us in our Chat Room which is located at our Charlie Chan Family Home: www.charliechan.info, and use any of the “Chat Room” links to join us. We begin with arrivals and greetings at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and we roll our personal copies of our film exactly 15 minutes later (8:15).
Our image from "Dead Men Tell" (please see attachment) shows Patience Nodbury as she sees Black Hook and accepts the inevitable consequence based on family legend.
Even if you cannot access a copy of the above-noted film, please do join us anyway, 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. Many of our films, such as this week’s entry, may be found available for viewing online through such outlets as YouTube, etc. Again this week we have HAPPY NEWS! A check at YouTube reveals that “Charlie Chan in Rio” IS available online at YouTube for viewing. You may find it at this address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAi0X6nhXFs
NEXT WEEK we will be viewing “Castle in the Desert,” starring Sidney Toler.
CHARLIE CHAN IN EL SEGUNDO REPORT: I was able to attend the matinee showing today of “Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum” at the Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo, California, accompanied by my good friend, Gary, a Chan fan in his own right. Following a nice, late lunch at a nearby pizza restaurant, we entered the theater just as Bill Field, owner/manager of the Old Town Music Hall since 1968, began the festivities. As always, Mr. Field opened the show with a medley of music played on a vintage (1925) Wurlitzer organ. This was followed by Bill’s accompaniment of a silent Our Gang comedy. After a brief intermission, the sizeable audience (encouragingly populous in the intimate confines of the theater) enthusiastically enjoyed “Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum.” It is a rare opportunity when one can see a Charlie Chan movie presented as it was meant to be: in front of a live audience! In a number of months, the Old Town Music hall will be showing “The Jade Mask” with Edwin Luke as Eddie Chan. I suspect that the Luke family will be in attendance for one of the several showings..
ONE LAST NOTE: It was my great honor and privilege to meet our own Louise yesterday afternoon in downtown San Diego as she took a break from the San Diego ComicCon. Thank you so much, Louise, I had a wonderful time talking Charlie Chan (and more!) with you!
Take care, and let’s all get together for another Chan-filled evening of fun and sharing as we watch “Charlie Chan in Rio.”
