Our final stop for this year's Chan Tour: "The Sky Dragon"
As the final hours of 2013 tick by, we have reached the final stop on our yearlong tour of the entire Charlie Chan film series as it is available to us today. It has been a very interesting trip, has it not?
As we reach the finish line, this week’s Monday Evening Chat and Film Viewing will feature “The Sky Dragon,” starring Roland Winters as Charlie Chan and Keye Luke as number One Son, Lee, along with the irrepressible Birmingham Brown as portrayed by comedic genius Mantan Moreland. This adventure takes detective and son to the airways as they track down a ruthless “sky dragon.”
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).
FILM NOTES: The working title of this film was “Murder in the Air.” The film's title card reads: “Charlie Chan in ‘The Sky Dragon’". Although Roy Livingston is credited onscreen as editor, ‘Hollywood Reporter’ production charts credit Ace Herman as editor. “The Sky Dragon” gives us a hint as to how the Charlie Chan series would have continued at Monogram Pictures. Available information indicates that Monogram was planning to continue the series with Roland Winters and Keye Luke, filming on location in several European cities, with the funds for the filming being banked in England. Unfortunately, the English pound was devalued before the project saw the light of day and, due to the sudden loss of funds, the project was scrapped. An interesting piece of trivia can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNoW7o_t4mE. This is a clip of Keye Luke with Milton Berle on “Texaco Star Theater” from March 22, 1949. He is introduced as Charlie Chan’s Number One Son, and this appearance took place probably just before “The Sky Dragon” was released, as a ’Variety’ review of the film dated May 4 of that year can attest.
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. SAD NEWS…this week’s film, “The Sky Dragon,” IS NOT available at YouTube…
NEXT WEEK (January 6) we will kick off out Charlie Chan Tour for 2014 with a viewing of “Behind That Curtain,” with E.L. Park as Charlie Chan.
A CONTINUED HUMBLE REMINDER: If you have not already done so, please consider ordering your copy of the new “Charlie Chan Collection” Warner Brothers box DVD collection! The best price I have found thus far is from Amazon.com at $28.79 with FREE postage! So, if you have not done so yet, please get yours now!
A NEW CHARLIE CHAN BOOK: “The Charlie Chan Mystery Movie Guide” by Luke Freemen, who attended last week’s Chat, is available at a list price of $16.99 (and less via Amazon.com). Please read our description of this new Chan entry at our Entrance page at www.charliechan.info.
Please take care, have a pleasant Monday, and let’s all get together for another Chan-filled evening of fun and sharing as we watch “The Sky Dragon.”
