Our Monday Evening Chat/Film Viewing: "Behind That Curtain"
Hopefully everyone had a very happy ringing in of the New Year! May 2014 bring with it abundant blessings for each and every one of you…
Tonight (Monday), as we begin this year's journey through the entire Charlie Chan film series as it stands available today, we will be viewing "Behind That Curtain", a 1929 adaptation of Earl Derr Biggers' Charlie Chan adventure of the same name. This picture, produced by Fox Films, stars Warner Baxter as Colonel John Beetham and features Lois Moran (Eve Mannering Durrand), Glbert Emery (Sir Frederick Bruce), Claude King (Sir George Mannering), and Philip Strange (Eric Durrand). As an added bonus, we are treated to a very early "talkie" appearance by none other than Boris Karloff who portrays Col. Beetham’s servant.
"Behind That Curtain" can, perhaps, be considered a Charlie Chan movie, although the Chinese detective, played by E.L. Park, appears on screen for roughly a half-dozen minutes and utters but a few lines. From Mr. Parks' performance, it can be seen why Fox Films opted for an established actor in the person of Warner Oland to fill the title role when the series began in earnest about two years later. Notable, however, is how readily Park's Chan
is seen to employ a firearm with deadly force in a way that will not be apparent in any future adventure in the series.
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).
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. HAPPY NEWS…this week’s film IS available at YouTube at this address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jAkS0Jwkxo
NEXT WEEK
On Monday, January 13, we will continue our Charlie Chan Film Tour for 2014 with a viewing of "Eran Trece", which stars Manuel Arbo as Charlie Chan. "Eran Trece" ("There Were Thirteen") was the Spanish language version of Charlie Chan Carries On", the first film in the Charlie Chan film series proper. Both versions were produced by Fox Films in 1931 with the Warner Oland version being shot first. "Eran Trece" is a virtual mirror image of its cinematic sister, which offers us a chance to get a fairly good idea of what the original was like.
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 this year’s first Chan-filled evening of fun and sharing as we watch "Behind That Curtain".
