Our film for this week is “Charlie Chan’s Secret,” starring Warner Oland. In an adventure that takes Chan to the mainland and San Francisco. Is Alan Colby alive, or did he perish when the ship he was aboard sank? Charlie Chan is not so sure that the heir to the Colby fortune is not still among the living…but for how long?
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, “Charlie Chan’s Secret,” IS available at YouTube! Here is the address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z20iZTm4zws
FILM NOTES: The working title of this film was “Charlie Chan in San Francisco.” In ‘Hollywood Reporter’ production charts, George Schneiderman is listed as photographer and Charles McNaughton as a cast member, but their participation in the final film has not been verified. We see Charlie Chan flying from Honolulu to San Francisco aboard the Pan American Airlines “Clipper.” This was one of the marvels of the air in the mid-1930s. As the plane arrives in San Francisco, we catch a glimpse of the yet-to-be-completed Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge which opened to traffic in late-1936. Keye Luke was absent as Number One Son, Lee in this picture. As something of a comic sidekick, Herbert Mundin stepped in as the skittish butler, Baxter.
NEXT WEEK (March 17) we will be sharing “Charlie Chan at the Circus.”
“THE RETURN OF CHARLIE CHAN” ON DVD: If you are interested in purchasing a clear, clean copy of “The Return of Charlie Chan” (Universal – 1971) a made-for-TV movie starring Ross Martin as Charlie Chan, I can recommend a version which you will find at: http://www.ioffer.com/i/the-return-of-charlie-chan-ross-martin-dvd-504052734. It lists for $14.99 which includes postage/handling. However, you may make a lower offer!
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.
AND… Please check out the new comic series, “Chinatown Cop,” based on the life of HPD Detective Chang Apana at: www.chinatowncop.com.
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 “Charlie Chan’s Secret.”
