Our Monday Evening Chat/Film Viewing: "Charlie Chan at the Circus"
Our film for this week is “Charlie Chan at the Circus,” starring Warner Oland, and featuring Keye Luke as Number One Son, Lee, and the entire Chan family! During a family trip to the mainland, Charlie Chan and family had planned a visit to a small traveling circus on their way to see the Grand Canyon. However, this family outing leads to a murder case that is fraught with danger!
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 at the Circus,” IS available at YouTube! Here is the address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89MMEVNWBxg
FILM NOTES: According to ‘Hollywood Reporter’ news items and production charts, June Lang and John Dilson were to be in the cast, but their participation in the final film has not been confirmed. According to another ‘Hollywood Reporter’ news item, the film was shot "on location at the Al G. Barnes winter quarters," and a ‘Motion Picture Herald’ pre-release article states that "the Barnes Circus [was] used as a background for production settings." In a mid-1980s interview, Keye Luke mentioned that the winter home of the circus used in the film was in the eastern Los Angeles community of El Monte.
NEXT WEEK (March 24) we will be sharing “Charlie Chan at the Race Track.”
WARNER OLAND SCRAP BOOK: It was through great good fortune for me to come across a very meticulously accumulated collection of newspaper and magazine articles and trade paper items dating from 1916 until 1932, all housed within an old scrap book. This was compiled by someone who was EXTREMELY devoted to Warner Oland; a family member, perhaps? Presently, I am beginning the very lengthy process of scanning each page, as well as loose items that were placed between pages. Eventually this item will be on view in its entirety at our Charlie Chan family Home for all to see and enjoy.
“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 at the Circus.”
