“Size of package does not indicate quality within.” (Charlie Chan – “Charlie Chan at the Circus”

Greetings! As I type this, we are in the midst of a beautiful lunar eclipse as it is visible on the West Coast. This is very auspicious, as we will be celebrating the birthday of none other than Warner Oland for this edition of our Monday Evening Chat and film Viewing! For the record, Mr. Oland was born Johan Verner Ölund on October 3, 1879 in rural village of Bjurholm, Sweden, which is located about 300 miles north of Stockholm. In celebration, we will be watching and sharing “Charlie Chan at the Circus.” What better way to honor the occasion than with the entire Chan clan?

Quick Synopsis: Charlie Chan takes his wife and twelve children, who are sightseeing on the mainland, to a circus owned by kindly John Gaines and his unscrupulous partner, Joe Kinney. Kinney, who had sent Chan free passes to bring him to the circus, tells the detective that he has been receiving threatening letters. Kinney, a man so widely disliked by his co-workers and employees, is murdered, and virtually any one might have killed him. Convinced to assist the investigation by circus performer Lady Tiny, Chan and Number One Son, Lee, travel with the circus seeking to unmask the killer.

The Facts:
Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Distributed: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, March 27, 1936
Production: Began January 6, 1936; retakes early February 1936
Copyright: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, March 27, 1936; LP64092
Opened: Center, New York, N.Y., the week of March 18, 1936
Sound: Western Electric Noiseless Recording
Film: Black and white
Length: 7 reels, 6,500 feet
Running Time: 71-72 minutes
Production Code Administration Certificate Number: 1978
Source: Based on the character "Charlie Chan" created by Earl Derr Biggers

Director: Harry Lachman
Associate Producer: John Stone
Original Screenplay: Robert Ellis and Helen Logan
Photography: Daniel B. Clark
Art Direction: Duncan Cramer
Assistant Director: William Eckhardt
Film Editor: Alex Troffey
Costumes: William Lambert
Sound: Arthur von Kirbach
Musical Direction: Samuel Kaylin
CAST

Warner Oland: Charlie Chan
Keye Luke: Lee Chan
George Brasno: [Colonel] Tim
Olive Brasno: [Lady] Tiny
Francis Ford: John Gaines
Maxine Reiner: Marie Norman
(also known as Marie Normand)
John McGuire: Hal Blake
Shirley Deane: Louise Norman
(also known as Lou; also known as Louise Normand)
Paul Stanton: Joe Kinney
J. Carrol Naish: Tom Holt
Boothe Howard: Dan Farrell
Drue Leyton: Nellie Farrell
Wade Boteler: Lieutenant Macy
Shia Jung: Su Toy
John Aasen: Circus Giant (not credited)
John Dilson: Doctor (not credited)
Franklyn Farnum: Mike (not credited)
Paul McVey: Ringmaster (not credited)
Esther Brodelet: Circus Performer (not credited)
Anita Thompson: Circus Performer (not credited)
Anna Mar: Mrs. Charlie Chan (not credited)
Florence Ung: Number One Chan Daughter (not credited)
Richard Ung: Number Two Chan Son (not credited)
Frances Hoo: Number Two Chan Daughter (not credited)
Mae Jean Quon: Number Three Chan Daughter (not credited)
Gene Hoo: Number Three Chan Son (not credited)
Stanton Mui: Number Four Chan Son (not credited)
Helen Quon: Number Four Chan Daughter (not credited)
Faye Hee: Number Five Chan Daughter (not credited)
Hippie Hoo: Number Five Chan Son (not credited)
Lily Mui: Number Six Chan Daughter (not credited)
Eunice Soo Hoo: Infant Chan Daughter (not credited)
Charles Gemora: Caesar the Ape

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.

Where: Our Charlie Chan family Chat Room, located at charliechan.info.

When: Monday evening, September 28, beginning at 5:00 Eastern time.

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, new comers 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.

To find a copy of our film online: Good news! “Charlie Chan at the Circus” may be viewed online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89MMEVNWBxg

The two errors I suggested last week made during Robert Osborne’s commentary:
LAST WEEK I mentioned two minor errors came during Mr. Osborne's commentary following the airing of the second Chan movie, "Dangerous Money." He stated correctly that Charlie Chan's Number One Son was played by Keye Luke, however, he continued by relating that Number Two Son was Played by Benson Fong, and that Number Three Son, whom we "saw" in "Dangerous Money" was played by Victor Sen Yung. (Actually, Number Three Son, Tommy, was referenced in "Dangerous Money" as having sent a cablegram to his Pop, while Number Two Son, Jimmy, assisted Mr. Chan in the movie. Robert Osborne did a GREAT job with his commentary for both films, by the way, and, of course, it is easy to confuse Chans numerous offspring as we know! (By the way, PLEASE consider sending your appreciation to TCM for the showing of these two Chan movies! You can reach them at their website: tcm.com)

THE NEW ADVENTURES OF CHARLIE CHAN: If you don’t yet have a set of these 39 wonderful half-hour crime dramas starring J. Carrol Naish and James Hong, please consider obtaining one. “The New Adventures of Charlie Chan” was produced in 1957 and takes place in many exotic locales around the world, mainly Europe. Many of the episodes were actually shot on location, offering us a glimpse of parts of the world as they were nearly 60 years ago, and we can also see how some places are much the same to this day. All this and 39 worthy mysteries as well! On occasion, we will be focusing on some of these adventures during our Monday Evening Chats, and “The New Adventures of Charlie Chan” can be found for sale throughout the Internet. Please take some time ad take a look at our information on “The New Adventures of Charlie Chan” at our Charlie Chan Family Home. I have nearly completed the task of documenting each of the stories, and, hopefully, that may be completed by summer’s end!
As always: take care, have a happy, safe Monday, and let’s gather for yet another Chan-filled night of a fine movie, as we celebrate the birthday of WARNER OLAND!

Sincerely,
Rush Glick