Our next Monday Evening Chat/Film Viewing: "Charlie Chan in Reno"
FROM CHARLIE CHAN: “Charming company turn lowly sandwich into rich banquet.”
As we continue along on our CHARLIE CHAN FILM TOUR 2016 we now reach the second stop on the Sidney Toler leg of our journey. “Charlie Chan in Reno” takes us to “The Biggest Little City in the World,” where we find an acquaintance of Mr. Chan who seeks a divorce from her husband who is back in Honolulu. Suddenly her mission changes as she is implicated in a murder! Charlie Chan takes on the case, seeking to prove her innocence, and, for good measure, Number Two Son, Jimmy, who is in the midst of criminology studies at USC, drives up to Reno during the Easter holidays to assist his famous pop!
As is out new custom, arriving at 7:30 Eastern Time, we will be sharing, before our featured presentation, a vintage Charlie Chan radio show. This time it will be “The Landini Murder Case” (Episode 37) which can be found on the Internet at this address: http://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com/crime/charlie-chan/charlie-chan-37-landini
SUMMARIES:
“The Landini Murder Case” – Based on the novel “Keeper of the Keys,” by Earl Derr Biggers, Inspector Chan continues his investigation of the Landini murder with several interrogations. The bullet was fired from above, Ireland, the pilot comes under suspicion.
“Charlie Chan in Reno” – Mary Whitman has gone to Reno seeking a divorce from her husband, Curtis. While there, she is arrested on suspicion of murdering a fellow guest at her hotel, an establishment that specializes in accommodating individuals who are awaiting finalized divorces. There are many others at the hotel who harbor strong feelings against the victim. At the request of Mary's estranged husband who is a friend of Charlie Chan, the detective travels from his home in Honolulu to solve the murder.
NOTES: The working title of this picture was “Death Makes a Decree,” as it was based on the story of the same name by Philip Wylie. According to materials contained at the UCLA Theater Arts Library, Paul Perez wrote a version of the screenplay in December 1938, but his name does not appear in the final credits. In the Call Bureau Cast Service lists, Sheriff Fletcher's name was originally Foster. Mrs. Russell was named Alice Williamson, and Choy Wong was named Sung Li. According to reviews in ‘Hollywood Reporter’ and ‘Motion Picture Herald,’ at the time that this picture was produced, this was the most expensive production in the Chan series.
NEW TIME: We begin with arrivals and greetings at 7:30 EASTERN TIME. Then, we share our radio program which will be followed at exactly 8:15 when we roll our featured movie: “Charlie Chan in Reno.”
LOCATION: Our Charlie Chan Family Chat Room, which is accessed at http://www.charliechan.info/id17.html.
IF YOU LACK A COPY OF OUR FILM: Often our features can be found available online. Happily, tonight’s feature IS presently available online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7w30Cv9v58
PLEASE enjoy your Monday, and let’s plan to gather together once again at our Chat Room for yet another evening of fun and discussion as we share this week’s feature film, “Charlie Chan in Reno,” staring Sidney Toler with Victor Sen Yung.
