Our Monday Evening Chat/Film Viewing: "The Jade Mask" (and more...)
FROM CHARLIE CHAN: “No barber shave so close but another barber find some work to do.”
On Monday, as we continue our travels through the Charlie Chan film series, we will be watching and sharing The Jade Mask, staring Sidney toler as Charlie Chan, and featuring Mantan Moreland as Birmingham Brown, and introducing number Four son, Edward, played by Keye Luke’s brother, Edwin Luke! In this adventure, Charlie Chan, Birmingham, and Edward (“Don’t call me Eddie!”) work to solve a very perplexing and complicated case of murder…actually murders! The body count mounts as the solution is yet to be uncovered!
Also, we will be sharing, before our featured film presentation, an “extra.” This week our extra consists of another featurette from the 20th Century-Fox Charlie Chan DVD sets: “Layne Tom, Jr.: The Adventures of Charlie Chan, Jr.” which is found on the “Charlie Chan at the Olympics” Fox disc.
OUR PRESENTATIONS: “The Jade Mask” (1944); runtime: 66 minutes…AND “Layne Tom, Jr.: The Adventures of Charlie Chan, Jr.” (2006); total runtime: 11:57.
FILM SUMMARY: Charlie Chan is assigned by the government to investigate the murder of Harper, an eccentric scientist who had been experimenting with a formula that could turn wood into a substance as hard as steel. Chan, with Number Four Son, Edward and Birmingham Brown in tow finds himself in a strange that is teeming with an odd assortment of suspects, virtually all having a possible motive to do away with Harper. Several additional murders occur as the detective closes in on his quarry.
TIME: We begin with arrivals and greetings at 7:30 EASTERN TIME. Then, we share our special short “extras” which will be followed at exactly 8:15 when we roll our feature, “The Jade Mask.”
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, our feature is presently available at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcTtjoSMkDQ
OF NOTE: The working title of this film was “Mystery Mansion.” The title card on the print reads: Charlie Chan in "The Jade Mask." Early ‘Hollywood Reporter’ production charts include Russell Simpson in the cast, but it is unlikely that he appeared in the released film. The ‘Variety’ review mistakenly identifies Edwin Luke's role as Tommy in the accompanying list of credits. Edwin Luke, who played Edward Chan in this picture, was the younger brother of actor Keye Luke, who had previously played son Lee Chan in numerous films in this series.
AND, SOME GOOD NEWS: I have tracked down a site on the Internet which features ALL 16 of the episodes from “The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan” cartoon series, featuring Keye Luke as the voice of Charlie Chan! To access these episodes, please go to the following link which takes you to the first episode. From there you can click “Next” for Episode Two, and so on, or, if you scroll down, you may choose from any of the other episodes! Here is the link: http://www.toon.is/the-amazing-chan-and-the-chan-clan-01-the-crown-jewel-caper-video_323e82e4e.html Please enjoy!
SO, please enjoy your Monday, and let’s return to our humble, yet friendly, Chat Room at our House on Punchbowl Hill for another fun, Chan-filled evening!
