FROM CHARLIE CHAN: “Sometimes must strike innocent to trap guilty.”

GREETINGS! This week we follow Charlie Chan to “The Biggest Little City in the World,” Reno, as he comes to the aid of a friend in need! Can he cut through the tangled threads of a case to clear an innocent person of a murder charge?

OUR CHAT ROOM: Our Chat Room can be accessed the same way that we accessed by going to our “Chat Room” link at charliechan.info, or use this direct link: http://www.charliechan.info/id17.html

THIS WEEK’S PRESENTATION: “Charlie Chan in Reno” (1939; 70 minutes); along with our “extra,” a Charlie Chan radio mystery, “The Landini Murder Case: A New Clue”. (1936; 15 minutes).

FEATURE INTRODUCTION: 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.

FEATURE 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.

CAST (as credited):

Sidney Toler: Charlie Chan
Ricardo Cortez: Dr. Ainsley
Phyllis Brooks: Vivian Wells
Slim Summerville: Sheriff ["Tombstone"] Fletcher
Kane Richmond: Curtis Whitman
Sen Yung: James [Jimmy] Chan
Pauline Moore: Mary Whitman [Mrs. Curtis Whitman]
Eddie Collins: Cab Driver
Kay Linaker: Mrs. Russell
Louise Henry: Jeanne Bentley
Robert Lowrey: Wally Burke
Charles D. Brown: Chief of Police King
Iris Wong: Choy Wong
Morgan Conway: George Bentley
Hamilton MacFadden: Night Clerk

UNCREDITED CAST (alphabetical):

Jimmy Aubrey: Wisecracker in Lineup
Brooks Benedict: Man in Line-up
Stanley Blystone: Lineup Officer [Mack]
Heinie Conklin: Police Officer
Alphonso DuBois: Waiter
Jerry Frank: Bar Patron
Bob Hale: Jones
Chuck Hamilton: Police Officer
Harry Hayden: Chemistry Professor
Dick Hogan: College Student [Jack]
Fred Kelsey: Reno Police Desk Sergeant
Al Kikume: Honolulu Police Officer
Barbara McLain: College Student
Frank McLure: Gambler
Hank Mann: "Injured" Con Man/Casino Extra
Imboden Parrish
Jack Perry: Rough Drunk ["Mr. Jones"]
Arthur Rankin: Bellhop
Fred Rapport: Man in Lineup
Virginia Sale: Maid
Robert Shaw: College Student
Allen D. Sewell: Lineup Spectator
Ed Stanley: Police Chemist
Blue Washington: Man in Lineup
FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION ON OUR FEATURE: Please go to http://www.charliechan.info/id36.html

TRIVIA: To get from his college (U.S.C.) in Los Angeles to Reno, Jimmy Chan would have driven much of the way on the well-known Highway 395.

THIS WEEK’S TERM: bub - (Slang) Used as a term of familiar address, especially for a man or boy.

Tombstone Fletcher: "What's your name, bub?"

THIS WEEK’S IMAGE: After Choy Wong finds Mrs. Bentley's riding boots, Jimmy Chan notes that the presence of mud and scratches, indicating she had spent time off her horse.



For a viewing of more than 500 images from ALL films in the Charlie Chan series and MORE, please visit our Gallery: http://www.charliechan.info/id448.html

IF YOU LACK A COPY OF OUR FILM: Often our features can be found online. CONTINUED HAPPINESS! “Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo” IS AVAILABLE online! You may access it above at “THIS WEEK’S PRESENTATION” and also at our Chat Room as a link.

OUR MONTHLY POLL: Please take a moment to cast your vote in our APRIL 2021 POLL, right here: May 2021 Poll

OUR APRIL POLL RESULT:

QUESTION: Do you think a Charlie Chan film could be made today?

Yes 75%

No 25%

DO YOU HAVE A POLL QUESTION? You are invited to suggest a Monthly Poll question! Send your ideas to: charliechanfamily@lyahoo.com.

OUR CCF CHAT ARCHIVE: Please take a look at our growing collection of CCF Chat Texts from previous years and this year: http://www.charliechan.info/id830.html

NEXT WEEK: “Charlie Chan at Treasure Island”

OUR CHARLIE CHAN FAMILY NEWSLETTER for this year!

This is our third annual Charlie Chan Family Newsletter! It contains the work of a number of Charlie Chan Family members and friends. Thank you so much to Lou Armagno, aka, HonoluLou, who has put together and published yet another masterpiece! Please use this link to access this year's newsletter which covers the year 2020. Please enjoy!

AND… DON’T MISS THIS GREAT CHARLIE CHAN BLOG!: AND… DON’T MISS THIS GREAT CHARLIE CHAN BLOG!: A great blog site, The Postman on Holiday, is offered by our own Charlie Chan and Earl Derr Biggers expert, Lou Armagno which is: "A place to explore all things surrounding Detective Charlie Chan, his creator Earl Derr Biggers, and their connection with Hawaii, Cleveland, and mystery fiction." Updated each month, it can be found at this address: www.thepostmanonholiday.com

SO, REMEMBER, PLEASE JOIN US for this week’s feature, “Charlie Chan in Reno.”

THANK YOU SO MUCH…

Sincerely,

Rush Glick