OUR CCF MONDAY EVENING CHAT FOR January 29, 2024: “Charlie Chan in London”
CHAT NUMBER: 1,240
FROM CHARLIE CHAN: “Little things tell big story.”
THIS WEEK: We continue along our group journey, this year’s Charlie Chan Film Tour, with “Charlie Chan in London,” the first of three (arguably FOUR) connected travel adventures!
OUR CHAT ROOM: Go to our “Chat Room” page, and, at the bottom of that page, click on the “Charlie Chan Family Chat Room ENTRANCE” link. You may then enter as a “Guest,” choosing the name you wish to use.
OUR FEATURE PRESENTATION: “Charlie Chan in London” (1934; 79 minutes) Happily, this film IS available online for those who lack a personal copy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnDEdASg9VQ
FEATURE SUMMARY: When a young Englishman, Paul Gray, is convicted of murder and sentenced to hang, his sister, convinced of his innocence, asks Charlie Chan, who is visiting London, to investigate and find the real murderer. To that end, Chan visits a large country manor house in England where the killing occurred. There are a number of suspects among the large group of fox hunters who are staying at the manor, and it soon becomes clear that the killer is still actively trying to avoid capture. Charlie Chan must work fast to discover the real murderer’s identity and save Paul Gray from the gallows.
FEATURE NOTES: This was the first film in the Charlie Chan series that was not based on a particular novel by Chan’s creator, Earl Derr Biggers. The ‘New York Times’ commented that this film, written by Philip MacDonald, a noted detective novelist himself, “maintains the Chan tradition.” “Charlie Chan in London” is the second-oldest film in the Charlie Chan series that we have available to us today for viewing as the intervening three following “The Black Camel” (at this time the oldest existing title in the Charlie Chan series, as the initial picture in the series, “Charlie Chan Carries On” is considered lost as are “Charlie Chan’s Chance” (1932), “Charlie Chan’s Greatest Case” (1933), and “Charlie Chan’s Courage” (1934). Charlie Chan in London is referenced in the 2001 mystery film “Gosford Park.” It is mentioned because a fictional Hollywood producer named Morris Weissman travels to Gosford Park to do research on British customs. Actor Alan Mowbray, a cast member in “Charlie Chan in London,” is also mentioned.
THIS WEEK’S EXTRAS:
EXTRA #1: Gosford Park Official Trailer #1 - Michael Gambon Movie (2001) HD
The film that made mention of “Charlie Chan in London.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvN9Lzq05wE
Running time: 1:52
EXTRA #2: Pentonville Prison - Victorian prison. Separate system | Crime & Punishment |GCSE History
A brief history of the prison where Paul Gray was sent to await execution.
EXTRA #3: UK capital punishment (hang by the neck until death)
A description of the fate that Paul Gray was soon scheduled to face at Pentonville Prison.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE3tNwzPdng
Running time: 2:35
EXTRA #4: Charlie Chan in London (1934) Trailer
We will share this extra just prior to the running of our featured film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y81KixMyZ9A
Running time: 2:06
OUR MESSAGE BOARD: Please consider visiting our Message Board. Feel free to add a message to a post or begin a conversation…or state a thought! Our Message Board has been there for YOU since 2004!
AS ALWAYS, WE BEGIN OUR EVENING at 7:30 Eastern Time with a 45-minute block of time for arrivals and greetings, and the sharing of an extra…or two...or even three! (please see above). Then, at precisely 8:15 ET, we begin running our feature film simultaneously starting our personal or online copies of this week’s feature!
AT OUR BULLETIN BOARD: Now available! THE CHARLIE CHAN FAMILY HOME 2023 NEWSLETTER is available for your enjoyment at our “Bulletin Board” and “Study” (under the “Charlie Chan” category) at our Charlie Chan Family Home!
OUR JANUARY POLL is available on our Bulletin Board or directly at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9K53R8X
NEXT WEEK: “Charlie Chan in Paris,” featuring the first appearance of Keye Luke as Number One Son, Lee!
SO… Please join us as we share “Charlie Chan in London.”
