"Charlie Chan in Honolulu": Our film for our Monday Evening Chat/Film viewing
“Caution very good life insurance.” (Charlie Chan – “Charlie Chan in Honolulu”)
With this week, we begin the Sidney Toler era of the Charlie Chan series. With the untimely passing of Warner Oland, 20th Century-Fox was faced with a dilemma: should the series continue on, and, if so, who would become the new Charlie Chan? One possibility considered was to have Keye Luke carry on as the “Son of Charlie Chan.” For whatever reason, this didn’t come to pass. Instead, after auditioning 35 actors, Sidney Toler was chosen due to his unique take on Chan. Also, Keye Luke was not to return at Number One Son, Lee. Instead, (Victor) Sen Yung was chosen to be Number Two Son, Jimmy!
In our film, “Charlie Chan in Honolulu,” we see father and Number Two Son, and also son, Tommy, played by Layne Tom, Jr., Just how will Charlie Chan and sons fare as they seek to uncover the identity of a murderer aboard a recently arrived passenger freighter where suspects abound?
Please join us in our Chat Room which is located at our Charlie Chan Family Home: www.charliechan.info, and use any of the “Chat Room” links to join us. We begin with arrivals and greetings at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and we roll our personal copies of our film exactly 15 minutes later (8:15).
FILM NOTES: This film was the first in which Sidney Toler appeared as Charlie Chan. According to a ‘Hollywood Reporter’ news item, associate producer John Stone had chosen Toler to be the successor to Warner Oland, who had played Chan from 1931 until his death in 1938, after seeing him play a Chinese character in the Paramount film “King of Chinatown.” Toler was the thirty-fifth actor tested for the role, with ‘Hollywood Reporter’ noting that others considered for the role included Leo Carillo and Cy Kendal, who had played Chan on the radio. Toler continued to play Chan until his death in 1947. This was also the first film in which Sen Yung played Jimmy Chan. Yung had replaced Keye Luke, who had portrayed Lee Chan in earlier entries in the series. Luke left the series after Oland's death, when he and Twentieth Century-Fox disagreed on his new contract. According to Hollywood Reporter news items, the search for Luke's replacement was "frantic," and led to casting director James Ryan seeking applicants among the Los Angeles university students and Chinatown residents. The ‘New York Times’ had speculated that “Charlie Chan in Honolulu” would cost $300,000 to produce, and that Toler would receive $15,000 per Chan film. Many reviewers applauded Toler's and Yung's performances and noted that followers of the series would be satisfied with the new actors. The ‘Motion Picture Herald’ review remarked on the novelty of a Chan film being previewed at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and stated that the December 16, 1938 showing was very well received by the "top ranking executives, the most sought after reviewers and commentators and invited guests" who attended. According to a ‘Hollywood Reporter’ news item, Richard Lane was originally signed to play the "romantic lead" opposite Phyllis Brooks. A tribute to Warner Oland appears in the film “Mr. Moto's Last Warning,” starring Peter Lorre. During that picture's production in August 1938, cast and crew learned of Oland's passing in his native Sweden while on the final leg of a tour of Europe. Oland was set to resume his role as Charlie Chan upon his return in a film that was to have been “Charlie Chan in Honolulu.” In one scene during a quick passing shot over the title "Charlie Chan in Honolulu," starring Warner Oland, on the bill of the Sultana Theatre of Variety, they placed the banner "Last Day."
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.
HAPPY NEWS…this week’s film, “Charlie Chan in Honolulu,” IS available at YouTube at this address: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb-kj482U0U
NEXT WEEK (May 11) we will be sharing “Charlie Chan in Reno.”
Please have a happy and safe Monday, and let’s all get together for another Chan-filled evening of fun and sharing as we watch “Charlie Chan in Honolulu.” See you there!
