Magic Lantern Video & Book StoreCharlie Chan
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short history links Charlie Chan movies
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| ![Honolulu homicide detective Charlie Chan, as played by Swedish actor Warner Oland [1879-1938]](images/CharlieChanWO.jpg "Honolulu homicide detective Charlie Chan, as played by Swedish actor Warner Oland [1879-1938]") |
"Persistence. That's the secret of a good detective."
— Earl Derr Biggers
The character of Charlie Chan, a proverb-spouting Chinese-American homicide detective
based in Honolulu, Hawaii was created by Earl Derr Biggers in 6 novels [1925-32]
and appeared in 60+ movies [1931-81] and a televison series [1957-58].
Keye Luke began as Number One Son Lee in 1935; Layne Tom Jr. first appeared as subteen Number 5 Son Willy in 1937 (and three more times); Victor Sen Yung came in as Number Two Son Jimmy with Sidney Toler in 1938 (13 films), then played Number 3 Son Tommy (5 films); Frances Chan appeared as daughter Frances in only one film, 1944's "Black Magic"; Edwin Luke played Number 4 Son Eddie just once in 1945's "Jade Mask"; and Benson Fong played Number 3 Son Tommy 4 times (1945-46). The Chan family appears en masse in "At The Circus" [1936].
The humble and proverb-quoting persona of Charlie Chan was established in the novels; three films based on a novel - two silents in 1926 & 1927, a sound film in 1929 - were produced before the 16 successful films starring Warner Oland, (1931-37) that were made at Fox. More-or-less innocent (or unconscious) racism was included in the films from the beginning, which many today find hard to take; the addition of Afro-American sidekick Mantan Moreland in later years did not help.
When Oland died, the series was continued with Sidney Toler (1938-46); 11 films were made at Fox before post-war jitters about Asians as film stars found the Chan series moved to B-movie studio Monogram, which made 11 more films starring Toler. Upon his death from cancer, Monogram brought in Roland Winters, who made 6 films (1947-49); the budgets got smaller and the scripts got worse, and the Charlie Chan series of films ended.
Several radio series aired from 1932 to 1948; one such program was serialized scripts based on the novels. A half-hour TV series starring J. Carrol Naish ran for 39 episodes in 1957-58. An animated TV series ran for 16 episodes in 1972 with Key Luke as Charlie's voice.
Since 1949, only a few attempts were made to make Charlie Chan feature films or TV movies. One in 1981 starred Sir Peter Ustinov. Asian-American film star Lucy Liu has been attached to a new film scheduled for 2011? release, where she would play Charlie's granddaughter. (Film still stuck in 'development hell' as-of 2017.)
Charlie Chan entry at Wikipedia
search on keywords 'Charlie Chan' at Internet Movie Database
Earl Derr Biggers movie credits at Internet Movie Database
Earl Derr Biggers stageplay credits at Internet Broadway Database
L i n k s
search for keywords 'Charlie Chan' on DVD {returns 120+ items} at Amazon
'Charlie Chan Family Home & Gallery' fansite
KAS's Charlie Chan fansite {Flash only}
Marv Lachman's Charlie Chan fanpage
Honolulu Chinatown's Charlie Chan fanpage
![Charlie Chan & Number 1 Son in "Charlie Chan At The Racetrack" [1936]](images/CChan_racetrack.jpg "Charlie Chan & Number 1 Son in \"Charlie Chan At The Racetrack\" [1936]")
Charlie Chan has been portrayed in motion pictures by Warner Oland, 1931-37, Sidney Toler, 1938-46, Roland Winters, 1947-49, Sir Peter Ustinov, 1981 & others,
and on television by J. Carrol Naish in the 1957 series, by Ross Martin (1973), and by Key Luke in the 1972 animated series
· ·
 | "The Charlie Chan Chanthology" DVD box set [2004]
M.G.M. b&w DVD set [6/2004] 6 disks - orig for $57.99, out of prodn/used includes "The Chinese Cat" [1944]; "Meeting At Midnight" aka "Charlie Chan in Black Magic" [1944]; "The Secret Service" [1944]; "The Jade Mask" [1945]; "The Scarlet Clue" [1945]; and "The Shanghai Cobra" [1945] |
 | "Charlie Chan Collection - Volume 1" box set [2006]
Fox color/b&w DVD box set [6/2006] 4 disks for $76.99 includes 5 feature films"Eran Trece" {"They Were Thirteen"} [1931] - the Spanish-language version of "Charlie Chan Carries On" [1931]; "Charlie Chan in London" [1934]; "Charlie Chan in Egypt" [1935]; "Charlie Chan in Paris" [1935]; and "Charlie Chan in Shanghai" [1935]; plus extras including featurettes & trailers |
 | "Charlie Chan Collection - Volume 2" box set [2006]
Fox color/b&w DVD box set [12/2006] 4 disks for $66.14 includes 4 feature films: "Charlie Chan At The Circus" [1936]; "Charlie Chan At The Opera" [1936]; "Charlie Chan At The Race Track" [1936]; and "Charlie Chan At The Olympics" [1937]; plus extras including featurettes & trailers |
 | "Charlie Chan Collection - Volume 3" box set [2007]
Fox color/b&w DVD box set [8/2007] 4 disks - out of prodn/used $61.94 includes 5 feature films: "Behind That Curtain" [1929] starring E.L. Park as Chan; "The Black Camel" [1931]; "Charlie Chan's Secret" [1936]; "Charlie Chan On Broadway" [1937]; and "Charlie Chan At Monte Carlo" [1937]; plus extras including docufilms "Charlie Chan & The Rise of The Modern Detective", "The World of Charlie Chan", "Chanograms: The Aphorisms of Charlie Chan" and "Charlie Chan Is Missing" |
 | "Charlie Chan Collection - Volume 4" box set [2008]
Fox color/b&w DVD box set [2/2008] 4 disks for $81.99 includes 4 feature films: "Charlie Chan in Honolulu" [1938], "Charlie Chan In Reno" [1939], "Charlie Chan At Treasure Island" [Sept 1939], and "City In Darkness" [Nov 1939] also starring Cesar Romero; plus many extras, including doumentary shorts about Sidney Toler & villainess Kay Linaker |
 | "Charlie Chan Collection - Volume 5" box set [2008]
Fox color/b&w DVD box set [9/2008] 8 disks for $154.99 includes 7 feature films: "Charlie Chan In Panama" [1940]; "Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise" [1940]; "Charlie Chan At The Wax Museum" [1940]; "Murder Over New York" [1940]; "Dead Men Tell" [1941]; "Charlie Chan In Rio" [1941]; "Castle In The Desert" [1942]; plus bonus disk with docu-mentary "Charlie Chan: The Fox Years" |
 | "Charlie Chan Collection, Volumes 1-5" DVD Box Set [2009] includes 25 feature films on 24 disks, plus many extras; pricing in mid-2011 saves $27 over purchasing sets 1 thru 5 separately; increased 2021 pricing is roughly a $62 saving versus the five sets Fox DVD set [6/2009] 24? disks - out of prodn/used |
 | "T.C.M. Spotlight: Charlie Chan Collection" DVD Box Set [2010]
Warner Home Video DVD set [6/2010] 4 disks for $28.49 contains 4 feature films: three starring Sidney Toler: "Dark Alibi" [1946], "Dangerous Money" [1946] & "The Trap" [1946]; and one starring Roland Winters: "The Chinese Ring" [1947]; no extras |
 | "Charlie Chan 5 Pack" DVD Box Set [2011?]
T.G.G. Direct b&w DVD set [undated] 2 disks - out of prodn/SOLD OUT ! includes "The Chinese Cat" [1944]; "The Secret Service" [1944]; "The Jade Mask" [1945]; "The Scarlet Clue" [1945]; and "The Shanghai Cobra" [1945] [NOTE: five movies same as on the out-of-production "Chanthology" set above, with omission of "Meeting At Midnight" aka "Charlie Chan in Black Magic" [1944] |
 | "Charlie Chan Collection" DVD Box Set [2013]
Warner Brothers b&w DVD set [8/2013] 4 disks for $22.87 contains 4 feature films from Monogram Pictures: "Shadows Over Chinatown" [1946] starring Sidney Toler; and three movies starring Roland Winters: "Docks of New Orleans" [1948]; "The Shanghai Chest" [1948]; and "The Golden Eye" [1948] |
 | "Charlie Chan 3-Film Collection" DVD Box Set [2016]
Warner Archive Collxn b&w DVD set [6/2016] 2 disks for $19.29 contains 3 feature films from Monogram Pictures: "Red Dragon" [1945] starring Sidney Toler; and two movies starring Roland Winters: "The Feathered Serpent" [1948]; and "The Sky Dragon" [1949] |
"The House Without A Key" 10-chapter silent serial [Pathιserial Nov 1926]
 | A strait-laced young bond trader comes to Honolulu to bring his uncle back to Boston; among the surprises in Hawai'i are his uncle's murder and the Chinese-American police detective who solves the case; episode titles: 1. The Spite Fence, 2. The Mystery, Box 3. The Missing Numeral, 4. Suspicion, 5. The Death Buoy, 6. Sinister Shadows, 7. The Mystery Man, 8. The Spotted Menace, 9. The Wrist Watch, 10. The Culprit Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet; adapted by Frank Leon Smith; starring George Kuwa {as Chan}, Allene Ray, Walter Miller, E.H. Calvert, Betty Caldwell, Natalie Warfield, Jack Pratt, William Bailey, Frank Lackteen, Harry Semels, Charles West, John Cossar, Scott Seaton, Cliff Saum, John Webb Dillion, Shia Jung considered to be a 'lost' film, video/DVD not available credits at IMDb |
"The Chinese Parrot" [Universal Oct 1927 silent feature]
A wealthy eccentric in the California desert buys a string of pearls, and Charlie helps transport them to him; after the killing of a parrot
and of the Chinese houseboy, Charlie masquerades as a pidgin-speaking Chinese cook Directed by Paul Leni; starring Sτjin Kamiyama {as Chan},
Anna May Wong considered to be a 'lost' film, video/DVD not available
full credits at IMDb
movie entry at Wikipedia
"Behind That Curtain" [Fox June 1929]
The detective hired to investigate a shady groom is murdered, and the couple marry & run off to India. The bride
soon realizes that her new husband is a liar and a drunk, and asks a friend to help her flee back to San Francisco.
Directed by Irving Cummings; starring E.L. Park {as Chan}, Warner Baxter & Boris Karloff
color/b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 3 (above)
full credits from IMDb
"Charlie Chan Carries On" [Fox April 1931]
 | The death of a wealthy American in a London hotel leads Scotland Yard's Insp. Duff to a cruise ship in Honolulu; he is wounded there, and Charlie Chan takes over the case Directed by Hamilton MacFadden; starring Warner Oland {as Chan}, Peter Gawthorne, John Garrick, Marguerite Churchill, Warren Hymer, Marjorie White, C. Henry Gordon, William Holden & George Brent
considered to be a 'lost' film video/DVD not available full credits from IMDb |
"Eran Trece" {"They Were Thirteen"}
[Fox Spanish-language version Dec 1931]
An early example of Simultaneous Bilingual Film Production: The "Charlie Chan Carries On" script was translated
by Josι Lσpez Rubio, and the same sets were used for filming, with a different cast & crew. Insp. Duff of Scotland
Yard is wounded on a cruise ship in Honolulu, so his friend Charlie Chan takes over Duff's serial murder case.
Directed by David Howard; starring Manuel Arbσ {as Chan} & Rafael Calvo
b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 1 (above)
full credits from IMDb
"The Black Camel" [Fox June 1931]
 | A movie star filming in Honolulu consults famed psychic Tanaverro about an offer of marriage, and he confronts her about an unsolved murder three years earlier; next day, she is found shot to death in her beach-front pavilion.
Directed by Hamilton MacFadden; starring Warner Oland {as Chan}, Dorothy Revier, William Post Jr., Sally Eilers, Otto Yamaoka & Bela Lugosi
b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 3 (above) 11"x17" poster from Amazon for $9.99 27"x40" poster from Amazon for $19.99 full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan's Chance" [Fox Jan 1932]
  | Charlie Chan survives an attempt on his life, and someone else dies; he must outguess Scotland Yard and the N.Y.P.D. to solve the case. Directed by John G. Blystone; based on "Behind The Curtain"; starring Warner Oland {as Chan}, H.B. Warner & James Kirkwood
considered to be a 'lost' film video/DVD not available 11"x17" 'yellow circle' poster from Amazon for $9.99 11"x17" blue poster from Amazon for $9.99 full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan's Greatest Case" [Fox Sept 1933]
 | A strait-laced young bond trader comes to Honolulu to bring his uncle back to Boston; among the surprises in Hawaii are his uncle's murder and the Chinese-American police detective who solves the case. Directed by Hamilton MacFadden; based on "The House Without A Key"; starring Warner Oland {as Chan} considered to be a 'lost' film video/DVD not available 11"x17" poster from Amazon for $9.99 full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan's Courage" [Fox July 1934]
 | Hired to deliver a pearl necklace to a millionaire at his California ranch, Chan arrives after a murder and disguises himself as a Chinese servant.
Directed by Eugene Forde & George Hadden; script by Seton I. Miller, based on "The Chinese Parrot" novel; starring Warner Oland {as Chan}, Paul Harvey, Si Jenks, Drue Leyton, Donald Woods, Murray Kinnell, Jerry Jerome, Harvey Clark & Francis Ford considered to be a 'lost' film video/DVD not available full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan In London" [Fox Sept 1934]
 | A young socialite asks Charlie for help proving her brother innocent of the murder of a weapons inventor; Chan agrees though he has but 65 hours before the man's pending execution. Directed by Eugene Forde; starring Warner Oland {as Chan}, Drue Leyton, Ray Milland, Mona Barrie, Douglas Walton & Alan Mowbray
b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 1 (above) 11"x17" poster from Amazon for $9.99 full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan In Egypt" [Fox June 1935]
 |
An archealogical dig has discovered an undisturbed Egyptian tomb and the sponsors bring in detective Charlie Chan when artifacts appear on the black market and the expedition leader disappears. Directed by Louis King; starring Warner Oland {as Chan}, Pat Paterson, Thomas Beck, Rita Hayworth, Jameson Thomas, Frank Conroy, Nigel De Brulier, Paul Porcasi, James Eagles, George Irving & Stepin Fetchit
b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 1 (above) full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan In Paris" [Fox Jan 1935]
 | Charlie & Number One Son investigate forged bonds from a Paris bank; complications include the banker's daughter's arrest for the murder of a corrupt bank officer, who was her blackmailing former lover Directed by Lewis Seiler; starring Warner Oland (as Chan}, Keye Luke, Mary Brian, Dorothy Appleby, Erik Rhodes, Ruth Peterson, John Miljan, Thomas Beck & Murray Kinnell
b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 1 (above) Fox b&w VHS [9/98] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan In Shanghai" [Fox Oct 1935]
 | At a banquet in Shanghai, China a government official confides to Charlie that he has discovered sinister activities, and is then murdered by a booby-trapped box; investigation leads to an opium-smuggling ring and attempts to kidnap and then murder Chan. Directed by James Tinling; starring Warner Oland (as Chan}, Keye Luke, Irene Hervey, Jon Hall, Russell Hicks, Halliwell Hobbes & Frederick Vogeding
color/b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 1 (above) 11"x17" poster from Amazon for $9.99 27"x40" poster from Amazon for $19.99 full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan At The Circus"
[Fox March 1936]
 | On vacation with his wife & twelve children, Charlie visits a circus just as someone murders one of the owners Directed by Harry Lachman; starring Warner Oland (as Chan}, Keye Luke, Boothe Howard, Drue Leyton, Maxine Reiner, George & Olive Brasno, Francis Ford, J. Carrol Naish & Shia Jung
b&w DVD available as part of color/b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 2 (above) 11"x17" poster from Amazon for $9.99 full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan At The Opera"
[Fox Dec 1936]
 | Charlie tracks a homicidal amnesiac to the opera, and tries to prevent further murders by working with a resentful police detective. When the diva and her baritone lover are killed, Chan suspects that the culprit was not the maniac. {The opera Carnival was composed for the picture by Oscar Levant.} Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone; starring Warner Oland (as Chan}, Boris Karloff, Keye Luke, Charlotte Henry, Thomas Beck, Margaret Irving, William Demarest, Gregory Gaye, Nedda Harrigan, Guy Usher & Frank Conroy
b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 2 (above) Fox b&w VHS [9/98] out of prodn/used 11"x17" poster from Amazon for $9.99 full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan At The Race Track"
[Fox Aug 1936]
 | While aboard a steamer from Hawaii to the mainland, the owner of a race horse is supposedly kicked to death in the horse's stall, but Charlie doesn't think so Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone; starring Warner Oland (as Chan}, Keye Luke, Helen Wood, Thomas Beck, Gloria Roy, Jonathan Hale, G.P. Huntley, George Irving, Alan Dinehart, Gavin Muir & John Henry Allen
b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 2 (above) 11"x17" poster from Amazon for $9.99 27"x40" poster from Amazon for $19.99 full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan's Secret" [Fox Jan 1936]
 | A yacht sank off Honolulu several years prior, and the millionaire owner was presumed dead; but his elderly heir in California believes that the man is not dead, and hires Chan to investigate. Directed by Gordon Wiles; starring Warner Oland (as Chan}, Rosina Lawrence, Charles Quigley, Henrietta Crosman, Gloria Roy, Edward Trevor, Astrid Allwyn & Herbert Mundin b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 3 (above) Fox b&w VHS [9/98] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan On Broadway"
[Fox Sept 1937]
 | A material witness in a political scandal returns to America on the same transatlantic liner as Chan & son Lee; the ship is met at the pier by a police detective and two news reporters. The girl escapes and is murdered at a nightclub, a second body is discovered in Charlie's hotel room, and the girl's diary is missing.
Directed by Eugene Forde; starring Warner Oland {as Chan}, Keye Luke, Louise Henry, Douglas Fowley, Harold Huber, Joan Marsh, J. Edward Bromberg, Donald Woods, Joan Woodbury & Leon Ames b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 3 (above) 11"x17" poster from Amazon for $9.99 27"x40" poster from Amazon for $19.99 full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan At Monte Carlo"
[Fox Dec 1937]
 | After visiting a casino in Monte Carlo, Chan and his son discover the body of a courier for a feuding financier met earlier Directed by Eugene Forde; starring Warner Oland {as Chan}, Keye Luke, Sidney Blackmer, Edward Raquello, Virginia Field, Harold Huber & George Lynn
b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 3 (above) 11"x17" poster from Amazon for $9.99 full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan At The Olympics"
[Fox May 1937]
 | Number One Son Lee is a member of the U.S. swim team at the Berlin Olympics, where Charlie is asked to help identify a spy ring Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone; starring Warner Oland {as Chan}, Keye Luke, Katherine deMille, Pauline Moore, Layne Tom Jr., Frederick Vogeding, Morgan Wallace & Allan 'Rocky' Lane
b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 2 (above) 11"x17" poster from Amazon for $14.99 full credits from IMDb |
here the actor portraying Charlie Chan changes from Warner Oland to Sidney Toler
"Charlie Chan In Honolulu"
[Fox Dec 1938]
 | Son Tommy gets the phone call asking for assistance with a murder on an outbound passenger ship, and impersonates Charlie until 'Pop' arrives and straightens the mess and solves the case. Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Victor Sen Yung, Phyllis Brooks, Eddie Collins, John 'Dusty' King, Claire Dodd, George Zucco, Robert Barrat, Marc Lawrence & Layne Tom Jr. b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 4 (above) full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan In Reno" [Fox May 1939]
 |
A woman staying in Reno, Nevada to get a divorce is jailed for the murder of a fellow guest; her boyfriend asks pal Charlie Chan for help
Directed by Norman Foster; based on the story "Death Makes A Decree" by Philip Wylie; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Victor Sen Yung, Ricardo Cortez, Phyllis Brooks, Slim Summerville, Kane Richmond, Pauline Moore, Eddie Collins, Kay Linaker, Louise Henry & Robert Lowery
b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 4 (above) full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan At Treasure Island"
[Fox Sept 1939]
 | At the historic Exposition held on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay, Charlie investigates the supposed suicide of a novelist friend.
Directed by Norman Foster; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Victor Sen Yung, Cesar Romero, Douglas Fowley, Pauline Moore, June Gale, Douglass Dumbrille, Sally Blane, Billie Seward, Wally Vernon, Donald MacBride & Gerald Mohr
b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 4 (above) full credits from IMDb |
"City In Darkness" [Fox Nov 1939]
 |
Charlie visits war-threatened Paris, France for a reunion with friends from The World War, and a munitions manufacturer is murdered Directed by Herbert I. Leeds; based on a Ladislas Fodor play; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Harold Huber, C. Henry Gordon, Leo G. Carroll, Lon Chaney Jr., Douglass Dumbrille, Pedro de Cordoba, Lynn Bari & Richard Clarke
b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 4 (above) full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan In Panama" [Fox March 1940]
 | Charlie impersonates a dealer in Panama hats to foil an espionage plot to trap a U.S. Navy fleet inside the Panama Canal Directed by Norman Foster; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Victor Sen Yung, Jean Rogers, Lionel Atwill, Mary Nash, Kane Richmond, Chris-Pin Martin, Lionel Royce, Helen Ericson & Jack La Rue
b&w DVD available as part of box set Volume 5 (above) full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise" [Fox May 1940]
 | Following the murder of a Scotland Yard inspector traveling aboard a cruise ship bound from Honolulu to San Francisco, Chan ecounters four more murders Directed by Eugene Forde; based on "Charlie Chan Carries On"; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Victor Sen Yung, Robert Lowery, Marjorie Weaver, Lionel Atwill, Don Beddoe, Leo G. Carroll, Cora Witherspoon, Leonard Mudie, Harlan Briggs, Kay Linaker & Layne Tom Jr.
full credits from IMDb
11"x17" poster from Amazon for $9.99 27"x40" poster from Amazon for $19.99 b&w DVD now available as part of box set Volume 5 (above) watch full movie [2/2021 upload; 1:15:53] online at YouTube |
"Charlie Chan At The Wax Museum"
[Fox Sept 1940]
 | Charlie & Number Two Son track an arch criminal to a wax museum that contains statues of such crime figures as Jack the Ripper, Bluebeard the Pirate & famous detective Charlie Chan; the museum is run by a demented doctor who also performs plastic surgery on the side Directed by Lynn Shores; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Victor Sen Yung, C. Henry Gordon, Marc Lawrence, Joan Valerie, Marguerite Chapman & Ted Osborne
11"x17" poster from Amazon for $9.99 27"x40" poster from Amazon for $19.99 b&w DVD now available as part of box set Volume 5 (above) Fox b&w VHS [9/98] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb |
"Murder Over New York" [Fox Dec 1940]
 | Traveling to a police convention in New York City, Chan meets a former Scotland Yard investigator chasing a suspected saboteur; the Brit cop dies during a dinner party from poison gas, and Chan asks the host to assemble the guests for interrogation Directed by Harry Lachman; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Victor Sen Yung, Ricardo Cortez, Donald MacBride, Melville Cooper, Joan Valerie, Kane Richmond, Marjorie Weaver, Robert Lowery, Leyland Hodgson, Clarence Muse, Frederick Worlock, John Sutton & Lal Chand Mehra
b&w DVD now available as part of box set Volume 5 (above) Fox b&w VHS [9/98] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb |
"Dead Men Tell" [Fox March 1941]
 | An elderly woman on a sailing ship cruise cuts a treasure map into four pieces and then is (literally) scared to death by the supposed ghost of her pirate ancestor Black Hook Directed by Harry Lachman; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Victor Sen Yung, Sheila Ryan, Robert Weldon, Donald Douglas, Kay Aldridge, Paul McGrath, George Reeves & Truman Bradley
b&w DVD now available as part of box set Volume 5 (above) full credits from IMDb |
"Charlie Chan In Rio" [Fox Aug 1941]
 | Charlie & son chase a suspect to Rio de Janiero and find their quarry recently murdered Directed by Harry Lachman; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Victor Sen Yung, Victor Jory, Mary Beth Hughes, Cobina Wright, Kay Linaker, Harold Huber, Ted North, Richard Derr, Jacqueline Dalya, Truman Bradley & Hamilton MacFadden b&w DVD now available as part of box set Volume 5 (above) Fox b&w VHS [9/98] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb |
"Castle In The Desert" [Fox Feb 1942]
 | After the murder by poison of a guest at a castle rebuilt in the Mojave Desert, Charlie and son are soon marooned with the suspects as more murders occur Directed by Harry Lachman; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Victor Sen Yung, Arleen Whelan, Richard Derr, Douglass Dumbrille, Henry Daniell, Edmund MacDonald & Lenita Lane
b&w DVD now available as part of box set Volume 5 [9/2008] 8 disks for $34.99 Fox b&w VHS [9/98] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb |
"The Secret Service" [Monogram Feb 1944]
 | A weapons scientist in Washington, DC protected by the Secret Service hosts a dinner party at his mansion and laboratory, refusing to allow agents to attend. He dies before the dinner, and an autopsy reveals that he was electrocuted. {The new Birmingham Brown character is a chauffeur of one of the guests.) Directed by Phil Rosen; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Brenson Fong, Mantan Moreland, Arthur Loft, Gwen Kenyon, Marianne Quon & George J. Lewis
M.G.M. b&w DVD [7/2004] for $12.99 M.G.M. b&w VHS [7/98] out of prodn/used 11"x17" poster from Amazon for $9.99 full credits from IMDb |
"The Chinese Cat" [Monogram May 1944]
 | Number Three Son Tommy has promised the step-daughter of a murdered man that Charlie wil help find the killer. The case leads to more murders, Birmingham Brown (now a taxi driver), stolen jewels, and a carnival funhouse hideout Directed by Phil Rosen; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Brenson Fong, Mantan Moreland, Joan Woodbury, Ian Keith, Sam Flint, Cy Kendall & Weldon Heyburn
M.G.M. b&w DVD [7/2004] for $12.99 M.G.M. b&w VHS [7/98] out of prodn/used 11"x17" poster from Amazon for $9.99 27"x40" poster from Amazon for $19.99 full credits from IMDb |
"Black Magic" [Monogram Aug 1944]
{later TV title "Meeting At Midnight"}
 | Birmingham gets a job as butler to two shady psychics, and Charlie's daughter Frances attends a seance out of curiosity; the seer is murdered, Frances is suspect, no bullet can be found, and the hypnotized wife jumps off an office building Directed by Phil Rosen; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Frances Chan, Mantan Moreland, Joseph Crehan, Helen Beverly & Jacqueline deWit
M.G.M. b&w DVD [7/2004] for $12.99 M.G.M. b&w VHS [7/98] out of prodn/used 11"x17" poster from Amazon for $9.99 full credits from IMDb |
"The Jade Mask" [Monogram Jan 1945]
 | An eccentric scientist living in a spooky mansion seems to have been murdered – or was he? Directed by Phil Rosen; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Edwin Luke, Mantan Moreland, Hardie Albright, Frank Reicher, Janet Warren, Cyril Delevanti, Al Bridge & Ralph Lewis b&w DVD available as part of Chanthology 6-disk box set {above} M.G.M. b&w DVD [7/2004] for $12.99 M.G.M. b&w VHS [7/98] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb |
"The Scarlet Clue" [Monogram May 1945]
 | Charlie trails a foreign spy who has killed once already to a radio station in the same building as a secret war-weapons laboratory Directed by Phil Rosen; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Benson Fong, Mantan More-land, Ben Carter, Virginia Brissac, Robert Homans, Jack Norton, Janet Shaw, Helen Deverell & Victoria Faust
b&w DVD available as part of Chanthology 6-disk box set {above} M.G.M. b&w DVD [7/2004] for $12.99 M.G.M. b&w VHS [7/98] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb |
"The Shanghai Cobra" [Monogram Sept 1945]
 | Someone is attempting to steal radium stored in a bank; three bank employees are found dead of cobra venom, and a detective disguised as a bank guard is found dead in a tunnel connected to the sewer system Directed by Phil Karlson; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Benson Fong, Mantan Moreland, James Cardwell, Joan Barclay, Addison Richards, Arthur Loft, Janet Warren, Gene Roth & George Chandler
b&w DVD available as part of Chanthology 6-disk box set [4/2006] for $149.95 M.G.M. b&w DVD [7/2004] out of prodn/used M.G.M. b&w VHS [7/98] for $9.99 full credits from IMDb movie entry at Wikipedia watch full b&W movie [8/2017 upload; 1:04:46] online at YouTube |
"Red Dragon" [Monogram Dec 1945]
 | A spy seeking atomic bomb secrets has killed three times in Mexico using 'remote-controlled bullets' Directed by Phil Rosen; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Benson Fong, Willie Best {replacing Mantan Moreland}, Fortunio Bonanova, Carol Hughes, Barton Yarborough, Don Costello, George Meeker & Marjorie Hoshelle
video/DVD not available full credits from IMDb |
"Dark Alibi" [Monogram May 1946]
 | The daughter of a man framed for a bank robbery & murder appeals to Chan for help. Directed by Phil Karlson; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Benson Fong, Mantan Moreland, Ben Carter, Teala Loring, George Holmes, Joyce Compton, John Eldredge, Russell Hicks, Tim Ryan, Janet Shaw, Anthony Warde & George Eldredge video/DVD not available full credits from IMDb |
"Shadows Over Chinatown" [Monogram June 1946]
 | On the liner to San Francisco, Chan meets a woman looking for her missing daughter and a man looking for his missing fiancee; investigation leads to a life insurance murder ring Directed by Terry O. Morse; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Victor Sen Yung, Mantan Moreland, Tanis Chandler, John Gallaudet, Paul Bryar, Bruce Kellogg, Al Bridge, Mary Gordon, Dorothy Granger & Jack Norton
11"x17" poster from Amazon for $9.99 video/DVD not available full credits from IMDb |
"Dangerous Money" [Monogram Oct 1946]
 | Aboard a liner bound for Australia, two murders lead Chan & Number Two Son into a confrontation with a 'hot money' and stolen art ring Directed by Terry O. Morse; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan}, Victor Sen Yung, Willie Best, Gloria Warren, Rick Vallin, Joseph Allen, Dick Elliott, Joseph Crehan, John Harmon & Bruce Edwards
video/DVD not available full credits from IMDb |
"The Trap" [Monogram Nov 1946]
 | Showgirls sharing a rented Malibu beachhouse find a body Directed by Howard Bretherton; starring Sidney Toler {as Chan} & Victor Sen Yung, Mantan Moreland, Tanis Chandler, Larry J. Blake, Kirk Alyn, Rita Quigley, Barbara Jean Wong & Minerva Urecal
video/DVD not available full credits from IMDb |
[continued]
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Earl Derr Biggers [1884-1933] Charlie Chan Novels Works About Charlie Chan
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