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Post by llanwydd on May 19, 2020 18:28:52 GMT
Started a sort of slow chronological binge-watch of the Charlie Chan films a few days ago beginning with the first. I am watching one a day and I am up to Charlie Chan in Paris (1935) which I really enjoyed. I started to watch one when I was a kid and I liked Warner Oland a lot and Keye Luke even more but the story did not hold my interest for very long. I am liking these films now, though. Would any of you folks tell me which one you think is the best of the series?
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Post by mattgarth on May 19, 2020 18:49:42 GMT
Of the Olands -- CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA (1937) with Boris Karloff
Of the Tolers -- CHARLIE CHAN AT TREASURE ISLAND (1939)
enjoy the viewing
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Post by politicidal on May 19, 2020 21:39:57 GMT
Haven’t seen any. More of a Mr. Moto guy.
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Post by jervistetch on May 19, 2020 23:18:45 GMT
Where can you watch them?
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Post by Doghouse6 on May 19, 2020 23:45:49 GMT
One man's "best" may always be another's "meh," but for personal enjoyment and re-watchability, I prefer Oland's earliest surviving one, The Black Camel, and his last, Charlie Chan At Monte Carlo.
Camel features not only extensive Honolulu location work along with good chemistry between Oland and Bela Lugosi, but a sense of freshness that waned as the series slipped into a more standardized formula. We even get to witness a rare, table-pounding outburst of temper from Chan when frustrated by his hapless assistant Kashimo.
Similar chemistry exists in Monte Carlo between Oland and Harold Huber as local Inspector Joubert, which injects welcome energy. While I regret Oland's passing, the film was a nice high note to go out on.
I'm not familiar enough with the Toler films to offer any opinions on specific ones.
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Post by Nalkarj on May 20, 2020 4:03:13 GMT
Hm, favorite Chans, OK… Oland: …in Paris (ah, Ruth Peterson! ), …in Egypt, …at the Opera. Toler: …at Treasure Island (series best, IMO), Castle in the Desert. Haven’t seen Roland Winters’ entries, which are supposed to be weak.
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Post by Nalkarj on May 20, 2020 4:05:15 GMT
Where can you watch them? If you don’t mind watching online, many are on YouTube:
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Post by mikef6 on May 20, 2020 4:08:46 GMT
I liked “In Paris” too. . It is considerable closer to film noir than most other Chan accounts in its lighting, camera angles, and danger. The mystery and its conclusion are satisfactorily complex. An innocent young woman becomes a suspect but, as Charlie points out: “Perfect case, like perfect doughnut, has hole.” If you really want to be complete in your Chan watching then you also need to see “Mr. Moto’s Gamble” (1938). This, the third of eight Mr. Moto adventures starring Peter Lorre, began life as a Charlie Chan mystery. Warner Oland had begun work on his 17th film playing the Honolulu homicide detective, Charlie Chan, when he became ill and returned to his native Sweden. He died there leaving “Charlie Chan At Ringside” unfinished. No problem, though, for Fox Studio. They just reshot the Oland footage with Lorrie and released the film as “Mr. Moto’s Gamble.” As the Chan title suggests, the mystery takes place in a boxing milieu The film even includes Keye Luke as Chan’s Number One Son, now assisting Moto. This makes “Gamble” something of an anomaly for the Moto series as it is the only straight forward detective story whereas the other seven films are crime/spy adventures.
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Post by mikef6 on May 20, 2020 4:20:37 GMT
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Post by jervistetch on May 20, 2020 5:36:09 GMT
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Post by llanwydd on May 20, 2020 17:03:54 GMT
Of the Olands -- CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA (1937) with Boris Karloff Of the Tolers -- CHARLIE CHAN AT TREASURE ISLAND (1939) enjoy the viewing The Leonard Maltin book has good reviews of those. That is my usual source for reviews. Got some great ones to look forward to. Next up is CC in Egypt.
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Post by llanwydd on May 20, 2020 17:07:43 GMT
One man's "best" may always be another's "meh," but for personal enjoyment and re-watchability, I prefer Oland's earliest surviving one, The Black Camel, and his last, Charlie Chan At Monte Carlo. Camel features not only extensive Honolulu location work along with good chemistry between Oland and Bela Lugosi, but a sense of freshness that waned as the series slipped into a more standardized formula. We even get to witness a rare, table-pounding outburst of temper from Chan when frustrated by his hapless assistant Kashimo. Similar chemistry exists in Monte Carlo between Oland and Harold Huber as local Inspector Joubert, which injects welcome energy. While I regret Oland's passing, the film was a nice high note to go out on. I'm not familiar enough with the Toler films to offer any opinions on specific ones. I saw Black Camel and I have to agree, not the standard formula for a CC film. Probably why it is underrated.
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Post by Doghouse6 on May 20, 2020 18:07:49 GMT
One man's "best" may always be another's "meh," but for personal enjoyment and re-watchability, I prefer Oland's earliest surviving one, The Black Camel, and his last, Charlie Chan At Monte Carlo. Camel features not only extensive Honolulu location work along with good chemistry between Oland and Bela Lugosi, but a sense of freshness that waned as the series slipped into a more standardized formula. We even get to witness a rare, table-pounding outburst of temper from Chan when frustrated by his hapless assistant Kashimo. Similar chemistry exists in Monte Carlo between Oland and Harold Huber as local Inspector Joubert, which injects welcome energy. While I regret Oland's passing, the film was a nice high note to go out on. I'm not familiar enough with the Toler films to offer any opinions on specific ones. I saw Black Camel and I have to agree, not the standard formula for a CC film. Probably why it is underrated. Camel was only the second feature Fox produced with Oland, so I'm sure they were still finding their way to a reliable template for economically cranking out two or three entries in the series per year. The first, Charlie Chan Carries On, as well as the next three, Charlie Chan's Chance, Charlie Chan's Greatest Case and Charlie Chan's Courage are all considered lost, so we're sadly missing the opportunity to observe the evolution occurring before 1934's Charlie Chan In London, the next earliest surviving film.
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Post by Prime etc. on May 20, 2020 20:17:14 GMT
I watched CHARLIE CHAN IN PARIS (as it was recommended here) and I think they should have swapped the lead actress with one the one in the supporting role. I watched THINK FAST, MR MOTO recently. I had heard milk promotion began in WW 2 but he asked for a glass of milk in one scene.
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Post by mikef6 on May 22, 2020 2:37:14 GMT
Eran Trece (There Were Thirteen) from 1931. Remember the “Spanish Dracula,” the movie made by Spanish speaking actors at the same time and on the same sets as the Bela Lugosi Dracula was being shot? Well, this Charlie Chan feature in Spanish was made the same way based on the fourth Chan opus, “Charlie Chan Carries On,” the first film with Warner Oland, also made in 1931. “Charlie Chan Carries On” is now considered lost. So, we are lucky to have the Spanish version, a good stand-in. We can see a version of the lost opus. Manuel Arbó (who also appeared in the Spanish Dracula) is a very good Chan.
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Post by teleadm on May 22, 2020 17:07:30 GMT
I saw Black Camel and I have to agree, not the standard formula for a CC film. Probably why it is underrated. Camel was only the second feature Fox produced with Oland, so I'm sure they were still finding their way to a reliable template for economically cranking out two or three entries in the series per year. The first, Charlie Chan Carries On, as well as the next three, Charlie Chan's Chance, Charlie Chan's Greatest Case and Charlie Chan's Courage are all considered lost, so we're sadly missing the opportunity to observe the evolution occurring before 1934's Charlie Chan In London, the next earliest surviving film. Tried around six month ago to create interest, when it was 140 years ago of Warner Oland birthdate imdb2.freeforums.net/thread/190925/warner-oland-swedish-orientalI agree that there is a loss of evolusion of the character of Charlie Chan, but don't give up hope! From what has been found until what is available.
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Post by mattgarth on May 22, 2020 17:14:05 GMT
Just visited your Oland site, Tele -- sorry I missed it the first time around.
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Post by BATouttaheck on May 23, 2020 15:11:28 GMT
Hey, mattgarth ! This might be a good theme for a future Garth Game ... whatcha think ?
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Post by mattgarth on May 23, 2020 15:16:20 GMT
Great suggestion, Bat!
I'll get right on it.
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Post by mattgarth on May 23, 2020 16:21:05 GMT
Many thanks, OP llanwydd -- you were the inspiration for today's very active Garth Game.
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