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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2018 15:23:56 GMT
Which of these actors was the best in portraying Charlie Chan?
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Post by Doghouse6 on Feb 1, 2018 16:25:43 GMT
Nice to see you've included E.L. Park, the first - but mostly forgotten - Chan.
Sidney Toler was well-skilled in comedy, both as foil and comic antagonist, and his dry sarcasm and gentle exasperation lent charm to his portrayal. But I went for Oland, who exuded special warmth and commitment to the role.
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Post by koskiewicz on Feb 1, 2018 17:27:41 GMT
...I like Jackie Chan...
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Post by Nalkarj on Feb 1, 2018 17:46:00 GMT
Ah, this is a hard call for me. You specifically requested “best,” @nxnwrocks, and on that basis I’ll go with Oland, who’s justifiably likely to win all “best Charlie Chan” polls. And yet—the first Chan I saw was Toler (specifically in the Monograms, of all things!), and it took me some time to adjust to the slower pace of the Oland pictures and his characterization’s greater avuncularity (is that a word?). It may or may not be a question of “good,” but in terms of favorite Chans, I would have to go with Toler; I think that, as good as Oland is, I have more fun with Toler’s movies and characterization. (What blasphemy! ) On the other hand, I’m not going to attempt to mount a defense of Roland Winters.
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Post by Richard Kimble on Feb 1, 2018 18:47:06 GMT
An open letter to Mr. Charlie Chan, Chinese detective, Beverly Hills, California:
Dear Mr Chan:
Please begin investigation, with assistance of honorable number one son and honorable number two son, into reasons why Charlie Chan series keeps getting worse. Warner Oland much talent, Sidney Toler little talent, Roland Winters no talent at all. Norman Foster honorable director, William Beaudine not honorable; work always bungled. On tablet of jade is written: "Folly is sister of genius," but Charlie Chan series of films less folly every day than day before. Send explanation immediately. Payment in Chinese dollars.
May Confucius be with you.
-- Review of The Feathered Serpent by Francois Truffaut, 1953
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Post by Nalkarj on Feb 1, 2018 18:55:32 GMT
Equally intriguing question (I think): whom would you consider the worst Charlie Chan? I haven’t seen Ross Martin’s portrayal, but offhand I’d go with Ustinov.
P.S. People (myself included, apparently) seem to have unusual opinions about the actors who played Charlie. Ken Hanke, who wrote a great book on the series, liked Winters better than Toler, and I know someone whose favorite Chan is, of all people, Manuel Arbó (from Eran Trece, the Spanish version of CC Carries On)!
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Post by Richard Kimble on Feb 1, 2018 19:11:15 GMT
A year or two ago I watched most of the Oland Chans (several of the early ones, FWIW, are lost). The Black Camel was partly shot on location in Hawaii -- the beach scenes in this look like they were shot in a hurricane, the wind is so strong. I don't recall that being a problem on H5-O (I never watched Magnum).
An entertaining aspect of the Oland films is the occasional emphasis on his family. In one the whole Chan clan is seen around a dinner table, while in another he takes them to the circus.
A semi-epiphany I had watching these Chans was how similar the character is to Columbo. Both are unfailingly -- almost annoyingly -- polite; however while Columbo is invariably underestimated at first Chan is often treated as a kind of celebrity.
To the best of my knowledge neither Levinson nor Link ever cited Chan as an influence -- they both claimed the inspiration for the character was the inspector in Crime & Punsihment.
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Post by teleadm on Feb 2, 2018 17:31:37 GMT
I can only vote for Warner Oland, not because of some Swedish patriotism, but he's the only Charlie Chan I've seen. OK I've seen the Peter Ustinov disaster too, played as a Pink Panther wannabe,in my opinion. Warner Oland when he visited Stockholm shortly before his death.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2018 17:39:15 GMT
I don't think I've seen any Roland Winters films, so at this point I think I would have to go with Oland over Toler.
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Post by mattgarth on Feb 3, 2018 15:06:51 GMT
Charlie Chan contest now a Garth Game on this board -- take a look.
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Post by petrolino on Feb 3, 2018 17:05:40 GMT
Warner Oland's taking those other guys to the cleaners.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2018 4:03:14 GMT
I'm 4 or 5 movies into Toler and he's warming to me. At this stage I just think Oland gave the character a little more humanity. Toler is a little sharper around the edges.
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Post by Nalkarj on Feb 25, 2018 4:07:21 GMT
I'm 4 or 5 movies into Toler and he's warming to me. At this stage I just think Oland gave the character a little more humanity. Toler is a little sharper around the edges.That’s what I like about him, to be honest. Though, as I said, that’s what I knew growing up, so I’m prejudiced in this case.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2018 4:12:29 GMT
I'm 4 or 5 movies into Toler and he's warming to me. At this stage I just think Oland gave the character a little more humanity. Toler is a little sharper around the edges.That’s what I like about him, to be honest. Though, as I said, that’s what I knew growing up, so I’m prejudiced in this case. We're fortunate to have both portrayals, both different yet good in their own ways.
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Post by Nalkarj on Feb 25, 2018 4:22:42 GMT
Very true, @nxnwrocks. By the by, of the four or five you’ve seen, was one …at Treasure Island? It’s my favorite of the lot.
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Post by telegonus on Feb 25, 2018 7:49:00 GMT
I'm 4 or 5 movies into Toler and he's warming to me. At this stage I just think Oland gave the character a little more humanity. Toler is a little sharper around the edges. Warner Oland shall always be my Number One Charlie Chan but Sidney Toler runs a close second. It's not a "no context" or a "landslide" in my book. I like both men's work as Charlie, find Oland the warmer and more traditional of the two. Warner's Charlie is Buddha-like, all knowing and understanding. Sidney's is more human seeming, sometimes moody, occasionally assertive, even acerbic, nearer to an Asian Sherlock Holmes, with Jimmy his Watson (okay, that's a stretch). LeStrade is whatever (excuse please) dumb Irish cop Detective Chan encounters in whatever American city he happens to be visiting. My favorite Chan pictures are those that Sidney Toler appeared in made for Fox, 1938-42. Oland may be my favorite Charlie but Toler's movies (Fox studio only) are my favorite films in the series. The switch from sober, dignified Number One Son Lee, as perfectly embodied by Keye Luke, to the bumptious, eager beaver Number Two son Jimmy was a stroke of serendipitous genius. Luke really was the perfect fit for Oland, behaved as if he was Oland's Chan's son. Sen Yung, more American seeming, aggressive, occasionally accident prone, seems like he could be the somewhat less secure offspring of the cooler, more severe Mr. Toler.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2018 20:10:19 GMT
Very true, @nxnwrocks. By the by, of the four or five you’ve seen, was one … at Treasure Island? It’s my favorite of the lot. Yeah, the Dr Zodiac plot and costume was great.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2018 20:14:03 GMT
City in Darkness (1939) This might be the most comedic entry to date, which is strange given the plot involving the dire situation in Paris on the advent of war. Harold Huber goes above and beyond with a great bit of overacting slapstick as the cop (he's Romanian, yet speaks with a French accent....hmmm....). I love it when he picks up the phone and shouts "get me a calamity!" and when Charlie tells him "before you pin a medal on yourself..." The mystery was so-so but it's the setting and atmosphere that makes this one interesting. Jimmy being absent was welcome addition by subtraction. 7/10
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Post by Nalkarj on Feb 25, 2018 20:24:59 GMT
Very true, @nxnwrocks . By the by, of the four or five you’ve seen, was one … at Treasure Island? It’s my favorite of the lot. Yeah, the Dr Zodiac plot and costume was great. Aren’t they? I’ve seen it a few times and like it just as much every time. Also one of the best deceptions in all Chandom, though sadly the writers get cold feet and give the game away too soon with that “stabbed in the arm” deception. What’s your favorite of the ones you’ve seen thus far?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2018 22:23:56 GMT
Probably Charlie Chan's Secret.
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