The Charlie Chan detective mysteries has something of a bad reputation that have prevented them from seeing modern home video releases, and considering how all of them (apart from two lost silent films) star Caucasian men playing an Asian character, it’s not hard to see why these films can feel quite awkward by modern standards. However, I don’t think this simple dismissal gives the now dead franchise the respect it actually deserves. Think about it. In a time rampant with yellow peril stories where Asian characters were largely relegated to villains or the submissive manservant, one author decided it was necessary to create an Asian hero for the general public. And so did Fox Studios.
From the early 1930’s to the late 1940’s there was a minimum of one Charlie Chan film per year. Clearly audiences could not get enough of this character. Even the still well known Sherlock Holmes series starring Basil Rathbone only managed to produce 14 films between 1939 and 1946. Other contemporaries like Mr. Moto or the Crime Doctor were lucky to reach ten films. Charlie Chan managed a staggering 46 films in less than two decades, and was quickly given a TV series in the 1950’s before eventually loosing public interest by the 1960’s.
Charlie Chan was a classic detective in the tradition of Hercule Poirot (who didn’t get a proper film adaptation until the 70’s). He was always the smartest person in the room. He was always one step ahead of everyone. He was charming, wise, and there was always a heavy emphasis on what a good family man he was, and the films often featured one of his many, many sons, who were thankfully always played by actual Asians. Yes, there were silly cliches, like how Chan frequently quoted Chinese proverbs (though this trope was more common with the latter two of the three actors), and his accent could be a fair bit over the top at times (again, especially in the later films). And the black supporting characters, especially during the tenure of the latter two actors again, such as Chan’s cowardly chauffeur Birmingham Brown, can be absolutely cringy to watch nowadays. But all in all I believe Charlie Chan the character, especially Warner Oland’s portrayal in the 1930’s, deserves at least some respect, despite the fact that we now know better than to do a lot of the things done in these movies.
Are the actual films any good though, as far as murder mysteries go? Well, the early films are pretty solid over all, though unfortunately the public domain films are mostly from the latter years of the franchise when they had fallen into firmly established tropes and clichés.
Charlie Chan’s Secret (1936)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB16-tmRgAE - from the CiNENET YouTube channel (1 hour 12 mins - 480p)
Synopsis:
The heir to a huge fortune is presumed drowned, then shows up murdered.
Directed by Gordon Wiles.
Cast: Warner Oland, Rosina LawrenceCharles Quigley.
Trivia:
• The tenth Charlie Chan film produced by Fox in only five years.
• The only public domain film from the series starring Warner Oland.
The Scarlet Clue (1945)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wPXJFx0bPA - from the FEATURE FILM YouTube channel (1 hour 4 mins - 480p)
Synopsis:
Charlie discovers a scheme for the theft of government radar plans while investigating several murders.
Directed by Phil Rosen.
Cast: Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland & Ben Carter.
Trivia:
The 16th Charlie Chan film starring Sidney Toler and the 32nd film overall (not counting silent movies).
Dark Alibi (1946)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN-zv3f7guE - from the Timeless Classic Movies YouTube channel (1 hour 1 min - 480p)
Synopsis:
A public defender enlists Charlie to exonerate one of his clients, an ex-con falsely accused of bank robbery and murder, scheduled for execution in nine days.
Directed by Phil Karlson.
Cast: Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland & Ben Carter.
Trivia:
The 19th Charlie Chan film starring Sidney Toler and the 36th film overall (not counting silent movies).
And the colourized version of you wish to dabble in such things;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r5rrl4ONp0
Dangerous Money (1946)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgEElXjTKgU&t - from the Inter-Pathé YouTube channel (1 hour 6 mins - 240p)
Synopsis:
A treasury agent on the trail of counterfeit money confides to fellow ocean liner passenger Charlie Chan that there have been two attempts on his life.
Directed by Terry O. Morse.
Cast: Sidney Toler, Gloria Warren & Victor Sen Yung.
Trivia:
The 20th Charlie Chan film starring Sidney Toler and the 35th film overall (not counting silent movies).
The Trap (1946)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpIW54mN5Fk - from the Timeless Classic Movies YouTube channel (1 hour 8 mins - 480p)
Synopsis:
When a troupe of showgirls with their impresario and press agent vacation at a Malibu Beach resort, two of them are garroted. Charlie takes on the case assisted by Number Two Son Jimmy and faithful chauffeur Birmingham Brown.
Directed by Howard Bretherton.
Cast: Sidney Toler, Mantan Moreland & Victor Sen Yung.
Trivia:
The 22th Charlie Chan film starring Sidney Toler and the 38th film overall (not counting silent movies).
The Chinese Ring (1947)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn8Jir3hW5o&t - from the Timeless Classic Movies YouTube channel (1 hour 7 mins - 480p)
Synopsis:
Soon after a Chinese princess comes to the US to buy planes for her people, she is murdered by a poison dart fired by an air rifle.
Directed by William Beaudine.
Cast: Roland Winters, Warren Douglas & Mantan Moreland.
Trivia:
• The 1st Charlie Chan film starring Roland Winters and the 41st film overall (not counting silent movies).
• The plot is nearly identical to Mr. Wong in Chinatown, a 1939 film starring Boris Karloff. That film was also an adaptation of Scott Darling’s script for the 1931 film Murder at Midnight.
The Golden Eye (1948)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK6uzbyk3Ik - from the Inter-Pathé YouTube channel (1 hour 07 mins - 240p)
Synopsis:
Chan discovers a conspiracy when a low paying gold mine seemingly starts to become profitable, and attempts are made on the owner’s life.
Directed by William Beaudine.
Cast: Roland Winters, Wanda McKay & Mantan Moreland.
Trivia:
The 4th Charlie Chan film starring Roland Winters and the 45th film overall (not counting silent movies).