Charlie Chan

Charlie Chan is a fictional Chinese-Hawaiian detective created by Earl Derr Biggers, reportedly in part under inspiration from the career of Chang Apana. Chan is the hero of a number of books and dozens of movies. At first a sergeant (but later promoted) in the Honolulu Police Department, he and his wife have eleven children and live in a house on Punchbowl Hill. He is a large man but moves gracefully.

Progress of the Chan literature

Charlie Chan appeared in six novels by Earl Derr Biggers from 1925 to 1932.

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The first three novels were each adapted to film during the 1920s, by different studios, but the best-known Charlie Chan movies are those of the long-running series that began in 1931 with Charlie Chan Carries On, starring Warner Oland for Fox Film Corp. Oland starred in a further fifteen Chan movies, up to the time of his death, after which the mantle passed to Sidney Toler. By this time, Fox had merged and been succeeded by 20th Century Fox which, produced eleven more Charlie Chan films through 1942, but sold the rights to the series to Monogram Pictures in 1944. Monogram made another eleven Chan films starring Toler and then five starring Roland Winters after Toler's death. The progression of Chan films from Oland to Toler (under the two incarnations of Fox), and especially to Monogram's films (whether with Toler or Winters), involved poorer scripts and lower budgets, and generally less modern respect.

Related Topics:
1920s - 1931 - Charlie Chan Carries On - Warner Oland - Fox Film Corp. - Sidney Toler - Had merged - 20th Century Fox - Monogram Pictures - 1944 - Roland Winters

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In 1957-1958, "The New Adventures of Charlie Chan", starring J. Carroll Naish in the title role, were made independently for TV syndication in a series of 39 episodes, by Television Programs of America.

Related Topics:
The New Adventures of Charlie Chan - J. Carroll Naish - Television Programs of America

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The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan, an animated series made in the 1970s by Hanna-Barbera Productions and starring Keye Luke, was noteworthy only because it was the only occasion on which Charlie Chan has been played by an actor of Chinese descent.

Related Topics:
The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan - Animated series - 1970s - Hanna-Barbera Productions - Keye Luke

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(Two Charlie Chan films made in the 1920s had starred Japanese actors; and several of the Chan sons had been played by Chinese American actors in the 1930s movies, including Keye Luke himself as the eldest son and Benson Fong as son #3.)

Related Topics:
Japan - Chinese American - Benson Fong

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The pre-1950 film character was portrayed as intelligent, stalwart, kind, responsible, and heroic in the pursuit of (almost invariably) white villains who were able to outwit the (almost invariably) white police or government establishments which hired him. In the 21st century, however, those films have come under criticism from at least one group concerned with Asian-Americans, on the grounds that Chan was played only by white actors in makeup rather than by any Chinese/Oriental performer. In 2003, the Fox Movie Channel discontinued showing pre-1950 Chan films, soon after beginning restoration for special cablecasting; the films have remained suppressed, though bootleg video versions continue to circulate.

Related Topics:
21^st century - 2003 - Fox Movie Channel

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