Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 1 (Charlie Chan in London / Charlie Chan in Paris / Charlie Chan in Egypt / Charlie Chan in Shanghai / Eran Trece)
by David Howard, Eugene Forde, Hamilton MacFadden, James Tinling, Lewis Seiler
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Alan Mowbray, Drue Leyton, Mona Barrie, Ray Milland, Warner OlandDirector: David Howard, Eugene Forde, Hamilton MacFadden, James Tinling, Lewis Seiler
Brand: FOX Home Entertainment
Writer: Barry Conners
Writer: Earl Derr Biggers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 372 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-06-20
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Movie Reviews of Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 1 (Charlie Chan in London / Charlie Chan in Paris / Charlie Chan in Egypt / Charlie Chan in Shanghai / Eran Trece)
Movie Review: Dignity and Charm
Summary: 5 Stars
You could almost feel the gentle trade winds of Hawaii during the 1920's in the first Charlie Chan novel by Earl Derr Biggers. Romantic and full of atmosphere, Biggers was always a great romance writer who simply incorporated mystery into his books to propel the story forward. His detective was wise and humorous, his take on American life sometimes a riot. Nothing got by Chan, however, and it was his intelligence which always brought about justice in the end.
The adaptations to film lost some of the more romantic aspects of the early Chan novels, centering more on Chan as a detective, which was to be expected. Enough humor and atmosphere remained, however, to propel Chan into the top tier of film detectives. Warner Oland's Chan was more refined and subtle, Sidney Toler's more outgoing and amused. Both were excellent. This first set features Warner Oland in the role with which he will most likely be forever identified.
Fox liked to put Chan in exotic locations and settings. Charlie was in London, or Paris, or maybe somewhere more exotic, such as Egypt or Shanghai. One of his many offspring would often gum up the works in their energetic attempts to play detective and help out their Pop. These first entries are excellent, Oland's portrayal very dignified yet with a charm and humor just beneath the surface.
CHARLIE CHAN IN EGYPT
This potpourri of Egypt, ancient excavations with curses attached, murder and Charlie Chan has an aroma of fun that never wavers for the entire seventy-two minute running time. For film buffs, it is a chance to see lovely Pat Paterson onscreen also. Louis King directed the screenplay of Robert Ellis and Helen Logan. Rita Hayworth fans will enjoy her small early role as Nayda. The pace is perfect, the mystery and romance blended nicely by King.
Though Toler is probably my favorite of the two Chans, taking over the role in 1938 when Oland fell ill and succumbed to pneumonia in his country of birth, Sweden, Oland was excellent, lending class and an air of distinction to Chan. Charlie Chan in Egypt is one of Oland's most fun turns as the famous sleuth. It starts off with a bang, in something resembling a scene from The Mummy; a man dropping dead during the unearthing of an ancient Egyptian room full of artifacts. A figure watching over the room may be bringing a curse upon those who've disturbed the site. Chan is sent by the French Museum to discover why various artifacts excavated are finding their way into private hands instead of theirs.
More is amiss than just the missing artifacts, however, as Charlie soon discovers. Archeologist Tom Evans (Thomas Beck) proves to be his ally with many mysteries. Evans is sweet on Carol Arnold (Pat Paterson), the daughter of the expedition leader, now missing. It isn't long until Charlie discovers his body in an Egyptian sarcophagus, and knows there is a murderer about, helping the curse come true. Tom and Carol have romantic feelings for one another, of course, and Chan is disturbed by her bouts of illness which he suspects also have a very earthly cause. A second death soon transpires, and Chan's reputation is in doubt for a short time.
Thanks to our favorite Hawaiian detective, Carol is no longer under the spell of the poison she was being given, which proves handy when Tom is shot helping Charlie find a killer's secret. Chan appears to be defeated but, of course, is only setting a trap. There is a bit of misdirection which will have the viewer suspecting everyone except the scared Snowshoes (Stepinfetchit) who wants nothing to do with curses and murder. A very nice ending wraps up both the mystery and the romance in this one. Fox gave this one a big boost with some fine sets, lending a fun atmosphere to a tight little mystery with just the right amount of romance.
The romance between Beck and Paterson is quite nice, Beck making a solid romantic hero. Paterson is lovely here, and a big plus for film buffs. She married Charles Boyer on Valentine's Day in 1934, and when she died in 1978, Boyer took his own two days later, unable and unwilling to live without her. A fun film and excellent Charlie Chan entry with a sweet reminder of love the way it is supposed to be for those who know the story.
CHARLIE CHAN IN LONDON
"Not great detective. Just lucky old Chinaman." -- Charlie Chan
Charlie mingles with the fox hunting crowd in this enjoyable entry in the Chan franchise. A good story from Philip Macdonald keeps us guessing in this one, making up for a somewhat languid pace. Warner Oland's quiet and dignified portrayel of Earl Derr Bigger's famous detective works nicely here. A nice cast which includes Alan Mowbray, Drue Leyton, Mona Barrie, and a young Ray Milland surround the Hawaiian sleuth but, as always, the most fun is derived from watching Chan spout famous words of wisdom while solving the mystery.
Charlie is about to leave London and head back to his large family in Honolulu when pretty Pamela Gray (Drue Leyton), distraught and desperate for help, convinces him to find a real murderer before her brother is hung for a crime he did not commit. Even her fiance who defended him in court, Neil Howard (Ray Milland), isn't convinced he's innocent, but Charlie heads to the country and soon suspects all is not right. Alan Mowbray and Mona Barrie hang around as Geoffrey Richmond and his fiancee, Mary Bristol, while Chan reconstructs the original crime, which prompts a second deadly encounter.
Someone makes an attempt on Charle's life that nearly succeeds, and a third murder almost occurs when Mary realizes she may have seen something which will help our favorite detective. He's soon on the trail of stolen war plans and sets a trap for the murderer, a few surprises from the rest of the household finding their way to the surface at the same time. A fun epilog as Charlie turns his attention to solving romantic troubles rather than crime end this one on a high note, making it worth the trip.
CHARLIE CHAN IN PARIS
"Kindness in heart better than gold in bank." -- Charlie Chan
Mystery writer Philip Macdonald penned some nifty little stories for the screen during the 1930's and our favorite sleuth from Honolulu is the center of this one. Warner Oland brought a sense of dignity and just a touch of humor to the detective created by Earl Derr Biggers in these early Charlie Chan features. Charlie is in Paris this time, attempting to discreetly discover who has been forging bank bonds and avoid a public scandal. Nardi (Dorothy Appleby) is the lovely chanteuse who has been assisting him. Before Charlie can hook up with her and get vital information on the case, however, she takes a knife and a saddened Charlie works overtime to find her killer.
Mary Brian has a nice role as Yvette, endeavoring to get letters written most foolishly away from a blackmailer and ending up charged with murder. Charlie and her fiance hook up in the seamy side of Paris to hunt down a disguised killer and clear her. There is a lot of atmosphere in this tight little mystery from Philip Macdonald, the search through the Paris sewers near the conclusion especially fun. A trick by Charlie catches not one killer, but two, with Keye Luke's first appearance as Lee Chan coming in quite handy.
There are some nice sets in this one, and a cast which also includes Thomas Beck and Erik Rhodes lend nice support to Brian and Appleby. Oland is particularly good in this entry. While I might prefer the Toland years as Chan, I very much like what Oland first brought to the role, and Charlie Chan in Paris is a splendid example of what a good mystery story can be in the right hands. A lot of fun for fans.
CHARLIE CHAN IN SHANGHAI
This entry in the Charlie Chan franchise boasts an attractive cast and nice settings, in addition to a good story. Swedish born Warner Oland is right at home now as Earl Derr Biggers' detective, with young Keye Luke establishing with charm the continuing efforts of his offspring to help "pop" and play detective too. Number one son Lee (Keye Luke) has plenty of opportunity to do just that with Charlie on the heels of an opium smuggling ring in 1930's Shanghai. The accent is a bit more on the action side in some moments, the humor derived from Charlie's reigning in of young Lee's love life via his phone.
Charlie no sooner arrives by boat when a man named Woodland with important information for him is cleverly slain. His niece Diana (Irene Hervey) has romantic thoughts for young Philip Nash (Charles Locher) who quickly finds himself the chief suspect when a second attempt is made on Chan's life. It seems Woodland was a British Agent who had discovered too much. His American counterpart arrives but things get no clearer when Charlie and Lee are briefly kidnapped. Charlie takes nothing at face value, of course, and enlists two innocents in order to ferret out the ringleader.
Charm, an exotic atmosphere, and the fine cast of players surrounding Warner Oland and Keye Luke Fox put together elevate this entry to a most excellent status. Like Biggers, his literary creation, Charlie Chan, could be quite the romantic where youthful love was concerned. The detective from Hawaii had many children of his own, and nearly always helped the struggling young couple find true love at the end of the mystery. Charlie Chan in Shanghai is no exception. A very nice time at the movies.
Charlie Chan was bright and funny, and audiences loved him. If anything, his character helped elevate and give distinction to the perspective at the time of Chan's race in general. These were fun mysteries with great appeal; so much so, that we are still watching and talking about them today. These films are a fabulous time at the movies for detective and mystery fans, nothing more, but certainly nothing less.
More Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 1 (Charlie Chan in London / Charlie Chan in Paris / Charlie Chan in Egypt / Charlie Chan in Shanghai / Eran Trece) reviews:
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Summary of Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 1 (Charlie Chan in London / Charlie Chan in Paris / Charlie Chan in Egypt / Charlie Chan in Shanghai / Eran Trece)
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