Charlie Chan's Secret - Warner Oland

San Francisco becomes the scene of Detective Chan's newest and most baffling mystery as an ocean liner sinks off Honolulu and Allen Colby, heir to millions, is presumed dead...but Ace sleuth Charlie Chan is not so sure, and flies to San Francisco to investigate further.

Somehow, the missing Colby is there ahead of him...but is knifed in the back before seeing anyone. Further events revolve around spiritualist Mrs. Lowell, her family of suspicious characters, and the spooky, untenanted Colby mansion, where the body turns up during a seance!
Warner Oland is considered by many to be the Definitive Charlie Chan
Some interesting points regarding Warner Oland (1879-1938):

1) Born Johan Verner Öhlund in Sweden of a Russo-Mongolian mother and Swedish father; For this reason then and today he is considered the most authentic Chan portrayal because of his true Asian blood by the large following of his Chan films in the Chinese community round the world.

2) Spoke fluent Swedish and English; translated plays of August Strindberg;

3) Emigrated to Boston at 13 years of age; attended Boston schools;

4) After stint on Broadway, he debuted in silent films in 1912; acted alongside Al Jolson in "The Jazz Singer," one of earliest "talkies";

5) Played an Oriental character in a 1919 silent film leading in 1929 to starring role as Dr. Fu Manchu in four talking features;

6) Complemented the acting of Marlene Dietrich and Anna May Wong as the mysterious Henry Chang in Sternberg's tour de force "Shanghai Express" (1931);

7) Starred in 16 Charlie Chan films during Depression years 1931-1937. Earned $40,000 per film (2010: $600,000). Universal popularity of his films amongst non-Asian and Asian audiences led to enormous financial success of "Charlie Chan" films which staved off bankruptcy for Fox Films (merged with 20th Century Films [1935]);

8) A world traveler and collector of objet d'art. When traveling in China, Oland was feted with honors and accepted as Chinese where he studied and learned Chinese language.

9) Owned large ranch and orchards, facing the sea, in Carpenteria Valley near Santa Barbara.

10 Alcoholism and chain smoking likely shortened his life; Warner Oland died at age of only 58 in 1938.
--------------------------------------------------
PS. Don't you get tired of self-righteous natterers who fail to place vintage films in proper historical and cultural perspective? Every age has its peculiar conceits and prejudices. Let's not kid ourselves. Our age and our generations are no better than others.

Public domain due to the omission of a valid copyright notice on original prints and this is taken from an original 1936 print.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Charlie Chan
• Warner Oland
• Mystery
• 1936
• Public Domain

[CarlaLevon]

Excellent! I loved it!!!!

[jmancini1037]

thank you so much for posting!

[123Shel12]

First class, Many thanks!

[cbabybubba]

What a treat! Thank you.

[o2me2]

Thumbs up. Thank you for the great Charlie Chan movie.

[SuZan2112]

DITTO!

[n5tiflk]

Thanks for the upload please upload more!!!

[doctornoooo]

she did it again: this cathy, no dumbbunny she, keeps pulling these rabbits out of her hat for me these charlies have been long awaited my glee is overflowing from my tea cup onto the breakfast toast