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The Charlie Chan Chanthology (The Secret Service / The Chinese Cat / The Jade Mask / Meeting at Midnight / The Scarlet Clue / The Shanghai Cobra) | 
 enlarge | Director: Phil Rosen
Actors: Sidney Toler, Joan Woodbury, Mantan Moreland, Benson Fong, Ian Keith
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Category: DVD
List Price: $69.98
Buy New: $40.79
You Save: $29.19 (42%)
New (38) Used (16) from $34.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  46 reviews
Sales Rank: 7994
Format: Box Set, Black & White, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Subtitled, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 6
Running Time: 390
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.6 x 3.6
MPN: 1006677
ISBN: 079286106X
UPC: 027616908384
EAN: 9780792861065
ASIN: B00020X87A
Theatrical Release Date: May 11, 1945
Release Date: July 6, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Though the Charlie Chan film franchise has earned brickbats for its casting of Caucasian actors as the Asian sleuth, the movies have retained popularity among aficionados of '40s-era B-crime pictures, and the six-disc Charlie Chan Chanthology, all featuring Sidney Toler as Chan, should please that crowd. The Missouri-born Toler starred in 11 Chan pictures for Fox before purchasing the rights to the character from creator Earl Derr Biggers's widow and bringing it to budget studio Monogram, where he starred in 11 more Chans before his death in 1947 (Roland Winters replaced him in six more features until 1949). At Monogram, Chan became a Secret Service Agent (a move calculated to cut down on exotic locations and sets), and comedy was integrated into the plots via Mantan Moreland's chauffeur Birmingham Brown; Benson Fong also joined the cast as Number Three Son Tommy, with occasional appearances by daughter Frances (Frances Chan) and son Eddie (Edwin Luke, brother of Keye Luke, who played Number One Son Lee in the Fox Chans). Other than that, the six films collected here (the first six Chans for Monogram, and all but five directed by Phil Rosen) are largely indistinguishable from one another save for the murder victims and their demises. In The Secret Service, Chan investigates the death of a wartime inventor; a San Francisco socialite expires in The Chinese Cat; daughter Frances is involved in the murder of a psychic in Meeting at Midnight (a.k.a. Black Magic); another government scientist is killed in The Jade Mask, and death by remote control is the focus of The Scarlet Clue. Director Phil Karlson (Kansas City Confidential) adds some noirish atmosphere to The Shanghai Cobra, which has bank employees dying from apparent snakebites. Dated and controversial as they may be, the Chan films are engaging diversions for vintage mystery fans. No extras are featured in the set. --Paul Gaita
Product Description
Suspense-filled thrills! Laugh-out-loud humor! And some of the sharpest-tongued proverbs ever uttered in the Western world! This Chanthology boasts the best adventures of the greatest detective ever to unravel a wartime mystery or foil a high-profile heist: the inimitable Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler)!Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: MYSTERY/SUSPENSE Rating: NR UPC: 027616908384 Manufacturer No: 1006677
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| Customer Reviews: Read 41 more reviews...
 CHARLIE CHAN March 4, 2008
The Charlie Chan Chanthology (The Secret Service / The Chinese Cat / The Jade Mask / Meeting at Midnight / The Scarlet Clue / The Shanghai Cobra)
GREAT MOVIES - GREAT PRICE - FAST SERVICE
 Charlie Chan, finally in DVD... March 4, 2008
For fans of the B-grade 1940's detective thrillers, Honolulu Police Detective Charlie Chan has finally made the jump from VHS to DVD format with this initial offering of six short films from 1944 and 1945, featuring Sidney Tolar in the title role as the legendary sleuth.
The many Charlie Chan movies would barely pass muster today, with a Caucasian actor portraying the astute detective, and a formulaic approach helped along by Chinese proverbs and pre-CSI detective work. These six episodes are perhaps not the best examples of the genre. Dedicated Charlie Chan fans await the conversion of some of the older episodes from the early 1940s. Nevertheless, these Charlie Chan movies are good harmless fun and a time capsule of murder mysteries on film during the Second World War.
CHARLIE LOVER March 3, 2008
IF YOU LOVE CHARLIE CHAN LIKE WE DO GET IT YOU WON'T BE DISSAPOINTED, THE CLARIY IS EXCELLENT AND THE AUDIO TOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good, Solid Entertainment February 17, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
From the diversity of ratings here, it is obvious that for most Charlie Chan movie fans, the Toler Chans are an acquired taste. I used to prefer the Oland Chans; however, over the years I have come to appreciate how entertaining the Toler Chans are. While Toler undoubtedly does less "analytical detecting" in these films than Oland in the earlier ones, the pace and plot of the later films have much to offer. I own all of the Oland Chans released on DVD to date, as well as this collection. I have enjoyed watching the Toler Chan movies over and over again. I intend to buy the new Toler Chan collection (Vol 4.)--and any new future Toler Chan releases--to include in my Charlie Chan DVD library. Die hard Oland Chan fans take note: Give Toler a chance. These movies are good, solid entertainment.
The Charlie Chan Chanthology January 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
At 70 years old, I remember watching these movies when I was a child. It is great fun sharing them with my sons now. It is also from an era when you didn't have to worry about foul language or x-rated scenes....perfect for a family night viewing.
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