Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 5 (Charlie Chan At The Wax Museum/Murder Over New York/Dead Men Tell/Charlie Chan In Rio/Charlie Chan In Panama/Murder Cruise/Castle in the Desert)
starring: Sidney Toler, Victor Sen Young
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Product Description:
Studio: TcfheRelease Date: 09/09/2008
Amazon.com:
The Charlie Chan Collection Volume 5 brings Fox's series of film mysteries based on Earl Derr Biggers' Chinese-Hawaiian detective to a conclusion with the studio's final seven features with Caucasian actor Sidney Toler in the lead. Budget restraints forced these latter Chan features to reduce the quality of their productions, and more often than not, the films took place on limited sets and without the scope or atmosphere of the earlier films. Plots were also reduced in running time and ambition; though hinged on a fun plot involving a plastic surgeon who creates new identities for crooks on the lam, Charlie Chan in the Wax Museum clocks in at barely over an hour, and suffers from bare sets and some highly predictable plot twists. Likewise, Dead Men Tell never leaves its claustrophobic pirate ship location, and Castle in the Desert, the final Chan film for Fox, is a confused hodgepodge of pulp thriller and horror tropes.Despite these drawbacks, there is still plenty of enjoyment to be had from Volume 5, especially in Charlie Chan in Rio, a remake of 1931's The Black Camel (with Warner Oland as Chan) that brims with an energy lacking from the later Toler efforts (there's also a nice bit involving Toler and Victor Sen Young's Number Two Son Jimmy conversing in Chinese with subtitles). Cinematography is also superlative in all of the Chan pictures included here, which lends a great deal of atmosphere to the modestly budgeted features. But the key pleasure of the Charlie Chan films is watching the detective unravel the case (no matter how convoluted) in his deliberate and patient manner, and Toler's performance (who would bring the character to Monogram and continue to play him until his death in 1947, after which Chan was essayed by Roland Winters) remains a distinct pleasure. Sen Young, though occasionally forced to mug furiously as Jimmy, lends likable support as Jimmy. There are also a host of Hollywood names on hand in supporting roles, including Lionel Atwill, Leo G. Carroll, Flash Gordon vets Jean Rogers and Frank Middleton, George Reeves, and even future Stooge Shemp Howard as a faux Hindu!Trailers for each film are included in the set, as well as still galleries and a 35-minute featurette which discusses, among other details, the impact of World War II on Fox's decision to bring the Chan series to a close. --Paul Gaita
Studio: TcfheRelease Date: 09/09/2008
Amazon.com:
The Charlie Chan Collection Volume 5 brings Fox's series of film mysteries based on Earl Derr Biggers' Chinese-Hawaiian detective to a conclusion with the studio's final seven features with Caucasian actor Sidney Toler in the lead. Budget restraints forced these latter Chan features to reduce the quality of their productions, and more often than not, the films took place on limited sets and without the scope or atmosphere of the earlier films. Plots were also reduced in running time and ambition; though hinged on a fun plot involving a plastic surgeon who creates new identities for crooks on the lam, Charlie Chan in the Wax Museum clocks in at barely over an hour, and suffers from bare sets and some highly predictable plot twists. Likewise, Dead Men Tell never leaves its claustrophobic pirate ship location, and Castle in the Desert, the final Chan film for Fox, is a confused hodgepodge of pulp thriller and horror tropes.Despite these drawbacks, there is still plenty of enjoyment to be had from Volume 5, especially in Charlie Chan in Rio, a remake of 1931's The Black Camel (with Warner Oland as Chan) that brims with an energy lacking from the later Toler efforts (there's also a nice bit involving Toler and Victor Sen Young's Number Two Son Jimmy conversing in Chinese with subtitles). Cinematography is also superlative in all of the Chan pictures included here, which lends a great deal of atmosphere to the modestly budgeted features. But the key pleasure of the Charlie Chan films is watching the detective unravel the case (no matter how convoluted) in his deliberate and patient manner, and Toler's performance (who would bring the character to Monogram and continue to play him until his death in 1947, after which Chan was essayed by Roland Winters) remains a distinct pleasure. Sen Young, though occasionally forced to mug furiously as Jimmy, lends likable support as Jimmy. There are also a host of Hollywood names on hand in supporting roles, including Lionel Atwill, Leo G. Carroll, Flash Gordon vets Jean Rogers and Frank Middleton, George Reeves, and even future Stooge Shemp Howard as a faux Hindu!Trailers for each film are included in the set, as well as still galleries and a 35-minute featurette which discusses, among other details, the impact of World War II on Fox's decision to bring the Chan series to a close. --Paul Gaita
Related Items:
- Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 4 (Charlie Chan in Honolulu / Charlie Chan in Reno / Charlie Chan at Treasure Island / City in Darkness) (4DVD)
- Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 3 (Charlie Chan's Secret / Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo / Charlie Chan on Broadway / The Black Camel)
- Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 2 (Charlie Chan at the Circus / Charlie Chan at the Olympics / Charlie Chan at the Opera / Charlie Chan at the Race Track)
- Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 1 (Charlie Chan in London / Charlie Chan in Paris / Charlie Chan in Egypt / Charlie Chan in Shanghai / Eran Trece)
- Perry Mason - Season 3, Vol. 1
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- VOULUME 5 RESTORED? LOOK AGAIN MY BUCKOS!
Hey!Has anyone actually watched all of the movies in these five FOX sets? I have and I can tell you that the films in Volume 5 were not restored as the ones in the 4 previous sets!
Notice that there is no mention of the meticulous restoration as in the previous volumes and no restoration comparisons presented as bonus material as well! Look closely at the films: many scenes in the films have obvious deterioration in them with heaps of scratches and flashes in many of the scenes!
Read More
Rating: 
- Mediocre DVD Release Of Otherwise Memorable Chan Films
Charlie Chan was originally created by novelist Earl Derr Biggers (1884-1933), who very loosely based the character on Hawaii's legendary police officer Chang Apana (1887-1933.) Biggers wrote six novels in all, and after several false starts 20th Century Fox (then simply known as Fox) hit on the right combination of actors, mystery, and comedy. The result was perhaps the single most popular film series Hollywood ever created.
Between 1931 and 1938 Chan was played by noted character actor ... Read More
Rating: - charlie chan fan
I was not disappointed with this box set. The Charlie Chan movies
included in the box set all followed the normal Charlie Chan movie
themes, ie, murder investigation hampered by Charlie's energetic
number two son. I enjoyed all of them and am glad I made them part
of my Charlie Chan collection.
Rating: - charlie chan collection
as I found it in my youth, Charlie Chan is still one of my favorite detective series. Many moments of suspense combined with humor. Very enjoyable.
Rating: - Chan is the Man
This is as good as it gets. The studio answered our plea and put out ALL of the Fox films with Charlie Chan and even included bonus features in these box sets. The picture and sound quality could not be better. Rare treat to see "Dead Men Tell" as that was one rarely available anywhere.
Also recommend The Charlie Chan Film Encyclopedia by Howard M. Berlin.
- VOULUME 5 RESTORED? LOOK AGAIN MY BUCKOS!Hey!Has anyone actually watched all of the movies in these five FOX sets? I have and I can tell you that the films in Volume 5 were not restored as the ones in the 4 previous sets!
Notice that there is no mention of the meticulous restoration as in the previous volumes and no restoration comparisons presented as bonus material as well! Look closely at the films: many scenes in the films have obvious deterioration in them with heaps of scratches and flashes in many of the scenes!
Read More
- Mediocre DVD Release Of Otherwise Memorable Chan FilmsCharlie Chan was originally created by novelist Earl Derr Biggers (1884-1933), who very loosely based the character on Hawaii's legendary police officer Chang Apana (1887-1933.) Biggers wrote six novels in all, and after several false starts 20th Century Fox (then simply known as Fox) hit on the right combination of actors, mystery, and comedy. The result was perhaps the single most popular film series Hollywood ever created.
Between 1931 and 1938 Chan was played by noted character actor ... Read More
- charlie chan fanI was not disappointed with this box set. The Charlie Chan movies
included in the box set all followed the normal Charlie Chan movie
themes, ie, murder investigation hampered by Charlie's energetic
number two son. I enjoyed all of them and am glad I made them part
of my Charlie Chan collection.
- charlie chan collectionas I found it in my youth, Charlie Chan is still one of my favorite detective series. Many moments of suspense combined with humor. Very enjoyable.
- Chan is the ManThis is as good as it gets. The studio answered our plea and put out ALL of the Fox films with Charlie Chan and even included bonus features in these box sets. The picture and sound quality could not be better. Rare treat to see "Dead Men Tell" as that was one rarely available anywhere.
Also recommend The Charlie Chan Film Encyclopedia by Howard M. Berlin.
