Charlie Chan is a fictional detective who emigrated from his native China to Hawaii and joined the Honolulu Police Force. Created by Earl Derr Biggers in the 1925 novel The House Without a Key, Chan entered partway through the mystery but solved the murder, and sequels followed. The character contrasted with the dominant negative Chinese stereotypes of the era, such as the villainous Dr. Fu Manchu (whose menace would continue over the decades, even in Marvel Comics).
Charlie Chan made his film debut in 1926, and in the first three, was a supporting character played by non-Chinese Asian actors. When he became the lead in his own film series in 1931, caucasian actors were cast, beginning with Warner Oland who had played Fu Manchu. The films gradually dropped the Hawaii connection and further exaggerated Chan's speech, Chinese proverbs, and large family (mentioned but not active in the books). Chinese and Chinese American actors were cast as the Americanized children, beginning with Number One Son (Lee Chan) and with other numbered offspring following. The films continued until 1949, and the character spread to radio, TV, and even a 1970s Hanna-Barbera cartoon (The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan, with Scooby-Doo style mysteries and all of the kids in a band).
Pop culture parodies and references even further exaggerated the racial stereotype aspects (particularly thick l/r substitution), from Fred Allen's 1940s radio sketches to Get Smart (guest character Harry Hoo) and Peter Sellers in Neil Simon's Murder by Death. The last official Charlie Chan film was itself a parody, 1981's Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (with Peter Ustinov). The lessening of that brand of ethnic stereotyping, and the use of made-up white actors in the Chan movies, caused later controversy.
References[]
- The April 23, 1964 broadcast of The Jimmy Dean Show has Rowlf showing off his souvenirs from the different countries' exhibits at the New York World's Fair. For his souvenir from Japan, Rowlf shows a conical straw hat. While the hats are used in Japan, Jimmy Dean identifies it as a "coolie hat" (associating it with Chinese stereotypes). Rowlf furthers it by saying "Ah so! Honorable feet are kirring (sic) Number One Son."
Connections[]
- Cynthia Adler played additional voices on The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan (1972, TV)
- David Axlerod co-wrote the screenplay for Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981 film)
- Jamie Farr wrote episodes of The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan (1972, TV)
- Jodie Foster voiced Anne Chan on The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan (1972, TV)
- James Hong played Barry Chan (Number One Son) on The New Adventures of Charlie Chan (1957-1958, TV)
- Leslie Nielsen played Alexander Hadrachi in The Return of Charlie Chan (1972 TV movie)
- Michelle Pfeiffer played Cordelia in Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981 film)
- Brian Tochi voiced Alan Chan on The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan (1972, TV)
- Peter Ustinov played Charlie Chan in Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981 film)