More About Charlie Chan

For a character who appeared in just six books, all of them written between 1925 and 1932, Charlie Chan retains a huge amount of popularity - and also manages to create controversy - far out of proportion to that rather limited volume of work. He is only a sergeant in the Honolulu police force on his first appearance, in "The House Without a Key," but he is later promoted to an Inspector.

In looking back at this blog, I see that I've done audio reviews of three of the six novels (links will take you to the audio): "The House Without a Key," "The Chinese Parrot" (second book in the series) and "Charlie Chan Carries On" (the fifth). The other three books - "Behind That Curtain," "The Black Camel" and "Keeper of the Keys" - are in my "To Be Read" pile, and I look forward to sharing my thoughts about them in the weeks and months ahead.

But the real purpose of this blog is to get you to read these classic mysteries yourself. So please take note of the fact that Academy Chicago Publishers have reprinted all six of the Charlie Chan novels in relatively inexpensive paper editions.

I also want to recommend another book very strongly - a non-fiction work: "Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendezvous with American History," by Yunte Huang, which won the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Award last year for the best critical/biographical work. Huang tracks the career of Chang Apana, who is thought to have been the model for Charlie Chan, and interweaves the biographies of Apana and Biggers - and, along with them, of Charlie Chan.

It's all fascinating reading. If your favorite indie bookstore can't help you, please use this link to Amazon.com for new and/or used editions of these books - and, for that matter,all of these are available as e-books as wel.

Comments

[Yvette]

I read Yunte Huang's book and reviewed it on my blog, Les. A very enjoyable and informative read - tons of stuff I hadn't known or hadn't thought about. I got the impression from Professor Huang that he wasn't all that opposed to the idea of Warner Oland or Sidney Toler playing a Chinese man. He sees the reasonableness of it. He also points out that as a stereotype, Charlie Chan was a rather good one. He was usually the smartest man in the room. Not much wrong with that.

I even heard from Professor Huang on the blog which was very nice of him.

I know I've read all the Charlie Chan books over the years, but I think it's time for another re-read. You know how much I love the movies. :)

[Les Blatt]

Yes, Huang's book is excellent - engrossing and entertaining, too. As for Charlie Chan, he was deliberately conceived as a character who would run against the really awful stereotypes of Oriental characters that were so popular at the time. At one point in "The Chinese Parrot," when Inspector Chan is masquerading as a cook, he must disguise himself by speaking that unpleasant "Chinese pidgin English" that was frequently used at the time. He observes to one of the other characters, "silly talk like that hard business for me…Chinese without accustomed dignity is like man without clothes – naked, and ashamed." I think that sums it up prety well.

[MarkB]

The typical complaints against the Chan movies are always centered on the fact that a white man played the role. Of course a white man played the starring role - studios demanded a reliable, known name for movies and there were no Chinese actors who were known and could carry a film. The fact that this reflects the racism of the greater society was hardly the studio's problem - they were in it to make money, not to do social engineering to satisfy the interests of those living half a century in the future.

Of course Charlie was not only ALWAYS the smartest man in the room, he was also always shown as respected by any police chiefs/commissioners appearing in the story. And any time a character - usually a low level policeman - shows any anti-Chinese prejudice, it is made perfectly clear that he is being shown as a buffoon.

And then we have the various actors who played the sons, who WERE Chinese-American, who were so popular that they were always included, and who frequently got second billing right under the actor playing the lead role. I should add that Mantan Moreland also got second billing in many movies with the actor playing the son. In both cases, these minority actors probably got the best roles and credits of their careers in these roles. And this series is criticized? It should be celebrated.

/rant off.

[Les Blatt]

Mark, I think you raise some interesting and valid points. It's worth noting that the original books, as well, always showed Charlie as a person honored by his peers - and, when he was not, as you say, the character making disparaging remarks was always a buffoon.

I think the problem today comes with that question of satisfying "the interests of those living half a century in the future." There are some who are extremely sensitive to certain words and phrases, even if they made sense considered in the context and time period in which they were used. Think, for example, of the people who have tried to get Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn" banned from schoolrooms and libraries.

Personally, I hate censorship of any kind (except spam blocking, thank you!), as I believe censorship often has the opposite effect from that desired by the would-be censors. I do feel, as a reviewer, that I owe it to my readers to point out potentially offensive material in my reviews. I generally note that, if you believe you can't enjoy a fine book because of occasional words used in context, then it's your loss.

You might enjoy reading a recent post by novelist Margot Kinberg on her "Confessions of a Mystery Novelist" blog where she addressed this question - and touched off some very interesting comments from other readers. You'll find it at http://margotkinberg.wordpress.com/2012/08/03/but-when-the-wrong-word-goes-in-the-right-ear/

Thanks again for a thought-provoking comment.

[Colin Welsh]

Why haven't other writers chosen to write newer Chan novels?

[Les Blatt]

There are a number of potentially good reasons, I suspect, Colin. Continuing a series requires working out an arrangement with the author's estate, publisher and literary agent, if they can be found. Some authors and their heirs would actively discourage that kind of continuation. Most authors, I suspect, would rather write new mysteries with their own characters rather than try to imitate the style of another writer. We're left with just the six Chan novels - and, of course, all the movies.