They started as A-movies, original adaptations of the novels, when Fox Studios first produced them. However, Author Earl Derr Biggers only penned six Charlie Chan novels before his death. So after their fifth Chan film, Fox decided to take their detective around the world in B-movies; low budget films made in record time with little financial backing. And the series continued that way later with 20th Century-Fox and Monogram Pictures Corporation. Still, these reels of “gold dust” hosted some significant co-stars and became a worldwide film phenomenon.
If you’d like to see the entire list of actors and actresses (including animals,) who starred in the 44 Charlie Chan films from 1931 to 1949, just visit Rush Glick’s alphabetical “Cast List” page at The Charlie Chan Family Home. Here’s a peek at some who joined Detective Chan on his crusades for justice (on both sides of the law!):
- A: LIONEL ATWELL, (aka: Professor Moriarty.)
- B: J. EDWARD BROMBERG.
- C: RITA CANSINO, (aka: Rita Hayworth,) CARROLL, LEO G., (aka: Mr. Waverly of U.N.C.L.E.) CHANEY JR., LON (aka: The Wolfman.)
- D: DOUGLAS DUMBRILLE.
- E: DICK ELLIOT.
- F: STEPIN FETCHIT. (Hollywood’s first successful black film star).
- G: HENRY C. GORDON.
- H: SHEMP HOWARD, (aka: Shemp of The Three Stooges. [A Panama Hat tip to Greg Giordano].)
- I: GEORGE IRVING.
- J: VICTOR JORY. (aka: The Green Archer. [A Panama Hat tip to George Madison].)
- K: BORIS KARLOFF (aka: Frankenstein.)
- L: BELA LUGOSI, (aka: Dracula. [A Panama Hat tip to Barbara Gregorich].)
- M: MANTAN MORELAND, (aka: Birmingham Brown.)
- N: J. CARROL NAISH, (aka Charlie Chan, 39 episodes, The New Adventures of Charlie Chan.)
- O: WARNER OLAND, (aka: Charlie Chan, 16 films.)
- P: PUZZUMS (aka: Cat. The first — and only — feline to sign a studio contract.) (Literally. He signed with his paw print dipped in ink; a three-year contract for $50 per week.)
- Q: TOM QUINN.
- R: GEORGE REEVES, (aka: Superman.) CESAR ROMERO, (aka: The Cisco Kid and The Joker.)
- S: MILBURN STONE, (aka: Doc, on Gunsmoke.)
- T: SIDNEY TOLER, (aka: Charlie Chan, 22 films.)
- U: MINERVA UREKAL.
- V: EDDIE VITCH, (aka: caricaturist and mime artist, who’s hundreds of images of Hollywood stars adorned the Brown Derby, 1628 North Vine Street in Hollywood, which became famous for the caricatures that filled its walls.)
- W: ROLAND WINTERS, (aka: Charlie Chan, 6 films.)
- X: (this spot intentionally left blank)
- Y: ROBERT YOUNG, (aka: Father Knows Best & Marcus Welby MD.)
- Z: GEORGE ZUCCO, (aka: Professor Moriarty.)
There you are, some of the names you’ll find within each of the 26 letters (well, not counting “x”) on Rush Glick’s Cast List page. Now it is up to you to investigate those letters for more star-power. Call it the A-B-C Murders. I mean Mysteries, not Murders, Mysteries! (Whew, almost put my foot in it with Dame Agatha Christie’s legal department!)
P.S. Did you spot my mistake? Somewhere around “K”.
“Success–what is it? A bubble that explodes when touched by human hands.”
The Black Camel, 1929, Chap 23
The Postman on Holiday 
You wrote Bela Lugosi’s name backwards???
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Dang, I did didn’t I (good eye, Barbara!) OK I’ve corrected that, however, that wasn’t it. There’s still another mistake :).
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Unfair!!! If I find a second mistake, then you’ll tell me there’s a third!
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HaHa! That’s only fair. Ancient saying, “Man who makes too many mistakes when typing should keep foot away from mouth.” OK, let me be more specific. The mistake (or I should say the one I was referring to) is definitely within the letter “K”.
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it’s Victor Jory, who was an excellent supper hero in the Green Archer serial. Fifteen or sixteen chapters, one each Saturday at your neighborhood movie theater. Mine was in Brooklyn, NY. We are talking the 1940’s.
Thanks for keeping the spirit alive, Lou.
George Madison.
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George, yet another mistake! (this one typographical.) And “Thank you so much” for pointing out Mr. Jory’s role as the Green Archer. I’ve updated and added that attribution next to his name. I’d never seen that movie and see it’s based on a novel by one of my favorite authors from the Golden Age, Edgar Wallace! Thank you again for that fact. A significant and a good find. However, there’s still a “reference” mistake around the letter “K.” (At this rate I’d better recheck my whole list…haha.)
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Shemp Howard was Shemp as a member of The Three Stooges, not Moe as your list states. Moe Howard was his brother and one of the original Three Stooges.
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Shemp Howard was Shemp as a member of The Three Stooges, not Moe as your list states. Moe Howard was Moe, one of the original Three Stooges. Moe and Shemp were brothers.
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Greg, this is starting to be my most embarrassing post! Three errors found so far by readers, none of which are what I refer to in my P.S. clue. It is obvious I’m not a movie buff and need to stick to IMDb, instead of shooting from the hip, “Patience are a very lovely virtue.” I’ve corrected the mistake with our dear friend Shemp. Nothing left for me to say but quote Det. Chan again, “Humility only defense against rightful blame.” Thank you so much. Lou
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It is quite easy to mistake facts, names, etc, especially when there are so many stories, accounts and works spanning the course of decades to choose from.
Your newsletter is most fascinating. I appreciate the hard work you put into it!
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I apologize for my late response…
A fun list, Lou. Thank you! The two animal actors, Puzzums and Josephine actually helped Charlie Chan in the films in which they appeared. In “Charlie Chan’s Chance,” Puzzums was a black cat that actually saved Charlie Chan’s life by inadvertently shifting the position of a death trap pistol (which then ended up fatally shooting the perpetrator instead!). And, as you sort of included Josephine as “Lollipop” at the very end of your post, we can recall that it was she who provided an important clue to the detective in “Charlie Chan at the Race Track”!
Thank you for your work, Lou, which is always a treat to take in!
Sincerely,
Rush
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Rush, kind words remain on scroll of memory for entire life. And “thank YOU so much” for all the work you put into your website. There’s no other like it in the world…possibly the universe :-)!
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