THE RETURN OF CHARLIE CHAN
The early 1970s for some reason saw a barrage of TV detectives. Columbo, McCloud, MacMillan and Wife, Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Cannon, Longstreet, Harry O, Banacek.. it's a wonder there were any criminals left in Hollywood Universe. Charlie Chan almost joined the onslaught.
Ross Martin as the great detective
Rocky Gunn as his Number One Son
THE RETURN OF CHARLIE CHAN was a 1973 made-for-TV movie intended to jumpstart a new series. The pilot was shelved for years (I think it was shown theatrically in Europe; this practice has always made me wonder if European audiences should rejoice at having to pay to see edited versions of TV shows). Pressure groups objected to having a white actor play Chan. I don't have strong feelings about this, but then I'm not Asian and I grew up watching white actors play everything from Apaches to Polynesians, so it seems unrermarkable to me. At this time, KUNG FU was a popular series (almost a cult in its first year) and although it did star David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine, it also gave work to most available Asian-descent actors.
Maybe the Charlie Chan series would have been a success with Keye Luke as Chan, casting which would have been both ironic and satisfying. But he was working on KUNG FU. Khigh Diegh appeared frequently as masterspy Wo Fat on HAWAII FIVE-O but he could have done a good job in the role. (Diegh starred as Judge Dee in a pretty good TV-movie around this time. I assumed he was Asian, but evidently he wasn't).
The last I heard, a new Chan movie was in the works but I don't believe these things until I'm actually in line to buy a ticket.
Ross Martin as the great detective
Rocky Gunn as his Number One Son
THE RETURN OF CHARLIE CHAN was a 1973 made-for-TV movie intended to jumpstart a new series. The pilot was shelved for years (I think it was shown theatrically in Europe; this practice has always made me wonder if European audiences should rejoice at having to pay to see edited versions of TV shows). Pressure groups objected to having a white actor play Chan. I don't have strong feelings about this, but then I'm not Asian and I grew up watching white actors play everything from Apaches to Polynesians, so it seems unrermarkable to me. At this time, KUNG FU was a popular series (almost a cult in its first year) and although it did star David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine, it also gave work to most available Asian-descent actors.
Maybe the Charlie Chan series would have been a success with Keye Luke as Chan, casting which would have been both ironic and satisfying. But he was working on KUNG FU. Khigh Diegh appeared frequently as masterspy Wo Fat on HAWAII FIVE-O but he could have done a good job in the role. (Diegh starred as Judge Dee in a pretty good TV-movie around this time. I assumed he was Asian, but evidently he wasn't).
The last I heard, a new Chan movie was in the works but I don't believe these things until I'm actually in line to buy a ticket.