"Behind that Curtain" this is one of the most excruciatingly dull of all Chans. A few like it, but many do not. "Charlie Chan's Secret" with Warner Oland is the best of Oland's perhaps because it has the least amount of comedy.
Time is the only true purgatory.
I love "The Black Camel," it's a rare adaptation of a Biggers novel, far superior to its 1941 remake "Charlie Chan in Rio." Warner Oland proved to be the most three dimensional Chan, acerbic like Sidney Toler toward Kashimo, and visibly angry at being attacked in the dark by persons unknown. It was great to see Bela Lugosi aiding the investigation, with all the advantages that were denied Victor Jory in the remake. Where Jory needed drugged coffee to force a confession from the guilty party, Lugosi needs only the strength of his forceful personality, plus the nature of what was revealed in the confrontation was not revealed immediately, keeping the mystery open for the duration of the film. Location shooting in Honolulu made it the most authentic Chan ever made, and Lugosi's post-Dracula presence explains the reason it was the only one of Oland's first five films to have survived. "Behind That Curtain" is every bit as dull as molasses, with the early talkie presence of Boris Karloff being the only plus. The decision to write the Chan character out of the film to make it another romantic vehicle for Warner Baxter was the fatal flaw. The story was remade with Warner Oland, but remains one of his four lost entries, "Charlie Chan's Chance."
"I take pleasure in great beauty" - James Bond
Have you read the original novel? If so, I'm wondering how it deals with the film's egregious problem - Tanaverro's close resemblance to his brother that nobody else seems to notice.
Lugosi's post-Dracula presence explains the reason it was the only one of Oland's first five films to have survived.
I've read the novel The Black Camel, and the issue of the fortune teller resembling his brother is a plot hole in both the book and the film. It's been a little while since I've read the book, but I don't recall the author handling that situation very well.
Seems like a lot of mystery authors tend to overlook the fact that siblings will resemble each other. They decide to have some characters be brother and sister, and no one will notice the resemblance.
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💕 JimHutton (1934-79) and ElleryQueen 👍
I agree with you about this film. It's extremely faithful to the book, too.
I've seen Behind that Curtain, and although I like the film, I think that they should have stuck to the book: Chan investigates a series of older incidents that appear to be linked to each other. The movie tells the story in chronological order, therefore taking out the mystery completely. (I've read all six of the Chan books.)
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💕 JimHutton (1934-79) and ElleryQueen 👍
Behind that Curtain" this is one of the most excruciatingly dull of all Chans. A few like it, but many do not. "Charlie Chan's Secret" with Warner Oland is the best of Oland's perhaps because it has the least amount of comedy.