[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

Charlie Chan was based on a real Chinese detective in Hawaii. Sadly, his exploits are not well known. The franchise should be re-started using Chinese actors and set in Hawaii. Cut the corny sayings and any hint of racism and it could be a hit today.

Warner Oland, the original Chan, was born in Sweden IIRC, He said he was decended from the Mongolian race.

[william clark]

Actually, Oland was the fourth actor to play the role, but the first to make it successful enough to launch a series. George Kuwa played Chan first, in Pathe’s serial adaptation (now lost) of “The House Without a Key”, the first Chan novel.