100+ Charlie Chan Sayings and Proverbs. A surprisingly good selection of truisms and insights

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | March 24, 2012 | Msgr. Charles Pope

[Oatka]

In one of the bonus sections of these DVDs, Warner Oland (I think) was quoted as saying he hated those “Chanisms” as too corny, but the public loved it and the studios wisely kept it up.

Another interesting bit was that when Oland (again I think) went to China, even the Chinese thought he was an Oriental.

I really liked the “Gee Whiz Pop” No. 1 Son, for he personified how the kids of non-Western cultures became Americanized.

Some years back, TNT was going to run a “Chan-a-Thon” and a professional victim group showed up complaining that the character was demeaning and showed the Chinese in a bad light. Naturally, the execs folded. I wrote them a scathing letter (pre-email days) saying how come no one complained about Colombo.

[Overwatcher]

Were those guys Chinamen? Or, in a more politically correct manner, were those gentlemen Chinese?

Which reminds me why Chinese have slanted eyes: “Oh, no! Rice again?” (It’s an old joke).

[jongaltsr]

My favorite saying is - (after capturing young bear which had been stealing blocks of Teak wood from his storage shed -

“I have caught you bear with boys feet and teaks of Chan.”

[navymom1]

Charlie Chan movies are the best ever made. Everybody seems to have their favorite Chan but mine is Sidney Toler and his loveable number 2 son, Jimmy, Victor Sen Yung.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Charlie Chan was based on a real Hawaiian detective in the late 1920s-30s. I would love to see a new Chan Film made—but made right—with a Chinese Actor and made in Hawaii—If I owed a studio I would make “The Case of the Vanishing Birth Certificate” PC will be long dead when this sort of film is made.

[Cicero]

Excellent. I used to go to Charlie Chan movies at the weekly Saturday Matinee double feature, when I was a kid.

For what seems to be a complete list of aphorisms, see here:

http://charliechanfamily.tripod.com/id6.html

[JoeFromSidney]

I enjoyed the Chan movies back then. But there was another Chinese detective in a comic strip: Wun Cloo, the Defective Detective. That would really be un-PC today.

[Kid Shelleen]

Those are awesome; Anybody classic TV buffs remember "The Amazing Harry Hoo"?

"Solly About That !!! "
Harry Hoo


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GINpn8fonA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAcmr3wmYbQ

[NYer]

Some years back, TNT was going to run a “Chan-a-Thon” and a professional victim group showed up complaining that the character was demeaning and showed the Chinese in a bad light.

Not surprised. Dilbert San Diego also commented on how political correctness has denied generations of Americans the fruit from the earliest years of broadcasting.

I still, though vaguely, recall the Amos n Andy television program. Set in Harlem, the story centered on George Stevens (Moore) who was always conniving to make a fast buck. He was president of the Mystic Knights of the Sea, a fraternal order, where he held the position of "Kingfish." His lodge brothers were always getting snared in his schemes.

Soon the accusations of rascisim swirled around the show. Even though it went off the air in 1953 it was frequently seen in syndication. Civil rights groups complained that the characters stereotyped blacks and in 1966 it was pulled. However, it maintains a place in history as the first dramatic show with an all black cast. Ironically, the descendants of the cast members, are proud of their family member's participation on the program and fought back, unsuccessfully, to have the program restored.

In 2002, Speedy Gonzalez, the rapid rodent was been deemed an offensive ethnic stereotype of Mexicans, and taken off the air by Cartoon Network. A 1952 Hanna-Barbera Tom and Jerry cartoon titled "Little Runaway" is now airing on the Cartoon Network minus a fraction of a scene which features a trash can cover hitting Tom's facing causing him to momentarily appear to be Chinese.

Censorship has gone much too far.

[scrabblehack]

Keye Luke from the 1972 cartoon series (who was also #1 or maybe #2 son in the 1930’s/1940’s. This one I do remember.

Ross Martin in Return of Charlie Chan (1973) - haven’t seen it.

J. Carrol Naish in the 1957-58 TV series (not familar with it).

[Osage Orange]

mark

[Ransomed]

I think speedy is back on the cartoon network. The new looney toons show, I think he owns a pizza shop, makes his own deliveries. I think I even remember a mexican accent, but I could be wrong about that. But you are right, I haven’t seen the originals for a long time.

The censorship of cartoons is so stupid it hurts.

They played Johnny Quest on boomerang, which is pretty shocking. Not sure if they leave the less politically correct ones out or not, or if it’s still on. My favs are the HB action cartoons of the 60’s, just great action crap with no insipid moral messages like the unspeakable garbage that happened in the 80’s.

Freegards, thanks for all the pings on FR

[verga]

Didn’t Ross Martin (Wild Wild West) play him several times as well?

[Dilbert San Diego]

Ross Martin played him in a made for TV movie. I have never seen it. I think it was just one movie, not more than one. If I recall correctly, it was a pilot for a possible TV series.

Reminds me of the Wild Wild West. Artie was a master of disguise. Though I never saw that movie, I can imagine him as a convincing Charlie Chan.

[Dilbert San Diego]

I remember Johnny Quest, with his friend Hadji.

I think Hadji was supposed to be Muslim. I think the term “hadji” is Arabic, and means someone who has performed the hajj or trip to Mecca. But here we see “satanic” cartoon makers of the ‘60s made that boy’s name Hadji.

I bet Muslims would be upset with that cartoon.

[thecodont]

They played Johnny Quest on boomerang, which is pretty shocking.

One of my favorite childhood cartoons was the original Jonny Quest. There was some documentary online about the making of it.

The documentary is on YouTube, link to the first part is below. It's well worth watching the whole thing if you are familiar with the series.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk3zJjD2QB4

[navymom1]

You are absolutely right. The writer was wanting to create the next great detective after Sherlock Holmes and created Chan.

I remember reading about the real life Chan and I recall the name but it’s slipped my mind (happens when you turn 51)presently. I want to say Pan Arpio, but that’s laughable!

I do have this bit of trivia. Sidney Toler who played my favorite Chan was known for his Iris cop roles prior to the Chan series. He was born in Warrensburg MO and is buried in my home state of Kansas, in Wichita.

[Ransomed]

I always thought Hadji Quest was supposed to be Indian, I could be wrong. I think I remember him coming from Calcutta. He would pull these eastern fakir tricks like charming snakes and popping up in different barrels if the bad guys where after him.

The villains were the ones that would be really trouble nowadays—Zin was like straight out of Dr. Fu-Manchu. The evil yellow threat or whatever. There was also some where the were fighting actual savages of quite darker hue. I know, I know. That NEVER happened in real life. But it was awesome.

Freegards

[Ransomed]

I think my favs were the herculoids and dino boy with Ug the cave man. All that 60’s action stuff from HB was pure awesome sauce for boys. Just entertainment for kids, no socially correct moral message, just monsters, heroes and villains mixing it up.

In the late 70’s it started with the whole idea that you couldn’t have a responsible show for kids without teaching them them some insipid moral lesson at the same time. The ideas of course suffered greatly. Everything became selling toys, working as a group, don’t judge something by its looks, tell the truth, never kill anything ever, blah blah yuck. Give me giant heroic blob monsters fighting invading robots on a weird alien planet in deep space any day.

It’s starting to come around, but on cable with shows like adventure time.

I had forgotten it was actually Jonny and not Johnny. I’ll have to take a peek at that link, thanks. Some of the the characters for the HB action cartoons were designed by comic great Alex Toth.

Freegards