The New Adventures of Charlie Chan
Encyclopedia
The New Adventures of Charlie Chan was a syndicated television
crime drama series made in 1957. The first five episodes were made by Vision Productions in the United States
, before production switched to the United Kingdom
under ITC Entertainment
and Television Programs of America
.
The series, consisting of 39 half-hour monochrome episodes, followed the investigations of the fictional detective Charlie Chan
, created by Earl Derr Biggers
in 1925.
The series followed the convention, established in the Charlie Chan movies
, of having the Asian character Chan played by a Western
actor while his son(s) were played by actual Asians.
Guest stars, most notably under ITC, included Honor Blackman
, Southern Television
chief announcer Brian Nissen
and future Doctor Who
, Patrick Troughton
.
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
crime drama series made in 1957. The first five episodes were made by Vision Productions in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, before production switched to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
under ITC Entertainment
ITC Entertainment
The Incorporated Television Company was a British television company largely involved in production and distribution. It was founded by Lew Grade.-History:...
and Television Programs of America
Television Programs of America
Television Programs of America, Inc was a New York-based US television production company in the 1950s. TPA had a Canadian subsidiary, Normandie Productions....
.
The series, consisting of 39 half-hour monochrome episodes, followed the investigations of the fictional detective Charlie Chan
Charlie Chan
Charlie Chan is a fictional Chinese-American detective created by Earl Derr Biggers in 1919. Loosely based on Honolulu detective Chang Apana, Biggers conceived of the benevolent and heroic Chan as an alternative to Yellow Peril stereotypes, such as villains like Fu Manchu...
, created by Earl Derr Biggers
Earl Derr Biggers
Earl Derr Biggers was an American novelist and playwright. He is remembered primarily for adaptations of his novels, especially those featuring the Chinese-American detective Charlie Chan.-Biography:...
in 1925.
The series followed the convention, established in the Charlie Chan movies
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, of having the Asian character Chan played by a Western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
actor while his son(s) were played by actual Asians.
Main cast
- J. Carrol NaishJ. Carrol NaishJoseph Patrick Carrol Naish was an American character actor born in New York City. Naish was twice nominated for an Academy Award for film roles, and he later found fame in the title role of CBS Radio's Life With Luigi , which was also on CBS Television .Naish appeared on stage for several years...
as Charlie Chan - James HongJames HongJames Hong is an American actor and former president of the Association of Asian/Pacific American Artists . A prolific acting veteran, Hong's career spans over 50 years and includes more than 350 roles in film, television, and video games.-Early life:Hong was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His...
as Barry Chan, "Number One Son"
Guest stars, most notably under ITC, included Honor Blackman
Honor Blackman
Honor Blackman is an English actress, known for the roles of Cathy Gale in The Avengers and Bond girl Pussy Galore in Goldfinger .-Early life:...
, Southern Television
Southern Television
Southern Television was the first ITV broadcasting licence holder for the south and south-east of England from 30 August 1958 until the night of 31 December 1981. The company was launched as Southern Television Limited and the title Southern Television was consistently used on-air throughout its life...
chief announcer Brian Nissen
Brian Nissen
Brian Nissen was a British actor and television continuity announcer.-Biography:Nissen made an early appearance in Laurence Olivier's film of Shakespeare's Henry V, and made many TV, film and stage appearances, including The Dam Busters , and the television series The New Adventures of Charlie...
and future Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
, Patrick Troughton
Patrick Troughton
Patrick George Troughton was an English actor most widely known for his roles in fantasy, science fiction and horror films, particularly in his role as the second incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running British science-fiction television series Doctor Who, which he played from 1966 to 1969,...
.
Episode list
This list appears to be in production order. The first five episodes were filmed in the US by Vision, the remaining episodes in the UK by ITC.-
Your Money or Your Wife - Secret of the Sea
- The Lost Face
- Blind Man's Buff
- The Great Salvos
- The Counterfeiters
- The Death of a Don
- Charlie's Highland Fling
- The Patient in Room 21
- The Rajput Ruby
- The Final Curtain
- Death at High Tide
- The Circle of Fear
- An Exhibit in Wax
- Backfire
- Patron of the Arts
- A Hamlet in Flames
- Dateline: Execution'
- The Sweater
- The Noble Art of Murder
- Three Men on a Raft
- No Holiday for Murder
- No Future for Frederick
- Safe Deposit
- Voodoo Death
- The Expatriate (aka Ex-Patriot)
- The Airport Murder Case (episode is mis-named, as the murder takes place at a railway terminal)
- The Hand of Hera Dass
- The Chippendale Racket
- The Invalid
- The Man in the Wall
- Something Old, Something New
- The Man with 100 Faces
- The Point of No Return
- A Bowl By Cellini
- Without Fear
- Kidnap
- Rhyme or Treason
- Three for One