I'm fascinated by Charlie Chan movies because the white people in them are either idiots... or the real killer. I don't think you could recruit a bigger ship of fools than the white people in a Charlie Chan movie.
They're always far more sure of themselves, far more self-entitled than they have any right to be. Or just flat out clueless.
Warner Oland's portrayal of Chan is a broad caricature of ever-smiling, pidgin-Englished Orientalism which would seem offensive but... maybe Charlie is just acting that way when the white people are around. When he's alone, he's all business.
The Chinaman stereotype is Chan's disguise.
When the white people walk in, he flips back to confirming their low expectations. He's one step ahead of them because he's made them think he's one step behind.
It will be impossible to rehabilitate these movies for general audiences but I find them fascinating for the subtext of people being undone by their own prejudice.
They're always far more sure of themselves, far more self-entitled than they have any right to be. Or just flat out clueless.
Warner Oland's portrayal of Chan is a broad caricature of ever-smiling, pidgin-Englished Orientalism which would seem offensive but... maybe Charlie is just acting that way when the white people are around. When he's alone, he's all business.
The Chinaman stereotype is Chan's disguise.
When the white people walk in, he flips back to confirming their low expectations. He's one step ahead of them because he's made them think he's one step behind.
It will be impossible to rehabilitate these movies for general audiences but I find them fascinating for the subtext of people being undone by their own prejudice.