"The New Adventures of Charlie Chan" (1957) TV series

Writer:

Dwight V. Babcock (writer) (2 episodes)

Seasons:

1

Genre:

Mystery

Plot:

Chinese-American detective Charlie Chan is called in to help solve baffling cases, aided by his #1 son. The first five episodes were filmed in the US, then production switched to the UK for the rest of the series.

Plot Keywords:

Chinese | Independent Production | Detective Series | Half Hour Teleseries | Charlie Chan

Cast

J. Carrol Naish	...	Charlie Chan (39 episodes, 1957-1958)
James Hong	...	Barry Chan (38 episodes, 1957-1958)

Also Known As:

Charlie Chan

Runtime:

30 min | 30 min (39 episodes)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Vision Productions

Movie Connections:

Follows Charlie Chan's Greatest Case (1933)

Classic character transplanted to TV

I seem to be the only one who even remembers this TV show. As a matter of fact, I used to think that J. Carroll Naish was the only person to play Charlie Chan, but that was before I discovered the movies. Naish seemed to be very comfortable playing anything but what he was - German-Irish - but he specialized in "exotics" (meaning Asians - then called Orientals - and East Indian mystics. He even played a few Italians and even Mafiosi) I remembered one particular mystery where a boxer dies in the ring but from a gunshot wound. I particularly remember it because the very same mystery was used in a Mr. Moto picture, an episode of "Burke's Law" and the 1975 Ellery Queen series starring Jim Hutton and David Wayne. I won't spoil it for you in case you happen to come across any of the three versions - and I suspect there were more) As his "inscrutable" American son, Benson Fong who had already appeared in the movie series with two other Chan actors as different sons.

I remember it was fun and riveting at least for a 7 year old boy in front of the old Philco TV.

Later, Naish returned to TV in a comedy series called "Westward Ho" playing an American Indian named Hawkeye. Another fond childhood memory. Another great character actor who worked almost to the very end and never became a star.