Chan Is Missing (1982)

Two cabbies search San Francisco's Chinatown for a mysterious character who has disappeared with their $4000. Their quest leads them on a humorous, if mundane, journey which illuminates the... See full summary »

Director:

Wayne Wang

Writers:

Isaac Cronin, Wayne Wang

Stars:

Wood Moy, Marc Hayashi, Laureen Chew

2 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Wood Moy	...	Jo
Marc Hayashi	...	Steve
Laureen Chew	...	Amy
Peter Wang	...	Henry the Cook
Presco Tabios	...	Presco
Frankie Alarcon	...	Frankie
Judi Nihei	...	Lawer
Ellen Yeung	...	Mrs. Chan Hung
George Woo	...	George
Emily Woo Yamasaki	...	Chan's Daughter Jenny (as Emily Yamasaki)
Virginia Cerenio	...	Jenny's Friend
Roy Chan	...	Mr. Lee
Leong Pui Chee	...	Mr. Fong

Storyline

Two cabbies search San Francisco's Chinatown for a mysterious character who has disappeared with their $4000. Their quest leads them on a humorous, if mundane, journey which illuminates the many problems experienced by Chinese-Americans trying to assimilate into contemporary American society.

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Plot Keywords:

san francisco california | asian american | reference to charlie chan | independent film

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Cantonese

Release Date:

4 June 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Chan ist verschwunden

Filming Locations:

Chinatown, San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Yorker Films, Wayne Wang Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was selected to the National Film Registry, Library of Congress, in 1995.

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Quotes

Jo: This mystery is appropriately Chinese: what's not there seems to have just as much meaning as what is there.

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Connections

References Li bi gou (1980)

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Soundtracks

" (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock"
(uncredited)
Written by James E. Myers (as Jimmy De Knight) and Max Freedman
Sung in Chinese during the opening scene

User Reviews

A great American film

This is the best depiction of cultural contact I have seen on film. The title points to several layers of meaning, some of which are missed by many viewers. Most obviously, this is a film about real Asian Americans, not the ersatz and offensive characters of the Charlie Chan films. That Chan is missing but not missed. At the same time, the film is a spoof of Charlie Chan films, with Jo the bumbling detective and Steve the number one son, in an outrageously profane update. Finally, the character in the film, Chan Hung, is missing, and his disappearance is symbolic of a passing that is to be mourned much more than the deservedly-forgotten Charlie Chan movies. Chan Hung is the original immigrant, who struggled to survive in his new country but could never shake his love of his original one. His missing image floats through the film like a lost soul, and adds poignance that helps to counterpoint the ribald comedy. Jo is the bridge, feeling Chan's loss, but fully rooted in America: an "ABC"--American Born Chinese. Steve is the impatient third generation, angry that the plight of the immigrants may overshadow the struggles that U.S.-born Asian Americans continue to face. The conclusion of the mystery is as inevitable as it is sad, but the spirit of the characters who inhabit this film is truly inspirational. One of a handful of films that define an essential part of the American experience.