Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free First Class Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
9 used & new from £6.75

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Charlie Chan - Chanthology [DVD]
 
See larger image
 

Charlie Chan - Chanthology [DVD]

DVD ~ Sidney Toler
4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
RRP: £29.99
Price: £9.98 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £20.01 (67%)
In stock.
Items for dispatch to UK will be sold by Amazon's Preferred Merchant. (Why?) Gift-wrap available.

4 new from £9.98 4 used from £6.75 1 collectible from £9.90
Learn about Lovefilm
Amazon's choice for DVD rental.
With a 14 day FREE trial. Learn more

Frequently Bought Together

Charlie Chan - Chanthology [DVD] + Sherlock Holmes - The Definitive Collection (Digitally Remastered) [DVD] + The Thin Man Collection : The Thin Man / Shadow Of The Thin Man / The Thin Man Goes Home / After The Thin Man / Another Thin Man / The Song Of The Thin Man (6 Disc Box Set) [1934] [DVD]
Total RRP: £126.97
Price For All Three: £41.14

Show availability and shipping details



Product details

  • Actors: Sidney Toler
  • Format: Box set, PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 3
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: MGM Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: 1 Nov 2004
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B0006466GC
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 25,513 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Though the Charlie Chan film franchise has earned brickbats for its casting of Caucasian actors as the Asian sleuth, the movies have retained popularity among aficionados of '40s-era B-crime pictures, and the six-disc Charlie Chan Chanthology, all featuring Sidney Toler as Chan, should please that crowd. The Missouri-born Toler starred in 11 Chan pictures for Fox before purchasing the rights to the character from creator Earl Derr Biggers's widow and bringing it to budget studio Monogram, where he starred in 11 more Chans before his death in 1947 (Roland Winters replaced him in six more features until 1949). At Monogram, Chan became a Secret Service Agent (a move calculated to cut down on exotic locations and sets), and comedy was integrated into the plots via Mantan Moreland's chauffeur Birmingham Brown; Benson Fong also joined the cast as Number Three Son Tommy, with occasional appearances by daughter Frances (Frances Chan) and son Eddie (Edwin Luke, brother of Keye Luke, who played Number One Son Lee in the Fox Chans).

Other than that, the six films collected here (the first six Chans for Monogram, and all but five directed by Phil Rosen) are largely indistinguishable from one another save for the murder victims and their demises. In The Secret Service, Chan investigates the death of a wartime inventor; a San Francisco socialite expires in The Chinese Cat; daughter Frances is involved in the murder of a psychic in Meeting at Midnight (a.k.a. Black Magic); another government scientist is killed in The Jade Mask, and death by remote control is the focus of The Scarlet Clue. Director Phil Karlson (Kansas City Confidential) adds some noirish atmosphere to The Shanghai Cobra, which has bank employees dying from apparent snakebites. Dated and controversial as they may be, the Chan films are engaging diversions for vintage mystery fans. No extras are featured in the set. --Paul Gaita

Synopsis
Featuring six cases for the detective Charlie Chan, who was created by Earl Derr Biggers: 'Charlie Chan In The Chinese Cat', 'Charlie Chan In The Secret Service', 'The Jade Mask', 'Shanghai Cobra', 'Meeting At Midnight' and 'The Scarlet Clue'.


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Sherlock Holmes - The Definitive Collection (Digitally Remastered) [DVD]

Sherlock Holmes - The Definitive Collection (Digitally Remastered) [DVD]

DVD ~ Basil Rathbone
4.7 out of 5 stars (36)  £19.18
Mr Moto's Last Warning [DVD]

Mr Moto's Last Warning [DVD]

DVD ~ Peter Lorre
The Thin Man Collection : The Thin Man / Shadow Of The Thin Man / The Thin Man Goes Home / After The Thin Man / Another Thin Man / The Song Of The Thin Man (6 Disc Box Set) [1934] [DVD]

The Thin Man Collection : The Thin Man / Shadow Of The Thin Man / The Thin Man Goes Home / After The Thin Man / Another Thin Man / The Song Of The Thin Man (6 Disc Box Set) [1934] [DVD]

DVD ~ William Powell
4.7 out of 5 stars (10)  £11.98
3 Classic Bulldog Drummond Films Of The Silver Screen - Bulldog Drummond's Bride / Bulldog Drummond Comes Back / Bulldog Drummond Escapes [DVD]

3 Classic Bulldog Drummond Films Of The Silver Screen - Bulldog Drummond's Bride / Bulldog Drummond Comes Back / Bulldog Drummond Escapes [DVD]

DVD ~ John Howard
£4.89
The Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan Collection  [DVD]

The Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan Collection [DVD]

4.7 out of 5 stars (3)  £7.98
Explore similar items

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

 

Customer Reviews

4 Reviews
5 star:
 (2)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Now I have seen these I want more, well worth every penny!, 28 April 2006
By Jezz "Jezz Bullock" (NEWCASTLE, STAFFS United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
These take me back to childhood, many a Saturday afternoon sitting in front of the fire on cold autumn day. When i ordered these i couldn't really remember much about the films except that they were one of my aunty's favorites. When i saw these at such a low price from Amazon I decided to take the chance. It has definitely paid off!!

The quality of the sound and picture are very good (for the year) and lets face it they are sixty years old or more, yet this doesn't show much and what does show only adds to the nostalgia of these brilliant films.

As soon as you start watching these films you start to remember the way Charlie gaiters across the room with that smile on his face as if thinking of a private joke. Speaking of jokes the humour in these films is also novel, Birmingham provides most of this with the expressions of his face and his big round eyes.

Not knowing much about the actors or directors means I can't comment on these, all I know is in these films they are all excellent, I hope you enjoy them as much as I have! They also will have a well earned space on my DVD shelf as they are all re-watchable and will like to pass down to my number one son who also likes them.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Relaxtion for winter day, 13 Jul 2006
By C. P. Molony "molony40" (london) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I too have enjoyed this charlie chan box set, some of his saying are still priceless, a must for any 40 plus movie buff, a nice warm fire, comfortable chair, switch the phone off, settle down to hours of pleasure.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars At last the UK gets a decent quality Chan release, 6 Aug 2007
By John Darby "flaxman low" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
In the mid forties the Monogram studio took over production of the Charlie Chan movies after Twentieth Century Fox dropped the series in 1942. Actor Sidney Toler now owned the rights to the character, and went on to star in eleven Chan films for Monogram up until his death in 1947. This box set contains the first six of those films, and given they are less well known than the Fox films, this release is welcome. Although the Monogram films had decidedly lower budgets and production values than the Fox series, there is still much to enjoy. Of the films in this set the stand out ones are director Phil Karlson's "Shanghai Cobra", with its film noir elements, and "Meeting At Midnight", with its spooky overtones. The remaining films are somewhat weaker and are rather similar to each other, but are still entertaining. The other factor that makes this set worth considering is the very good picture and sound quality, which sets it apart from the miserable efforts contained within some other UK releases. The otherwise excellent set loses one star for not including any extras.

It is to be hoped MGM will release the remaining Monogram Chan films in due course, as it is particularly regrettable Phil Karlson's second feature in the series, "Dark Alibi", is not generally available.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Bring back Chan
A trip down memory lane from when these films were shown on Sunday afternoons in my childhood. This is a good quality reproduction and features all the capers that are typical of... Read more
Published 15 months ago by J. Southern

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


   
Related forums


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Look for similar items by subject






i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback


Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

Elemis Resurface and Renew Skin Care Gift Set of 4 Products
From soap to shavers, massagers to mascara, stock up on your daily essentials or truly pamper yourself.

Discover Health & Beauty

 

Beauty without the Beast

Olay Regenerist Daily 3 Point Treatment Cream
From au naturel to party glam, we have all the best names in cosmetics and skincare.

Discover Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

 

A Close Shave

Philips Nivea Coolskin HS8060 Moisturizing Rotary Shaving System
For all types of hair removal, stay smooth with Amazon.co.uk.

Discover Shaving & Hair Removal

 

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

Learn more about Gift Certificates

 
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates