The text of our Charlie Chan Family Chat for December 30, 2024
Feature: Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen
Chat Number: 1,288
Extra:
Peter Ustinov on Letterman, January 7, 1986
Participants:
Barbie Dahl
Godwinshelley
Matt
Rush
12-30 18:17
Rush:
12-30 18:30
Rush:
Greetings, Matt!
12-30 18:30
Matt:
Hello Rush!
12-30 18:30
Rush:
How was your Christmas?
12-30 18:30
Matt:
Pretty good, thnx….yourself?
12-30 18:31
Rush:
Not too bad at all.
TYSM…
And now we are at the New Year!
12-30 18:32
Matt:
We traveled to my in-laws for a few days. He is declining with the dementia
Yes, Happy New Years Eve, eve
12-30 18:32
Rush:
Sorry to hear that as I mentioned before.
Yes…May the New Year bring with it much happiness for all.
12-30 18:33
Matt:
On more upbeat note, we leave Saturday morning for Ft Lauderdale….our cruise begins on Sunday!
12-30 18:34
Rush:
We only had five of us last week! And that includes Ziah who had to leave early!
NICE, about the cruise!
Where are you headed this time?
12-30 18:34
Matt:
Ah, the holiday is tough for the chat
World Cruise…..4 months!
12-30 18:35
Rush:
AH!! That’s right!
WOW!
That will be wonderful!!!
12-30 18:35
Matt:
Seemed so far away and now it’s this weekend
12-30 18:36
Rush:
Right! You told me about that cruise some time ago!
12-30 18:36
Matt:
I’ll try to pop in when possible, but for the next 4 moths I probably won’t be staying too long
12-30 18:37
Rush:
Understood for sure!
12-30 18:38
Rush:
Again…that will be GREAT!!!
12-30 18:38
Matt:
We’re quite excited and a bit stressed with all the logistics
12-30 18:39
Rush:
That I understand as well.
That is one HUGE travel commitment! 
12-30 18:39
Matt:
Yes…..a bucket list for us, while we’re somewhat young
12-30 18:40
Rush:
Now is the time to do it!
12-30 18:40
Matt:
That’s our feeling and no regrets
12-30 18:41
Rush:
There should be no regrets on something so wonderful! What an opportunity!
12-30 18:42
Matt:
So, did you stay local for Christmas?
12-30 18:42
Rush:
Yes.
12-30 18:43
Rush:
We will be traveling to California in June for my older daughter’s college graduation.
12-30 18:43
Rush:
We MIGHT go on from there to Hawaii.
She is here for us right now.
12-30 18:44
Matt:
Nice…..College graduation? Already?
12-30 18:44
Rush:
With
I know! Seems impossible!!!
12-30 18:44
Barbie Dahl:
Hello Rush! Hello Matt! 👋👋
12-30 18:44
Matt:
Amazing
Hello BD!
12-30 18:44
Rush:
Good evening, BD…and WELCOME!!!
12-30 18:45
Rush:
How was your Christmas?
And, a Happy New Year to you!
12-30 18:45
Matt:
Have you seen the film for tonight?
12-30 18:46
Rush:
I was telling Matt about the “cozy” gathering here last week!
I have not.
12-30 18:46
Matt:
Me either
12-30 18:46
Rush:
I think it will be fun to see it for the first time with everyone!
12-30 18:46
Matt:
But, I have it in my Amazon basket, just in case, for my collection
12-30 18:46
Rush:
I am not looking for it to be a masterpiece, though!
12-30 18:46
Matt:
Agreed
12-30 18:47
Rush:
I have the link for us if needed!
12-30 18:47
Barbie Dahl:
Sick and solo. Went out to hang out with my best friend’s fam on Xmas Eve but was really feeling it Xmas Day
12-30 18:47
Matt:
Sorry to hear BD, especially during the holiday
12-30 18:48
Rush:
Sorry, BD. May you get well FAST and be able to welcome the New Year in better health!
12-30 18:49
Barbie Dahl:
🙏
12-30 18:49
Rush:
Our extra tonight is sort of a fun one, featuring the star of our movie tonight, Peter Ustinov.
Peter Ustinov on Letterman, January 7, 1986
12-30 18:50
Rush:
This was six year after he made our movie.
Here is the link…
12-30 18:50
Matt:
Ah, I thought it may be a promotional for the film
12-30 18:50
Rush:
12-30 18:51
Barbie Dahl:
What was he pushing?
12-30 18:51
Rush:
Just some insights into the man who was Chan,,,for one shot!
Nothing, really.
12-30 18:52
Rush:
We will see how he was talking on a broad range of things!
So….
Ready?
12-30 18:52
Matt:
I am
12-30 18:52
Rush:
Okay….15….
10…
12-30 18:52
Barbie Dahl:
👍🏻
12-30 18:52
Rush:
5….
GO!!!
12-30 18:53
Rush:
Lots of applause.
12-30 18:56
Matt:
lol
12-30 18:57
Rush:
Interesting guy.
12-30 18:57
Matt:
Very
12-30 19:02
Rush:
…and funny, too!
12-30 19:05
Barbie Dahl:
Very witty
12-30 19:05
Rush:
And there it was!
12-30 19:05
Matt:
Very nice, thnx
12-30 19:05
Rush:
I have to say, for me, it was not boring!
12-30 19:06
Matt:
No, he was entertaining
12-30 19:06
Rush:
Well…9 minutes to go…
12-30 19:06
Barbie Dahl:
Very good, interview
12-30 19:07
Rush:
So, now we know a little bit about Peter Ustinov.
12-30 19:08
Godwinshelley:
What do we “cue” to?
12-30 19:08
Matt:
Hello GS!
12-30 19:09
Rush:
I think I have some text in our Study where he went off against those who thought he, a non-Asian, would play Charlie Chan.
12-30 19:09
Godwinshelley:
First time through with this feature for me
12-30 19:09
Rush:
The old PC criticism…
12-30 19:09
Matt:
Us too GS
I’m cued to the opening title?
12-30 19:09
Rush:
GS!
WELCOME!!!
Happy New Year…
12-30 19:10
Barbie Dahl:
Hello GS!👋🏻
12-30 19:10
Godwinshelley:
American Cinema Productions? is that where we start – and hello to you Rush
12-30 19:10
Godwinshelley:
And Barbie
And Matt
Typeface looks like Dr Phibes
12-30 19:11
Rush:
YES!
12-30 19:11
Godwinshelley:
If this was from the 70s that was when Dr Phibes came out
12-30 19:12
Rush:
Dr. Phibes…a favorite of mine…came out in the early ’70s.
12-30 19:13
Godwinshelley:
There was a script for a third film that never got made
Someone is writing new Dr Phibes novels – they look good but I haven’t picked one up yet
12-30 19:13
Rush:
I will start us a couple of minutes late, sorry…
I had some remote issues!
12-30 19:13
Godwinshelley:
OK sounds fine
12-30 19:14
Rush:
I will get the link to the movie…
12-30 19:14
Matt:
12-30 19:14
Barbie Dahl:
I remember Ustinov from Murder by Death, Topkapi, We’re No Angels and Robin Hood
12-30 19:14
Rush:
There it is…
OK….
12-30 19:14
Barbie Dahl:
Among many others…
12-30 19:14
Rush:
Let’s say…TWO MINUTES…
12-30 19:15
Rush:
Two minutes to go…
Please cue to the first credits before the title…
12-30 19:15
Godwinshelley:
I’m cued to the production credit
12-30 19:15
Rush:
75 seconds…
12-30 19:16
Rush:
Yes.
That’s it.
60 seconds…
50 seconds…
40 seconds…
12-30 19:17
Rush:
30 seconds…
25…
20…
15…
10…
5…
GO!!!
12-30 19:17
Matt:
12-30 19:17
Rush:
Credits….
TYSM, Matt….
12-30 19:17
Godwinshelley:
I always like Roddy McDowell
12-30 19:17
Barbie Dahl:
I’m liking the jewelry
12-30 19:18
Rush:
Already the music sets the mood…
Yes, BD!
This opening sequence seems like a Bond movie.
12-30 19:19
Rush:
Black and white opening.
12-30 19:19
Godwinshelley:
Shouldn’ they say “Inspector Chan”?
12-30 19:20
Rush:
He looked pretty good, IMHO.
Yes, GS…I agree.
12-30 19:21
Rush:
A little Monogramesque sound effect as the paper was tossed.
12-30 19:22
Rush:
Ironically, I have a Toler autograph which has a Roddy McDowell signature on the other side.
12-30 19:22
Godwinshelley:
Well the set certainly LOOKS like a Dr Phibes set
12-30 19:23
Rush:
Agreed.
12-30 19:23
Barbie Dahl:
Good aim by that kid… He has a bright future as a high paid assassin.🤔
12-30 19:23
Godwinshelley:
We just need the mechanical musicians
12-30 19:23
Rush:
12-30 19:24
Rush:
12-30 19:26
Rush:
Well, this one certainly does not fit into the Chan “cannon”…
12-30 19:27
Godwinshelley:
Weird music choice for this scene
12-30 19:29
Rush:
Why am I thinking about “Three’s Company”?
12-30 19:29
Godwinshelley:
He looks like Ritter
12-30 19:29
Rush:
12-30 19:30
Barbie Dahl:
Battlestar Galactica?
12-30 19:30
Matt:
Yep
12-30 19:31
Rush:
AH!
That’s right!
12-30 19:31
Godwinshelley:
Yes he was friends with Starbuck
12-30 19:31
Barbie Dahl:
Apollo
12-30 19:32
Godwinshelley:
She is so young
12-30 19:33
Rush:
Yes…this being 40-plus years ago!
12-30 19:33
Rush:
Sheesh.
12-30 19:34
Godwinshelley:
Embarqadaro
12-30 19:34
Rush:
yes.
12-30 19:35
Godwinshelley:
This is a while – a Woolworths
12-30 19:36
Rush:
Did we see that coming???
12-30 19:36
Godwinshelley:
That’s close to where the Behind that Curtain shot was taken
12-30 19:36
Godwinshelley:
So I take it this is after “What
s Up Doc” came out
12-30 19:37
Rush:
Yes it is.
Walking disaster!
12-30 19:37
Matt:
I think I can remove this film from my Amazon basket
12-30 19:37
Barbie Dahl:
Someone needs to sanction this man for the good of humanity ☠️
12-30 19:37
Rush:
Yes.
12-30 19:38
Rush:
As I noted…my first watch of this one…
Maybe the last!
12-30 19:38
Barbie Dahl:
Must be the paperbo
12-30 19:38
Matt:
lol, yes
12-30 19:39
Barbie Dahl:
Paperboy
12-30 19:39
Godwinshelley:
We saw the Al Window truck go by earlier
12-30 19:39
Godwinshelley:
YEA – Acupuncture
They would use the dolls to point where things hurt
12-30 19:39
Matt:
Darts, lol
12-30 19:39
Godwinshelley:
thats a TENS unit
12-30 19:40
Rush:
I have had accupuncture treatments in the past.
YOW!
Matt?
12-30 19:40
Matt:
12-30 19:40
Rush:
Oh..the language…!
TYSM….Matt….
12-30 19:41
Godwinshelley:
Makes it hard to market Acupuncture when they have things like that (and that Final Destination 5) movies
12-30 19:42
Matt:
That’s Ok GS, I don’t think too many watched this film
12-30 19:42
Barbie Dahl:
Rope and needles? For some people I know, that’s a fun night out!😝
12-30 19:43
Rush:
Except for the spike through the chest!
12-30 19:44
Godwinshelley:
So is Angie also yellowface in this film?
12-30 19:44
Rush:
Angie Dickenson is 93 now!
12-30 19:44
Barbie Dahl:
That DOES put a dampener on it, Rush🤔
12-30 19:45
Rush:
Indeed.
12-30 19:46
Rush:
Seems to run in the family!
A clumbsy gene.
12-30 19:47
Rush:
The only bright spot in this one for me is that Ustinov looks pretty good as Chan.
12-30 19:49
Godwinshelley:
Is that supposed to be Lee?
12-30 19:50
Rush:
Maybe.
12-30 19:50
Godwinshelley:
So the clumsy is the curse
Number One son – so that is Lee
12-30 19:50
Rush:
He IS “Number One Son.”
12-30 19:50
Rush:
“Seem like curse working already.”
12-30 19:52
Barbie Dahl:
Unfortunately, instead of just speaking, Ustinov is doing a lot of grunting and moaning…
12-30 19:52
Matt:
12-30 19:53
Rush:
TYSM…Matt…
12-30 19:55
Rush:
More Chinatown shots.
12-30 19:55
Godwinshelley:
Love the location filming in SF (though this is back projection)
12-30 19:55
Rush:
Yes.
12-30 19:55
Godwinshelley:
So Charlie Chan meets Catwoman!
12-30 19:57
Rush:
So, if he is Lee Chan, Jr…that WAS Lee Chan, earlier.
12-30 19:57
Godwinshelley:
Ha – find my cat – while Catwoman stands there
12-30 19:58
Rush:
Oh…some welcomed irony!
12-30 19:58
Godwinshelley:
That painting reminds me of the Kramer painting
12-30 19:58
Rush:
Not familiar, but I can imagine, GS!
12-30 19:59
Rush:
This recalls “Sunset Blvd” for me…
12-30 20:00
Godwinshelley:
12-30 20:00
Rush:
12-30 20:00
Godwinshelley:
Yes the older limo and the spanish-influence mansion
12-30 20:01
Rush:
Yes.
And…TYSM for the Kramer painting!
12-30 20:01
Godwinshelley:
Though Roddy is not Eric von Storheim
12-30 20:02
Rush:
Yes!
12-30 20:03
Godwinshelley:
There is supposed to be a Shanghai Bar sequence where Lee Jr orders a drink called “The Apollo”
12-30 20:05
Godwinshelley:
There it was “Captain Apollo on the rocks”
12-30 20:05
Barbie Dahl:
There it was GS!
12-30 20:06
Rush:
YES!
Disaster coming!
12-30 20:07
Rush:
Anelectrocution?
Electrocusion?
12-30 20:07
Rush:
Yep.
12-30 20:07
Barbie Dahl:
Well, at least someone’s kid got some work for their fusion band
12-30 20:08
Rush:
12-30 20:08
Rush:
AH! The old LIGHTS OUT!
12-30 20:09
Godwinshelley:
An oldie but a goodie
12-30 20:10
Rush:
The old 555 movie prefix…
12-30 20:10
Barbie Dahl:
They need a better postal service
12-30 20:10
Rush:
Matt?
We have TWO more, sir…
12-30 20:11
Matt:
12-30 20:11
Rush:
TYSM…Matt…
12-30 20:11
Matt:
12-30 20:11
Rush:
And…TYSM….
12-30 20:11
Matt:
CC a trend setter
12-30 20:11
Rush:
12-30 20:12
Godwinshelley:
Yes she is certainly going around without causing any notice
12-30 20:13
Rush:
“Blazing Saddles” finale?
12-30 20:13
Godwinshelley:
If we could combine this film and last week’s “Return” – it might be nice – not too serious and not too funny
12-30 20:14
Rush:
Two films in the same evening, GS?
12-30 20:14
Godwinshelley:
More like Ben Hur this part
12-30 20:14
Rush:
YES!
12-30 20:14
Godwinshelley:
mix them together to brighten the Return and maybe tone-down this one
12-30 20:16
Rush:
12-30 20:18
Godwinshelley:
Now AL needs to call a window repair company
12-30 20:18
Rush:
Yes.
12-30 20:19
Barbie Dahl:
Usually, stuff like this doesn’t bother me in the older films, times being what they were, but c’mon… This is, what, the 1980s? Hadn’t Hollywood built up a good surplus of asian actors for asian parts? Of four roles, only Lee is played by an Asian… 🤔
12-30 20:19
Godwinshelley:
70s
12-30 20:19
Matt:
This is a painful watch
12-30 20:20
Rush:
Well…this whole film is nothing more than a spoof, anyway…
12-30 20:20
Barbie Dahl:
Still, we have no shortage of comely young Asians violinists 😝
12-30 20:21
Rush:
If I had seen in in a theater in 1980 I would have walked out by now!
12-30 20:21
Godwinshelley:
I would have stayed just to see SF
12-30 20:22
Godwinshelley:
I did walk out on “The Hospital” with George C Scott
Yikes – hope she doesn’t have an Isadora Duncan incident
12-30 20:23
Godwinshelley:
AWWWW the film fest
So he is both an Inspector AND a film actor in this film
12-30 20:23
Rush:
12-30 20:25
Godwinshelley:
This really could have been a batman movie
12-30 20:25
Barbie Dahl:
Hah!
12-30 20:25
Rush:
I agree.
12-30 20:26
Rush:
That may be what they had in mind.
Used to be called, “camp.”
12-30 20:26
Godwinshelley:
If cellphones existed – Lee Jr could have just called Charlie to check on him
12-30 20:26
Barbie Dahl:
Or NADtv doing their version of a batman movie 😝
12-30 20:27
Rush:
AH!
12-30 20:27
Barbie Dahl:
MADtv
12-30 20:27
Barbie Dahl:
Time check please. Mechanical issues…
12-30 20:28
Rush:
They can get the dog to mess up the candle/string gimmick.
12-30 20:28
Godwinshelley:
1:11:30
12-30 20:28
Barbie Dahl:
GS, this would’ve made a great Pee Wee Herman vehicle!
12-30 20:28
Godwinshelley:
Running up stairs
12-30 20:29
Rush:
Pretty good line then.
12-30 20:29
Godwinshelley:
Ah – yes that would be fun
12-30 20:30
Rush:
The only positive for me in this one is Ustinov as Chan.
Argh!
12-30 20:31
Godwinshelley:
I miss Birmingham Brown in this setting
12-30 20:32
Rush:
Sort of an updated BB as the chauffeur?
Like his dad did years earlier.
12-30 20:33
Godwinshelley:
Really needs to dump that mother
12-30 20:34
Barbie Dahl:
Gotta turn this mother out
12-30 20:34
Rush:
Roddy?
12-30 20:35
Rush:
He probably can actually walk?
HM…
12-30 20:35
Matt:
It’s a miracle!
12-30 20:35
Rush:
Yes, Matt!
12-30 20:36
Barbie Dahl:
He’s doing a “Guy Caballero”
12-30 20:36
Godwinshelley:
Which other Chan film had the scuffed shoes
Monogram – I think
12-30 20:37
Rush:
Yes.
“CC in the Secret Service.”
12-30 20:37
Godwinshelley:
The one with Frances (or was it Iris) in it
12-30 20:37
Rush:
Yes!
12-30 20:37
Godwinshelley:
Birmingham was a prince!
12-30 20:38
Rush:
12-30 20:38
Rush:
The old lady!
12-30 20:39
Rush:
I would love to know what Keye Luke thought of this movie!!!
12-30 20:39
Godwinshelley:
Wonder if they asked him to be in it
12-30 20:40
Rush:
Will we ever know?
If so…maybe he reused!
12-30 20:41
Godwinshelley:
Maybe if he wrote an autobiography
12-30 20:41
Rush:
Not one that I know of….
12-30 20:42
Rush:
Funny, how these final scenes are not nearly as bad as the rest of the movie.
12-30 20:43
Rush:
Like Jimmy in “Opera”?
12-30 20:43
Godwinshelley:
Yes
Ah how nice – the film
Like in Karloff
‘s Targets film
12-30 20:45
Barbie Dahl:
My copy glitched up
12-30 20:45
Matt:
lucky
12-30 20:46
Barbie Dahl:
Bittersweet, huh?
12-30 20:46
Rush:
12-30 20:47
Godwinshelley:
Nice he still has his fidget ring
12-30 20:47
Rush:
Well….
12-30 20:48
Rush:
That is that!
12-30 20:48
Barbie Dahl:
Well, since your shared misery no longer affects me personally, I can laugh and enjoy it now. Win win!
12-30 20:48
Godwinshelley:
I expected worse – actually I enjoyed it
12-30 20:48
Rush:
An “Interesting” way to finish off 2024…yes?
Next week…
12-30 20:48
Godwinshelley:
Yes
12-30 20:49
Matt:
I expected worse and then I got it
12-30 20:49
Rush:
We start our 2025 run through the Charlie chan film series….and more….
With….
12-30 20:49
Godwinshelley:
Pundi Pundi
12-30 20:49
Rush:
“Behind That Curtain”
12-30 20:49
Godwinshelley:
It’s a bit of a slog
12-30 20:49
Rush:
I guarantee it will be a better movie than this one!
12-30 20:49
Godwinshelley:
And worth it for Karloff and the SF scenes
12-30 20:49
Rush:
Yes, GS!
12-30 20:50
Godwinshelley:
I think it’s her hat that offends me the most in that film
12-30 20:50
Matt:
Good night everyone and have a wonderful New Year!
12-30 20:50
Rush:
I thank you ALL for sticking around for this whole film….
12-30 20:50
Barbie Dahl:
I can take the pain…
12-30 20:50
Rush:
it was tough, I know….
12-30 20:50
Godwinshelley:
Having spent some time in SF – it was fun pointing and saying Ive been there
12-30 20:50
Rush:
it will most certainly be a “one-off” even in CCF history!
At lease we have finally seen it…
So….
Have a VERY Happy New Year!
12-30 20:51
Godwinshelley:
If you see “The Black Bird” -its an updated Maltese Falcon with the son of Sam Spade
12-30 20:51
Rush:
Matt….have a GREAT trip!!!
12-30 20:51
Godwinshelley:
It’s similar
Stay safe everyone
12-30 20:51
Rush:
See you when you can appear to us!
12-30 20:51
Godwinshelley:
Night
12-30 20:52
Rush:
Take care….all!
You are great!
12-30 20:52
Barbie Dahl:
Happy New Year and Merry Fifth Day of Christmas, everyone!👋🏻💜💜💜💜💜🎄🎁🎀🥈🎆🎊🎉
Night GS
Night Matt
Night Rush
12-30 20:52
Rush:
Take care…good night! TYSM….
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