Charlie Chan Collection vol 2

Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 2

Charlie Chan at the Circus (1936) Charlie Chan at the Race Track (1936)
Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936) Charlie Chan at the Olympics (1937)

Titles

Charlie Chan at the Circus
Stars Warner Oland, Keye Luke, George Brasno, Olive Brasno, Francis Ford
Directors: Harry Lachman
Theatrical Release Date: March 27, 1936
Synopsis - While ostensibly on vacation with his wife and twelve children, famed detective Charlie Chan visits a circus at just the right time to become involved in the murder of one of the circus owners. Chan is prevailed upon to travel with the circus in hopes of discovering the killer before he, she - or it - strikes again.

Charlie Chan at the Race Track
Stars Warner Oland, Keye Luke, Helen Wood, Thomas Beck, Alan Dinehart
Directors: H. Bruce Humberstone
Theatrical Release Date: August 14, 1936
Synopsis - While steaming from Honolulu to Los Angeles the owner of a prize racehorse headed for the Santa Anita Handicap is killed, apparently kicked to death by his stallion. Not so, deduces Charlie. Leter he exposes efforts to fix a race at the famous track.

Charlie Chan at the Opera
Stars Warner Oland, Boris Karloff, Keye Luke, William Demarest, Guy Usher
Directors: H. Bruce Humberstone

Theatrical Release Date: December 5th, 1936
Synopsis - Regarded by many as the best of the Charlie Chan series. The opera star Gravelle suffers amnesia. He is a recent escapee from an insane asylum, accused of murdering fellow performers (his wife and her lover). Included in the movie is the opera "Carnival", composed for the picture by Oscar Levant.

Charlie Chan at the Olympics
Stars Warner Oland, Katherine DeMille, Pauline Moore, Allan Lane, Keye Luke
Directors: H. Bruce Humberstone
Theatrical Release Date: May 21, 1937
Synopsis - Spies have an invention which will allow its posessor to remote-control flying aircraft. The U.S. Navy, the Berlin police, and No. 1 son Lee Chan (a member of the U.S. Swim Team at the Berlin Olympics) help Charlie capture the spies.

Posters

Theatrical Releases: Various from 1936 - 1937

DVD Reviews

DVD Review: 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover

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Recommend:

DVDBeaver whole-heartedly recommend all five of the Fox Charlie Chan Boxsets:

Distribution

20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC

Time:

6 1/4 hrs. total on four discs

Audio

English (original mono)

Subtitles

English, Spanish, French, None

Features

Release Information:
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Aspect Ratio:
All Original Aspect Ratios - 1.33

Edition Details:

"Charlie Chan’s Lucky Director: H. Bruce Humberstone" featurette
"Layne Tom, Jr.: The Adventures of Charlie Chan, Jr." featurette
"Number One Son: The Life of Keye Luke" featurette
"Charlie Chan At the Movies" featurette
Restoration Comparisons
Original Trailers

DVD Release Date: December 5th, 2006
4 standard Keep Cases inside a cardboard box
Chapters: various

Comments:

NOTE: Although the 4 main features of this boxset are housed in individual keep cases (see images below) they are not sold separately at this time and can only be obtained in the Fox Charlie Chan Collection Volume 2 Boxset. They have been transferred in the NTSC standard, coded for Region 1.

Image: Superior to the entire Vol. 1 collection (reviewed HERE) with only At the Circus showing the similar weaknesses of age. All though are cleaner, less digital noise and sharper. Digital restoration (Fox spent over $2 million restoring all of their Chan and Mr. Moto films) has really benefited these 4 movies as the restoration comparisons support. I continued my love affair with this vintage cinema. The films in this boxset remain wonderful 1930's mysteries - a time that produced charmingly unique efforts that were never to be duplicated. This stuff is pure gold in my opinion.

The 'At the Race Track" and "At The Opera" editions appear to look the best. Contrast has also improved from Vol. 1 and there is far less damage visible. After the first 15-20 minutes of "At the Olympics" it too follows that desired appearance.

Audio - Decent with very little audible hiss and overall dialogue remains consistent and clear. It is expected that there is some dynamic weakness considering the age of the films but it is easily good enough for standard viewing. Comparatively speaking it may be a at about the same level as the video quality - or perhaps slightly superior.

All edition has optional yellow subtitles in English, French or Spanish. (French is an additional option added since Vol. 1)

Extras - 4 good featurettes are included in the set - running about 20 minutes each they make for good post or pre-viewing. I enjoyed the one on director H. Bruce Humberstone the best - it offers many details that I was not previously aware of.

In conclusion, the star of this boxset are the films - no question. The seem pricier than Volume 1 out at approx. $9 a film. This still has good value in my opinion. For Chan fans it is a no-brainer, but even for those yet to discover the enjoyment of the humble Asian detective, I consider it an recommended purchase.

Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

Extras: Featurettes - "Charlie Chan’s Lucky Director: H. Bruce Humberstone", "Layne Tom, Jr.: The Adventures of Charlie Chan, Jr.", "Number One Son: The Life of Keye Luke" and "Charlie Chan At the Movies". Plus Restoration Comparison.