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Movie Info Having taken up residence in India with her abhorrent new husband, a wealthy woman plots to return to America with an old lover, leading to her jealous mate's near-murderous revenge until a climactic intervention by famed detective Charlie Chan. Crude production was the Chan character's first appearance in a talkie. Sonya Levien , Clarke Silvernail. Warner Baxter as Col. Lois Moran as Eve Mannering Durand. Philip Strange as Eric Durand. Mercedes De Valasco as Nuna.

Claude King as Sir George Mannering. John Rogers as Alf Pornick. Boris Karloff as Manservant.

Jamiel Hasson as Sahib Hana. Park as Charlie Chan. Frank Finch Smiles as Galt's Clerk.

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A Passionate Life!

Peter Gawthorne as British Police Inspector. Montague Shaw as Hilary Galt. Aug 31, Rating: View All Critic Reviews 1. She puts up with it until she discovers that he was a murderer.

Then most of the film consists of her trying desperately to avoid him as well as scandal if the secret were be revealed. This is the earliest Charlie Chan film known to be in existence and it is absolutely nothing like the later films--nothing. Apart from the name "Charlie Chan", there is no similarities to the later exceptional series. Back in , films were often a bit stilted and overly melodramatic.

Because the studios weren't used to using sound, the actors tended to remain very stationary due to poor sound equipment and the dialog sounded more like plays than movies. I accept this and tend to rate these early talkies with this in mind. The main problem is not how constricted the actors were due to the sound equipment but how gosh-darn awful the dialog was. In fact, I would have to say that the love scene in the desert might just be the absolute worst love scene I have ever seen and heard--it was THAT overly melodramatic and stagy as well as laughable.

I truly believe that most high school actors could do a better job today.

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In addition to horrible dialog, the movie suffered from being way too slow--and the first half in particular crawled at a snail's pace. Later, despite the horrid dialog and acting the film did pick up a bit--but certainly not enough to make it even passable entertainment! I think the biggest problem is that the film clearly shows those involved with the movie weren't used to talking pictures. However, my complaints weren't just about the wretched dialog and pacing, but also the acting and direction. For example, the film starred Warner Baxter who was an exceptional actor. The female lead, Lois Moran was perhaps even worse.

The only actor who came off well very well, actually , was Gilbert Emery as the Scotland Yard inspector. One reviewer pointed out that the only good element was the cinematography, though I would differ. While it was exceptional seeing the sound outdoor shots of the caravan for getting this right was VERY tough , all too often the camera was static. At one point it was even laughable, as the scene began with just the tops of the characters' heads showing--like the camera should have been several feet lower. This was because the couple were about to stand and instead of moving the camera or using a cut, they just left the camera on and created a very awkward and sloppy scene.

Now as for Charlie Chan, he was only a bit player who appeared in a very limited capacity in the last 12 minutes of the movie. Surprisingly, he was actually played by an Asian--something you'd never see in the 30ss.

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However, this isn't all positive as E. Park had the charisma and charm of a bag of lint. They simply gave this actor nothing to do--making him just a glorified errand boy for Emery. Park didn't look as Chinese as Warner Oland who was a Swede --looking more like a native Hawaiian though with a Korean name.

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Good characters, a lot of misleading plot developments. He has also been interested in what appears to be a series of disappearing women around the world, which has some connection to the disappearance of a woman named Eve Durand in rural India also fifteen years ago. Scientology and the Aftermath. Charlie discovers evidence of two other missing young women, and suspects a possible connection to yet another unsolved murder. When Bruce is murdered after a dinner party, there are several women in attendance who just might be the missing woman.

Chan was supposed to be a Hawaiian but of Chinese descent. Because of these inconsistencies and a thankless part, the "Chanophiles" out there will no doubt find all this very disappointing. In conclusion, the plot wasn't bad but due to horrid acting, dialog and direction this is one supposedly lost film that might just as well as have remained lost!

Also, in a small role is Boris Karloff. While it's not a huge role, this excellent actor acquitted himself well in the role of a devoted servant. It was nice to see him in a pre-Frankenstein role.

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Behind That Curtain ( Charlie Chan) June 30, 1929

Full Cast and Crew. Eve Mannering realizes too late that her abusive husband is a philanderer and murderer and seeks protection with her true love, explorer John Beetham. Our Favorite Trailers of the Week. Charlie Chan on Film. Share this Rating Title: Behind That Curtain 4.

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