| Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 5 (Charlie Chan At The Wax Museum/Murder Over New York/Dead Men Tell/Charlie Chan In Rio/Charlie Chan In Panama/Murder Cruise/Castle in the Desert) | 
 enlarge | Actors: Sidney Toler, Victor Sen Young
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $49.98
Buy New: $29.99
You Save: $19.99 (40%)
New (34) Used (7) from $29.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  31 reviews
Sales Rank: 1325
Format: Color, Ntsc, Black & White, Full Screen
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 4
Running Time: 451
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.5 x 2.6
MPN: 2253197
UPC: 024543531975
EAN: 0024543531975
ASIN: B001ARDBXK
Release Date: September 16, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
The last volume of the Charlie Chan series comes to DVD with Sidney Toler's fast-paced sleuthing skills.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY/CLASSICS UPC: 024543531975 Manufacturer No: 2253197
Amazon.com
The Charlie Chan Collection Volume 5 brings Fox's series of film mysteries based on Earl Derr Biggers' Chinese-Hawaiian detective to a conclusion with the studio's final seven features with Caucasian actor Sidney Toler in the lead. Budget restraints forced these latter Chan features to reduce the quality of their productions, and more often than not, the films took place on limited sets and without the scope or atmosphere of the earlier films. Plots were also reduced in running time and ambition; though hinged on a fun plot involving a plastic surgeon who creates new identities for crooks on the lam, Charlie Chan in the Wax Museum clocks in at barely over an hour, and suffers from bare sets and some highly predictable plot twists. Likewise, Dead Men Tell never leaves its claustrophobic pirate ship location, and Castle in the Desert, the final Chan film for Fox, is a confused hodgepodge of pulp thriller and horror tropes. Despite these drawbacks, there is still plenty of enjoyment to be had from Volume 5, especially in Charlie Chan in Rio, a remake of 1931's The Black Camel (with Warner Oland as Chan) that brims with an energy lacking from the later Toler efforts (there's also a nice bit involving Toler and Victor Sen Young's Number Two Son Jimmy conversing in Chinese with subtitles). Cinematography is also superlative in all of the Chan pictures included here, which lends a great deal of atmosphere to the modestly budgeted features. But the key pleasure of the Charlie Chan films is watching the detective unravel the case (no matter how convoluted) in his deliberate and patient manner, and Toler's performance (who would bring the character to Monogram and continue to play him until his death in 1947, after which Chan was essayed by Roland Winters) remains a distinct pleasure. Sen Young, though occasionally forced to mug furiously as Jimmy, lends likable support as Jimmy. There are also a host of Hollywood names on hand in supporting roles, including Lionel Atwill, Leo G. Carroll, Flash Gordon vets Jean Rogers and Frank Middleton, George Reeves, and even future Stooge Shemp Howard as a faux Hindu! Trailers for each film are included in the set, as well as still galleries and a 35-minute featurette which discusses, among other details, the impact of World War II on Fox's decision to bring the Chan series to a close. --Paul Gaita
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| Customer Reviews: Read 26 more reviews...
 Good value. December 1, 2008
I have not actually watched all these movies (it's a Christmas gift for someone else), but if you are shopping for a Charlie Chan fan, buy your DVD set here. I shopped around but this (as well as the other volumes) were $10+ more expensive at comparable websites and stores in my area.
 Charlie Chan Volume 5 December 1, 2008
i received the collection on time as promised. I have already watched all the videos. Great buy.
Charlie Chan November 23, 2008
Very good package of Chan series. The digitizing is great, clear and sharp detail. Well worth the buy for Chan followers.
 Close-but no cigar! November 18, 2008
IMHO these films that make up "Charlie Chan- Vol. #5" are good enough to watch if you have an hour or so to kill. They are all in black and white,have been restored masterfully,and with Sidney Toler,very presentable. They run 60 to 75 minutes each and look as though they have been filmed in one or two rooms!
Now that I have given my blunt but ,I feel,honest personal opinion,I state that if you are a Charlie chan afficianato as I am, you will enjoy them. I give them 3 1/2 stars.But I myself am critical since I have all the Volumes from 1-5. As for mystery and content you will be hard pressed to get 6 episodes in one volume for this price! Good luck! You can't go wrong ,unless, you are more of a critic than I am!
Charlie Chan Volume 5 November 3, 2008
This is a great collection of Charlie Chan films. Thank you for the hours of happy enjoyment.
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