The Charlie Chan Encyclopedia

"Number One Son...? Is that you?" Charlie Chan whispered in the dark.
Silence.
"Number two son? Number three son?" Charlie uttered beneath his breath, his pistol gripped firmly in his left hand.
From the darkness, a voice replied.
"Number one detective. It’s the audience! Let’s get on with the book review!"
Charlie cleared his throat.
"Very good honorable folk. This is my life..."
Howard M Berlin is a true Charlie Chan fan. That is obvious from his confession. "I own 41 out of 47 Charlie Chan films (the other six are considered lost)".
"Excuse me Mr Reviewer. How can they be lost? Everything can be found given enough time."
Yes Charlie. You’re right. As of this point in time, there are six missing films. Given the current state of film research and academia, copies may emerge. All we can do is preserve what we have. Either way, Mr Berlin has written the ‘Charlie Chan Encyclopedia’ for the Chan-ites out there. If you combine this with the Chanology DVD set, your collection will be far richer. But, I detract.

Mr Berlin goes from A (A-469-W) to Z (Zucco, George) and everywhere in between.He not only covers the 47 films with detail on plot, stars, and production notes, but also covers obscure items like apartment numbers, taxi companies, police Sergeant names and ranks, night clubs, directors, and license plates. If you want to know something Chan-ish, this is the book.
Each of the Chans, Sydney Toler, Peter Ustinov, Roland Winters, Warner Oland, and E L Park, and two Japanese gentlemen are discussed in excellent detail. Any of the main actors, Toler, Winters, and Oland could warrant a book on their own. Are you reading this Mr Berlin?
I learned much about the history and diligence of Mr Berlin. For instance, it is clear he scrutinized every film frame for actors behind the scene, and documented the credits. Jay Silverheels is credited with a small role in the ‘Feathered Serpent’ (1948) that does not appear in the rolling credits. Did you know that Chan was based on a real detective, Chang Apana? True. There’s even a photo of Sydney Toler with the celebrated detective. Toler even owned the rights to the films at one point, purchasing them from Earl Der Biggers’ widow.
As an aside, I have a photo of the house that Der Biggers lived in while he wrote many of the early Chan novels. I sold a book to the present owner who had heard from the agent that Biggers’ owned the house in the 1920's.
Back to the book. Rare photos, a cool collection of aphorisms that will consume much of your time reading and laughing at. Too bad we have no character like that today with such a grasp of our language. Sponge Bob is no match!
If you are a Chan fan. This book is for you.
Find this one at your local specialty store or online at www.mcfarlandpub.com .
As Chan would say "Book with no value like a bad TV sitcom..."

I remain,
A true Chan fan.
Tim Lasiuta