Created by author Earl Derr Biggers in his 1925 novel The House Without a Key, Chinese Detective Inspector Charlie Chan of the Honolulu Police Department finally made his television debut in this mainly British-produced show (although the first five episodes were filmed in the US, then production switched to the UK for the rest of the series).
Affecting an uncomfortable Oriental accent, a heavily made-up J. Carrol Naish starred as the courteous, shrewd and philosophical detective who was father to many children.
Charlie had now moved to London and was helped further by two British detectives, Inspector Marlowe (Hugh Williams) and Inspector Duff (Rupert Davies, who would later star in the title role of another famous fictional detective series, Maigret).
Sadly the plots were standard fare, with Chan pursuing various unusual clues before finally solving the mystery despite the over-eager antics of his “Number One Son”, Barry (James Hong).
Charlie Chan
J. Carrol Naish Barry Chan
James Hong Inspector Carl Marlowe
Hugh Williams Inspector Duff
Rupert Davies
Video
You May Also Like
Caxton's Tales 1 9 5 8 (UK) 5 x 30 minute episodes Wilfred Caxton (Wilfred Pickles in his…
