Now Available - Charlie Chan: Dark Alibi

[Pak-Man]

Charlie Chan: Dark Alibi

Feature film · 2023

It’s just common sense: when you want to cast Sherlock Holmes, you scope out the actors in the London’s West End. And when you want to cast a famous Chinese detective, you get a guy from Missouri.

With Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, Bill Corbett

See it on RiffTrax

It's just common sense: when you want to cast Sherlock Holmes, you scope out the actors in London's West End. And when you want to cast a famous Chinese detective, you get a guy from Missouri.

Sidney Toler stars as Charlie Chan in a performance that Mickey Rooney called "way too subtle." Dispensing Eastern wisdom that's as authentically ancient as a Calgon ad, he's called into action when a bank robbery leaves a man dead and thus unable to take advantage of low, low rates on financing. In order to bring a falsely accused man to justice, Charlie must infiltrate the jail where he's being held, which results in what we can confidently say is the most exciting scene ever set inside a prison hay baling shed.

Charlie Chan once got nice with Ad-Rock, but now it's Mike, Kevin, and Bill's turn. Join them for Charlie Chan: Dark Alibi!

Written By: Mike Nelson, Bill Corbett, Conor Lastowka, Sean Thomason, Jason Miller, Zachary Shatzer

[abosch]

The riffing in this one is Ok. This stars Sidney Toler, Benson Fong (I think as Son Number Three, Tommy Chan) and Mantan Moreland as Birmingham Brown, Charlie Chan's driver or valet or butler who appears after Sidney took the role of Chan. After finding the collection of all the Charlie Chan movies on YouTube, I think that the Warner Oland ones (with Keye Luke) are better in that they do not contain nearly as many attempts at Vaudeville routines. Something happened to the story writing after the Warner Oland Charlie Chan movies. This release does cut out one of two long sets of scenes in the warehouse that do not contribute anything significant to the plot as much as filling time for the movie and adding more time for Mantan Moreland's Vaudeville performance. The story of this movie does have possibilities involving a crime that, on the surface, appears to be already solved, but has much deeper underlying component that the initial solution didn't see.

[Pastor of Muppets]

I am only vaguely familiar with Charlie Chan, although I don't think I've ever seen any of his work.  However, one of my instructors in college was a big fan and wrote a book on the topic called The Charlie Chan Film Encyclopedia.  That was actually where I first heard of Charlie Chan. 

[fodder650]

So I am halfway through it and this riff happens.
Most are in for not delivering their kickstarter rewards on time".
Um... yeah that one hit a little too close to home and I don't mean for Rifftrax. I liked the concept early on and I am still waiting for things from years ago that will never happen.
Strong riff.