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The "Lost" Charlie Chan Film Scripts
Many fans of Charlie Chan are doubtless aware
of the fact that four of the earliest films from the series are currently classified as "lost" with no known prints being
available for viewing. These films, "Charlie Chan Carries On" (1931), "Charlie Chan's Chance" (1932), "Charlie Chan's Greatest
Case" (1933), and "Charlie Chan's Courage" (1934) are, however, to our great good fortune, still available in script form.
Humbly offered for your hopeful enjoyment, dear visitor, are all four scripts representing these missing
films.
Our first script is a "Final Shooting Script," dated December 23, 1930, for "Charlie Chan Carries On." The
actual production of this picture began eleven days later, on January 3, 1931. If one considers that the Christmas and New
Year holidays consumed a good measure of the intervening days, this script very probably saw little change before filming
began.
The second script is a "Screen Continuity" for "Charlie Chan's Chance." Carrying the date January 9, 1932,
this script reflects what was contained in the completed film, and, as such, it probably offers a very accurate
view of the completed movie.
Our third offering, a "Revised Final Shooting Script" for "Charlie Chan's Greatest Case,"
dated July 7, 1933, is surely very close to how the completed film eventually appeared, as production on this picture began
about a week later.
The final, fourth script, for "Charlie Chan's Courage," is a "Final Shooting Script" that bears
the date March 19, 1934. Shooting began a little more than a month later, on April 23, so it is possible that some changes,
perhaps, were made before the production began. However, even with revisions, the script that we have available for your enjoyment
is assuredly very close to how the final product would have appeared to viewing audiences seven decades ago.
Each
of these scripts has been illustrated whenever possible with existing images that have been inserted, as accurately as possible,
into the text in their appropriate spots. Most of these images have come to us through publicity stills, and images made from
stills. In the case of "Charlie Chan Carries On," a goodly amount of visual material consisting of video captures from the
Spanish language version of this film, "Eran Trece," has been used. This material was, in all probability, "stock footage"
which would have also appeared in the "lost" English language version starring Warner Oland. Video out-takes from "Charlie
Chan's Greatest Case" were also accessed for illustrative material for that film's script. Several other "stock" images, such
as the well-known Chan family group photograph and the Honolulu shots, were also used to enhance the scripts.
The
text of each script has been reformatted for easier reading. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected, and, if necessary,
any additional information that has been placed within the text for purposes of clarity is enclosed in [brackets]. In no
instance has the original wording of any of the scripts been changed.
"Thank you so much" to a number of Charlie Chan
Family members who have offered much-needed encouragement with this project that, at the end of the road, has covered a distance
of one full year, and a dozen trips to Los Angeles. The encouragement of Joanne Walsh, Michael Cannon, Gary Plude, Stew Nirenberg,
and Gary Osborne, has been very much appreciated along with the enthusiasm that each gave during this project. Very special
thanks go to Steve Rhodes, who has offered invaluable assistance with our humble endeavor. My most profound appreciation goes
to my own honorable wife, Marie, who has shown the most amazing tolerance for her spouse's year-long obsession with this project.
Finally, deepest appreciation goes out to all fans of the great detective, the honorable Charlie Chan. Your
great devotion, spanning generations, keeps the dream alive. With this in mind, these "lost" scripts are respectfully dedicated
to all of you.
The scripts may be accessed by clicking on the images or titles for each film below, and it is hoped
that you, our valued guest, will find much enjoyment as you read through each of our humble offerings...
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