For the first film to center mainly on the character of Chan, Warner Oland, a white actor, was cast in the title role in 1931's Charlie Chan Carries On, and it was this film that gained popular success.Balio (1995), 336. Oland, a Swedish actor, had also played Fu Manchu in an earlier film. Oland, who claimed some Mongolian ancestry,Quoted in Hanke (2004), 1. played the character as more gentle and self-effacing than he had been in the books, perhaps in "a deliberate attempt by the studio to downplay an uppity attitude in a Chinese detective."Hanke (1989), 111. Oland starred in sixteen Chan films for Fox, often with Keye Luke, who played Chan's "", Lee Chan. Oland's "warmth and gentle humor" helped make the character and films popular; the Oland Chan films were among Fox's most successful.Balio (1995), 316. By attracting "major audiences and box-office grosses on a par with A's"Balio (1995), 317. they "kept Fox afloat" during the Great Depression.
for the first film to center mainly on the character of chan warner oland a white actor was cast in the title role in 1931's charlie chan carries on and it was this film that gained popular successbalio (1995) 336 oland a swedish actor had also played fu manchu in an earlier film oland who claimed some mongolian ancestryquoted in hanke (2004) 1 played the character as more gentle and self-effacing than he had been in the books perhaps in "a deliberate attempt by the studio to downplay an uppity attitude in a chinese detective"hanke (1989) 111 oland starred in sixteen chan films for fox often with keye luke who played chan's "" lee chan oland's "warmth and gentle humor" helped make the character and films popular; the oland chan films were among fox's most successfulbalio (1995) 316 by attracting "major audiences and box-office grosses on a par with a's"balio (1995) 317 they "kept fox afloat" during the great depression