Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (Monogram) (1944)

~ PUBL TOLER BEGAN STAGE CAREER IN "LEAD" WITH NOTED STAR No less a personage than the famous Julia Marlowe was the one who gave Sidney Toler his start as a professional | yiq Belasco, and was one of the ‘0n’s leading jazz band, which actor. Toler comes to the _...........- “ PEBATLO: GI .3ic soi , starred in the title role of the Monogram detective drama, “Charlie Chan in the Secret Service.” LE WAS Whe she Wass OllVorSCVelw ects ee a ee ee years old that Sidney first appeared as an amateur in “Tom Sawyer,” in his home town of Wichita, Kansas, and during his entire school career he gained added experience in class plays. While he was a student at the University of Kansas, Toler managed to obtain an interview with Miss Marlowe, then on tour as the star of “When Knighthood Was in Flower,” and told her of his stage ambitions. To the young man’s amazement, the great actress seemed impressed, and promised that he would hear from her later. Two months later Toler received a letter from Miss Marlowe’s manager, suggesting that if the Kansas boy ever came to New York City, it might be possible to assist him in starting a career in the theatre. Toler took the next train. As it happened, he made _ his move at the psychological moment. On the day he arrived in New York, Miss Marlowe’s leading man became ill, and on the following night Toler stepped into the role opposite Miss Marlowe in “When Knighthood Was in Flower.” How well he succeeded in his debut is shown by the fact that he continued in the part for two years. | The cast supporting Toler in “Charlie Chan in the Secret Service” includes Gwen Kenyon, Mantan Moreland, Benson Fong, Ma| rianne Quon, Arthur Loft and Le-| lah Tyler. Phil Rosen directed for Producers Philip N. Krasne and James D. Burkett, and the original screenplay by George Callahan was suggested by the famous character created by Earl Derr Biggers. Charlie Chan Returns to Screen Sidney Toler, one of the motion picture’s most popular detectives in his role of Charlie Chan, returns to the screen at the ....... theatre Ollie ies as the star of “Charlie Chan in the Secret Service,’ the Monogram drama which marks the | resumption of the series. Gwen | Kenyon plays the leading feminine role, and the star’s supporting cast also includes Mantan Moreland, Marianne Quon, Benson Fong, Arthur Loft, Lelah Tyler, Gene Oliver, Eddie Chandler, George Lessey, Muni Seroff and George Lewis. Phil Rosen directed for Producers Philip N. Krasne and James S. Burkett, and the original screenplay by George Callahan was suggested by the original character created by Earl Derr Biggers. | | | | | Chinese Crime Detector } Sidney Toler returns to the screen with his famous Charlie Chan char acterization in a new series of mys| tery thrillers for Monogram. The first, entitled, “Charlie Chan in the | Secret Service,” comes to the....... theatre on ........ d One Col. Scene Mat No. 3 UPRIGHT In his first appearance on the} screen, in “Spirit of Youth,” colored | comedian Mantan Moreland did what so many other men have tried unsuccessfully to accomplish — he} boxed with Joe Louis in the squared circle, and was still on his feet at} the end of the bout. But it was} only because the scenario writers had planned it that way, so to speak. Moreland comes to. the} cook theatre on ...... in “Charlie Chan in the Secret Service,’ the} Monogram detective drama which | stars Sidney Toler as the Chinese | cellent photography. sleuth. SPEAKER Ever since the United States entered the war Marianne Quon, young Chinese actress, has been engaged in making war speeches in her native language to her countrymen in San Francisco’s Chinatown, where she was born and now lives. Miss Quon comes to the ......... $heatre-On os... in “Charlie Chan in the Secret Service,’ the Monogram detective drama starring Sid | ney Toler. AMERICAN-BORN CHINESE IS CHARLIE CHAN'S "NO. 1 SON" Experience in Chinese opera in Canton and Hong Kong forms a portion of the background of Benson Fong, new “Number One Son” of the famous Chinese detective, Charlie Chan. Fong comes to the _........... cess theatre on: 2s 4a “Charlie Chan in the Secret Serv-¥* Pees SS ice,’ first of the new Monogram series starring Sidney Toler in his familiar characterization of the Oriental sleuth. Born in Sacramento, California, Fong remained there to _ finish high school before he went to Canton, China, to attend Lingnan University. While there he took an outside course in native opera, and appeared as an amateur in many Chinese plays. Playing the guitar and banjo, he was a member of the college orchestra, and later of the largest jazz band in Canton, as well as singing tenor in a local ‘“Hawaiian” quartette. After five years in the country of his ancestors, Fong returned to Sacramento and did his first screen work when he was summoned to Hollywood to appear in “China.” Other films in which he has since taken part are “Behind the Rising Sun,” “Destroyer,” “Destination Tokyo” and ‘“We’ve Never Been Licked.” The cast supporting Sidney Toler in “Charlie Chan in the Secret Service’ also includes Gwen Kenyon, Mantan Moreland, Marianne Quon, Gene Oliver, Lelah Tyler and George Lewis. Phil Rosen directed for Producers Philip N. Krasne and James S. Burkett. George Callahan_wrote the original screenplay, based on the character created by Earl Derr Biggers. \LONG RUN ORIENTAL | During his career of more than | While attending Lingnan Univer35 years as an actor, Sidney Toler | sity in China, American-born Ben spent one period of 14 years under | : = the management of the famous Daheen One Dave ene Lene ae most popular players on New York’s| broadcast over radio station CMB Broadway. Toler comes to _ the /in the: southern Chinese city. Fong Screen: O10 thes... psi theatre on|comes to the screen of the ........ rare ie in the starring role of|theatre on ........ as the “Number the Monogram drama, “Charlie|One Son” in “Charlie Chan in the Chan in the Secret Service,” in| Secret Service,’ the Monogram dewhich he is seen in the role of the | tective drama starring Sidney Toler | wily Chinese detective. lin the title role. LIVELY CHINESE DETECTIVE ‘DRAMA STARS SIDNEY TOLER | (Review) “Charlie Chan in the Secret Service,” which opened an lengagement at the _............ .. theatre last night, qualifies as a bang-up detective mystery. And the picture signalizes the return of the gentle but crafty Chinese sleuth who long ago | established his popularity as a fascinating screen figure. Sidney Toler is again starred in¥ Cee cee this new Monogram series, and brings to the picture the See ‘DON'T SHOOT, BOSS’ suavity which has already establish}ed him as a favorite. His excellent | supporting cast is headed by Gwen |Kenyon in the leading feminine |role, and also includes Mantan | Moreland, Benson Fong, Marianne Quon, Arthur Loft, Lelah Tyler, Gene Oliver, Eddie Chandler, George | Lewis, Muni Seroff and George Les| sey. The story opens with the murder |of an inventor at a party in his ‘own home, and the disappearance of his plans for a secret invention | intended for use by the government. |The investigations of the detective, |Chan, lead him through devious and dangerous pathways before the mystery is finally solved in a surprising climax. Phil Rosen has directed ‘Charlie |Chan in the Secret Service” with | his customary skill, and the production by Philip N. Krasne and James S. Burkett is thoroughly satisfactory. George Callahan filled his Mantan Moreland wonders why he ever asked for a job with super sleuth Charlie Chan, especially at |original screenplay with thrilling incidents and deft characterization, | basing his story on Earl Derr Bigplays the title role in Monogram’s thriller, “Charlie Chan in the Secret Service,” current at the ....... theatre. One Col. Scene Mat No. 4 | BACKGROUND | Gwen Kenyon was born in HollyDEBUT | wood, and her mother appeared in After many years of experience silent pictures made by the almost-| as an amateur actor in school plays, forgotten Kalem company more}|Sidney Toler left college to step than 80 years ago, to qualify asjinto his first professional engageone of the pioneers of the film}ment as leading man with Julia capital. Miss Kenyon comes to the! Marlowe in the stage play, “When ger’s conception of the wily sleuth, and Ira Morgan has contributed ex Saye oe theatre on ........ in the| Knighthood Was in Flower.” Toler leading feminine role of “Charlie}|comes to the .......... theatre on Chan in the Secret Service,’ the|.......... , Starred in the title role Monogram drama which stars Sid-|of the Monogram detective drama, | ney Toler as the famous Chinese] ‘Charlie Chan in the Secret Serv| detective. ice.” | CHAN RETURNS TO SCREEN | | Gwen Kenyon is the leading lady in Monogram’s “Charlie Chan in the Secret Service,” first in the new series of mystery dramas with Sidney Toler in the title role. Above: Miss Kenyon and Toler appear in a scene from the film which starts .......... atthe sess hs theatre. Two Column Scene Mat No. 20 times like the above. Sidney Toler.