Anti-Charlie Chan Hysteria

by HOWARD M. BERLIN

August, 2003

June 27 will be the day remembered by movie fans when Fox Movie Channel (FMC) bowed to special interest pressure and pulled the plug on their highly publicized, Summer-long showing of 20 Charlie Chan films (restored and remastered) and one Mr. Moto film.

FMC gives the following explanation on their website: "Originally restored to meet the requests of mystery fans and film preservation buffs, Fox Movie Channel scheduled these films in a showcase intended to illustrate the positive aspects of these movies such as the complex story lines/characters and Charlie Chan's great intellect. Additionally, numerous subscribers to Fox Movie Channel, as well as film historians, have long requested that Fox Movie Channel broadcast these films.

However, Fox Movie Channel has been made aware that the Charlie Chan films may contain situations or depictions that are sensitive to some viewers. Fox Movie Channel realizes that these historic films, were produced at a time where racial sensitivities were not as they are today. As a result of the public response to the airing of these films, Fox Movie Channel will remove them from the schedule."

I feel that FMC has taken a hypocritical position in bowing to pressure from Asian groups who point to only the few negative aspects of perhaps the most popular series of Hollywood's golden age, but condone many of the stereotypes that are staples in many of today's Kung Fu-like movies. The real gripe here is that the older Chan movies had a non-Asian actor in the lead role and ignores that the movies highlight the positive side of Chinese culture, much of which the rest of the world could profit from.

I will not expound on the many redeeming qualities of the Chan and Moto series. I'm sure that the many fans FMC has now chosen to disappoint and anger will make their positions crystal clear in the letters many have now promised to write. As evidenced by the discussions on several old-time movie message boards, Fox Movie Channel is now persona non grata. I am also sure that many of these fans will now scrutinize each of FMC's future film offerings to see if they waver from their hypocrisy and will remind them of the day they pulled the plug on Charlie Chan and Mr. Moto.

Unlike other parts of Rupert Murdoch's Fox network family, FMC is neither fair nor balanced. Fox Movie Channel spent a lot of money in the restoration of the Chan films and with the cancellation of the series, it now seems that FMC now has assets that will be of no future commercial value to them. If FMC truly feels that these films have negative stereotypes in today's politically correct climate, then FMC should immediately seek out a buyer for these films and the copyrights that go with them. Otherwise keeping them from an appreciative viewing audience is Indeed censorship.

As the author of two books on the Charlie Chan series and a forthcoming book on the Mr. Moto series, I have also written the FMC officers of my displeasure. I hope others will also.