To help answer Tawana's question as to whether Charlie Chan films are
offensive to Asians, I just rented the Scarlet Clue starring Sidney
Toler. This is my first Charlie Chan film, so my opinion at this point is
based on the one film.
I see nothing offensive about the Charlie Chan character, but there's
something distasteful about his bumbling sidekicks: his son Tommy and his
black assistant Birmingham. These two characters are buffoons, not unlike
the Dead End Kids, but I think it's offensive in this case, because all the
white actors in this film are pretty much playing it straight. There isn't a
single black character in this film who's meant to be taken seriously. Do
any of the Charlie Chan films have a black character who is not ridiculous?
Despite the questionable stereotypes, I realize that this film is 60 years
old, and I think people should continue to watch it and enjoy it.
-rk
> From: Tawana Gormley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Reply-To: Tawana Gormley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Date: Mon, 02 Oct 2006 04:16:13 -0400
> To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
> Subject: Re: [MOPO] Song of the South
>
> Thanks, Roger. I agree with you about the release of that movie. It's nice
> to know how you feel about the Mr. Wong character. If you get a chance to
> view the Charlie Chan series (my favorite is Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan)
> please let me know what you think!
>
> TGormley
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Roger Kim" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU>
> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 1:30 PM
> Subject: Re: [MOPO] Song of the South
>
>
>> If I'm not mistaken, "Song of the South" takes place in post-slavery
>> America. While it would still be controversial, I think Disney could
>> re-release it in one of those limited-edition DVD tins with a forward by
>> Leonard Maltin, reminding us that the film was made 60 years ago. I think
>> it
>> would be wrong to leave that film sitting in the vaults forever.
>>
>> As for the question on whether Charlie Chan is offensive to Asians, I'm
>> afraid I haven't seen those films. I have, however, seen Karloff's Mr.
>> Wong
>> films, and those don't offend me at all.
>>
>> -rk
>>
>>> From: David Kusumoto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>> Reply-To: David Kusumoto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>> Date: Sun, 01 Oct 2006 02:55:18 -0700
>>> To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
>>> Subject: [MOPO] Song of the South
>>>
>>> ** One last thing -- I believe Walt Disney's "Song of the South," a late
>>> 1940s "fanciful distillation of live-action and animation based on the
>>> tales
>>> of Uncle Remus" -- will NEVER be released in mass market form. The film
>>> that brought us the song, "Zip-De-Dee-Do-Dah" -- was last available on
>>> VHS
>>> overseas in the 1990s. No more. Ask yourself whether today's black
>>> community would accept the notion -- as presented as filmed
>>> entertainment --
>>> that slavery was all fun and games and some plantations had a wise old
>>> slave
>>> somwhere imparting wisdom to kids. Despite the positive wisdom and
>>> goodness
>>> represented by "Uncle Remus," some believe it's better to regard "Song of
>>> the South" as an historical document of attitudes, and not entertainment
>>> to
>>> be sold for profit today.
>>>
>>> ** I'd like to see it released and I can safely say I would regard it
>>> entertaining without falling for the things others would perhaps rightly
>>> find offensive about it today. Even in "Gone With the Wind," people
>>> still
>>> rail about its depiction of slaves, and of course, Butterfly McQueen was
>>> quoted as hating the role. I think intelligent people can accept the
>>> film
>>> on its terms based on the attitudes of America or Hollywood in 1939. You
>>> just couldn't make a film like this or release "Song of the South" today
>>> without pissing somebody off.
>>>
>>> -koose.
>>>
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