LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Warner Oland: Charlie Chan
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Best: Warner Oland, Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936, FoxVideo), a Swedish actor in bad ''Oriental'' makeup, politely solving murders while dispensing fortune-cookie aphorisms. Next: Sidney Toler, Charlie Chan in Honolulu (1938, not available). An American in worse Oriental makeup, grinning creepily as the series slowly declined. Shoulda been: Keye Luke, the Oland Chan's ''No. 1 Son'' and an actual Asian actor.
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Although Oland did act in other films, the enormous worldwide box office success of his Charlie Chan film led to a Charlie Chan industry, with Oland starring in sixteen films in total. Oland was ... the first actor to play a werewolf in a movie, in Werewolf of London (1935) as the werewolf who bites the protagonist, played by Henry Hull. Despite his wealth and success, Oland suffered from alcoholism that severely affected his health and his thirty-year marriage. Signed to a new contract by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation to make three more Charlie Chan films, in early 1938 Oland's health problems worsened and he spent several weeks in hospital, then took time off to travel to his native Sweden. While there, he contacted bronchial pneumonia, which was worsened by the apparent onset of emphysema from years of heavy cigarette smoking. He died at a hospital in Stockholm.
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Although Oland did act in other films, the enormous worldwide box office success of his Charlie Chan film led to a Charlie Chan industry, with Oland starring in sixteen films in total. Oland was ... the first actor to play a werewolf in a movie, in Werewolf of London (1935) as the werewolf who bites the protagonist, played by Henry Hull. Despite his wealth and success, Oland suffered from alcoholism that severely affected his health and his thirty-year marriage. Signed to a new contract by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation to make three more Charlie Chan films, in early 1938 Oland's health problems worsened and he was hospitalized for several weeks. Upon his release he took time off to travel to his native Sweden. HIs trip was very sudden, and he simply walked away from the Fox studio and the film he was in the middle of making.
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Volume Three of Fox's Charlie Chan series brings the curtain down on the Warner Oland era. The new collection features four Warner Oland classics including the earliest surviving Oland Chan "The Black Camel (1931)." Although the second in the series, "Charlie Chan Carries On," Oland's debut is a lost movie. The last three Oland Chans close out the Oland titles; "Charlie Chan's Secret (1936), "Charlie Chan on Broadway (1937) and finally "Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo" (1937).
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Reportedly suffering from a nervous breakdown, Oland spent the month of February in a hospital. In March, the actor was back on his feet and he signed a contract with Twentieth Century-Fox to make three more Charlie Chan films. It was agreed that the actor would take a break and sail to Europe, and then begin shooting the next Charlie Chan movie, Charlie Chan in Honolulu, upon his return. He and Edith had even talked of getting back together.
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When Warner Oland died in 1938 the serial continued with actor Sidney Toler (1874 - 1947). The change of the leading actor made no difference for the success of the serial and at the same time son no. 1 was replaced by son no. 2 (acted by Victor Sen Yung (1915 - 1980).
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