Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen
Theatrical release poster
Directed byClive Donner
Screenplay byStan Burns
David Axelrod
Story byJerry Sherlock
Produced byJerry Sherlock
StarringPeter Ustinov
CinematographyPaul Lohmann
Edited byWalt Hannemann
Phil Tucker
Music byPatrick Williams
Production
company
Jerry Sherlock Productions[1]
Distributed byAmerican Cinema Productions (United States)
United Artists (International)
Astral Films (Canada)[1]
Release date
  • February 13, 1981 (1981-02-13)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.5 million[2]

Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen is a 1981 comedy–mystery film directed by Clive Donner that stars Peter Ustinov, Angie Dickinson and Lee Grant.[3] It is the last film to feature the titular character.

Plot

Retired detective Charlie Chan is asked for his help by the San Francisco police to solve a new series of murders. This time his usual sidekick, "Number One Son" Lee Chan, has been replaced by Lee's own son, Lee Chan, Jr.

The prime suspect in the killings is a shadowy lady known as the Dragon Queen, but soon Chan's suspicions fall elsewhere.[4] Among those at risk are Lee's maternal grandmother, Mrs. Lupowitz. Even though Lee Jr. is (as usual) rarely accurate in reading clues, he has the love and full support of his beautiful fiancée Cordelia.[5]

Cast

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 33% of 6 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.50/10.[6] TV Guide gives Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen 0 out of 5 stars.[7]

Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel loathed the movie, giving it two "no" votes on their public television series Sneak Previews, and later listing it as one of the worst movies of 1981.[8][9]

Conversely, critic Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote in his review: "Clive Donner's Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen... is loose-limbed, immensely good-natured entertainment that moves easily between parody and slapstick without ever doing damage to the memories of the character who, in the 1950s and 1960s, gained something of a following as a figure of camp."[10]

Release

Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen was released in theatres on February 13, 1981, by American Cinema Productions.[10]

Home media

The film was released on DVD on September 7, 2004, by Trinity Home Entertainment.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b "Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  2. ^ Donahue, Suzanne Mary (1987). American film distribution : the changing marketplace. UMI Research Press. p. 302. ISBN 9780835717762. Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada
  3. ^ "Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System This last Charile Chan Film (Time Warner). Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  4. ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Supervillains. New York: Facts on File. pp. 112–113. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
  5. ^ "Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen". AllMovie. San Francisco: All Media Network. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  6. ^ "Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen". Rotten Tomatoes. United States: Fandango. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  7. ^ "Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen". TV Guide. United States: NTVB Media (magazine) CBS Interactive (CBS Corporation) (digital assets). Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  8. ^ "American Pop, Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen, The Day After Trinity, La Cage Aux Folles II, Tribute", Sneak Previews, Chicago Educational Television Association, March 5, 1981.
  9. ^ "Dogs of 1981", Sneak Previews, Chicago Educational Television Association, January 5, 1982.
  10. ^ a b Canby, Vincent (February 13, 1981). "Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  11. ^ "Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen". Trinity Home Entertainment. Marina del Rey, California: Trinity Home Entertainment LLC. September 7, 2004. ASIN B00031V24Y. Retrieved January 4, 2017.

External links

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Films directed by Clive Donner
Charlie Chan by Earl Derr Biggers
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