Warner Oland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Warner Oland (born Johan Verner Ölund, October 3, 1879 – August 6, 1938) was a Swedish-American actor most remembered for playing several Chinese and Chinese-American characters: the Honolulu Police detective, Lieutenant Charlie Chan; Dr. Fu Manchu; and Henry Chang in Shanghai Express. His family emigrated to the United States when he was 13. He pursued a film career that would include time on Broadway and dozens of film appearances, including 16 Charlie Chan films. After several years in theater, including appearances on Broadway as Warner Oland, in 1912 he made his silent film debut in Pilgrim's Progress, a film based on the John Bunyan novel. As a result of his training as a Shakespearean actor and his easy adoption of a sinister look, he was much in demand as a villain and in ethnic roles. Over the next 15 years, he appeared in more than 30 films, including a major role in The Jazz Singer (1927), one of the first talkies produced. Oland's normal appearance fit the Hollywood expectation of caricatured Asianness of the time, despite his having no definitively proven Asian cultural background. Oland portrayed a variety of Asian characters in several movies before being offered the leading role in the 1929 film, The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu. It was the first onscreen portrayal of the Fu Manchu character in film. Oland continued to appear onscreen as an Asian, probably more often than any other white actor in the history of cinema. ...
Don Juan (1926)
If there was one thing that Don Juan de Marana learned from his father Don Jose, it was that women gave you three things - life, disillusionment and death. In his father's case it was his wife, Donna Isobel, and Donna Elvira who supplied the latter. Don Juan ... (more)
If there was one thing that Don Juan de Marana learned from his father Don Jose, it was that women gave you three things - life, disillusionment and death. In his father's case it was his wife, Donna Isobel, and Donna Elvira who supplied the latter. Don Juan ... (more)
The Jazz Singer (1927)
A young Jewish man is torn between tradition and individuality when his old-fashioned family objects to his career as a jazz singer. This is the first full length feature film to use synchronized sound, and is the original film musical. (more)
A young Jewish man is torn between tradition and individuality when his old-fashioned family objects to his career as a jazz singer. This is the first full length feature film to use synchronized sound, and is the original film musical. (more)
Werewolf of London (1935)
A strange animal attack turns a botanist into a bloodthirsty monster. (more)
A strange animal attack turns a botanist into a bloodthirsty monster. (more)
Shanghai Express
(1932)
A beautiful temptress re-kindles an old romance while trying to escape her past during a tension-packed train journey. (more)
A beautiful temptress re-kindles an old romance while trying to escape her past during a tension-packed train journey. (more)
Daughter of the Dragon
(1931)
At her Chinese father's bidding, a woman goes to murder an enemy and meets a Scotland Yard detective. (more)
At her Chinese father's bidding, a woman goes to murder an enemy and meets a Scotland Yard detective. (more)
The Big Gamble (1931)
A gambler, hopelessly in debt, agrees to pay off his debt by allowing his creditor to take out a life insurance policy on him and collecting once the one-year suicide clause has elapsed. (more)
A gambler, hopelessly in debt, agrees to pay off his debt by allowing his creditor to take out a life insurance policy on him and collecting once the one-year suicide clause has elapsed. (more)
The Son-Daughter (1932)
Young Asians in San Francisco find their love thwarted by clan warfare. (more)
Young Asians in San Francisco find their love thwarted by clan warfare. (more)
Before Dawn (1933)
After the death of a gangster, those familiar with his million dollar stash start mysteriously dying. Police detectives with the help of a clairvoyant try to determine who, living or dead, is responsible. (more)
After the death of a gangster, those familiar with his million dollar stash start mysteriously dying. Police detectives with the help of a clairvoyant try to determine who, living or dead, is responsible. (more)
Charlie Chan's Greatest Case (1933)
When a good-for-nothing man named Dan is stabbed to death and his arm broken, Charlie Chan is on the case. His first clue comes from the victim's sister, who noticed a prowler wearing a glow-in-the-dark wristwatch. (more)
When a good-for-nothing man named Dan is stabbed to death and his arm broken, Charlie Chan is on the case. His first clue comes from the victim's sister, who noticed a prowler wearing a glow-in-the-dark wristwatch. (more)
The Marriage Clause (1926)
A Broadway actress becomes a star due to the guidance of her director. The two fall in love, but are prevented from marrying due to a clause put into her contract by her producer. (more)
A Broadway actress becomes a star due to the guidance of her director. The two fall in love, but are prevented from marrying due to a clause put into her contract by her producer. (more)
Old San Francisco (1927)
In San Francisco, a villainous landowner with underworld connections seeks to steal the property of an old Spanish family. (more)
In San Francisco, a villainous landowner with underworld connections seeks to steal the property of an old Spanish family. (more)
Charlie Chan at the Olympics (1937)
Get ready for a Gold Medal murder mystery! This "tense, thrilling mystery" ('California Congress of Parents and Teachers') pits Charlie Chan against international spies who are using the Berlin Olympic games as the perfect cover...for cold-blooded murder! (more)
Get ready for a Gold Medal murder mystery! This "tense, thrilling mystery" ('California Congress of Parents and Teachers') pits Charlie Chan against international spies who are using the Berlin Olympic games as the perfect cover...for cold-blooded murder! (more)
When a Man Loves (1927)
A nobleman studying for the priesthood abandons his vocation in 18th Century France when he falls in love with a beautiful, but reluctant, courtesan. (more)
A nobleman studying for the priesthood abandons his vocation in 18th Century France when he falls in love with a beautiful, but reluctant, courtesan. (more)
Charlie Chan's Courage (1934)
Charlie is hired to deliver a pearl necklace to a millionaire at his ranch. When murder intervenes he disguises himself as a Chinese servant and begins sleuthing. (more)
Charlie is hired to deliver a pearl necklace to a millionaire at his ranch. When murder intervenes he disguises himself as a Chinese servant and begins sleuthing. (more)
The Black Camel (1931)
Movie star Shelah Fane is seeing wealthy Alan Jaynes while filming in Honolulu, Hawaii, but won't marry him without consulting famed psychic Tarneverro first. Tarneverro confronts her about the unsolved murder of fellow film star Denny Mayo three years earlier, and ... (more)
Movie star Shelah Fane is seeing wealthy Alan Jaynes while filming in Honolulu, Hawaii, but won't marry him without consulting famed psychic Tarneverro first. Tarneverro confronts her about the unsolved murder of fellow film star Denny Mayo three years earlier, and ... (more)
Dangerous Paradise (1930)
Heyst, a hermit on his own tropical island, plays unwilling host to red-headed stowaway Alma. Danger looms... (more)
Heyst, a hermit on his own tropical island, plays unwilling host to red-headed stowaway Alma. Danger looms... (more)
Riders of the Purple Sage (1925)
A Texas Ranger searches for his kidnapped sister. (more)
A Texas Ranger searches for his kidnapped sister. (more)
Beatrice Fairfax (1916)
Beatrice Fairfax, the original advice-to-the-lovelorn reporter and her friend and not-so-secret admirer Jimmy Barton investigate calls for help and escape exotic perils and dangers. Episodes include exciting and fun stories of baby-napping, blackmail, jewel ... (more)
Beatrice Fairfax, the original advice-to-the-lovelorn reporter and her friend and not-so-secret admirer Jimmy Barton investigate calls for help and escape exotic perils and dangers. Episodes include exciting and fun stories of baby-napping, blackmail, jewel ... (more)
A Million Bid (1927)
To satisfy her controlling mother and secure both of their futures, a daughter hesitantly enters a loveless marriage to a wealthy businessman. Years later, after she has uncovered and overcome her mother's deceptions and manipulations, her newfound happiness is ... (more)
To satisfy her controlling mother and secure both of their futures, a daughter hesitantly enters a loveless marriage to a wealthy businessman. Years later, after she has uncovered and overcome her mother's deceptions and manipulations, her newfound happiness is ... (more)
The Rise of Susan (1916)
Susan takes the place of model and shows the clothes so well that she is asked to impersonate a Countess at a reception given by a customer. (more)
Susan takes the place of model and shows the clothes so well that she is asked to impersonate a Countess at a reception given by a customer. (more)