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Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen

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Wikipedia article




'Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen' is a 1981 comedymystery film directed by Clive Donner that stars Peter Ustinov, Angie Dickinson and Lee Grant.

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 This time his usual sidekick, "Number One Son" Lee Chan, has been replaced by Lee's own son, Lee Chan, Jr.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. 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 fiancee Cordelia.

Cast



* Peter Ustinov as Charlie Chan

* Lee Grant as Mrs. Lupowitz

* Angie Dickinson as The Dragon Queen

* Richard Hatch as Lee Chan Jr.

* Brian Keith as Police Chief Baxter

* Roddy McDowall as Gillespie

* Rachel Roberts as Mrs. Dangers

* Michelle Pfeiffer as Cordelia Farenington

* Paul Ryan as Masten

* Johnny Sekka as Stefan

Reception



Critical response

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." TV Guide gives 'Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen' 0 out of 5 stars.

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."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."Dogs of 1981", 'Sneak Previews', Chicago Educational Television Association, January 5, 1982.

Release



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

Home media



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

References




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