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nickg

07-01-2003, 01:44 PM

i always loved the old Chan movies. leave it to the "racially sensitive" PCers to ruin it. i guess i better start complaining everytime the Godfather is shown on tv. i don't want people to think all us "EYE-TALIANS" are like that!!
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Complaints doom Charlie Chan fest

Detective was played by non-Asian actors

HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

LOS ANGELES, July 1 — There’s got to be an ancient Chinese proverb to fit the bill for Fox Movie Channel’s dilemma over its nixed plans for a Charlie Chan film festival. The classic-movie cable network has decided not to air a collection of old movies featuring the fictional Chinese detective after receiving complaints from members of the Asian-American community that the movies are racially offensive.

full story here:
<a href="http://www.msnbc.com/news/933542.asp?0dm=C16WL" target="_blank">http://www.msnbc.com/news/933542.asp?0dm=C16WL</a>

retired

07-01-2003, 06:29 PM

I hate to admit this, but I am actually agreeing with nickg. This is ridiculous!

BunnyFoo-Foo

07-01-2003, 07:11 PM

When are they going to ban Cheech and Chong movies; I am so truly offended by those..NOT!
Oh please, these people have nothing better to do than complain about things they find racially offensive..my hubbie and I make jokes about it actually and look for things in movies, commercials, kids shows that might light the flame.....I wonder if LULAC ever made a deal about Speedy Gonzalez...who I just adore....stereotypes and all.

retired

07-01-2003, 07:48 PM

Why not ban all the redneck and KKK movies with white people? This PC thing is pure BS!

lone ranger

07-02-2003, 01:40 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by retired:
This PC thing is pure BS!<hr /></blockquote>I think Charlie would say something like, "Useless talk like boat without oar, get no place."

nickg

07-02-2003, 08:23 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by retired:
I hate to admit this, but I am actually agreeing with nickg. This is ridiculous!<hr /></blockquote>ALRIGHT.....what happened to the REAL retired!!?? :D :D

i can see the headlines tomorrow -- "Retired agrees with nickg. World to end at 11PM!!" :p

[ 07-02-2003, 08:27 AM: Message edited by: nickg ]

CinaC

07-02-2003, 10:18 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Narasaki said part of the Asian community’s stance on the old Chan movies is the stereotypical way in which the detective is portrayed and by the fact that the role is not even played by an actor of Chinese origin.

“The thing is that you have someone who is playing what people thought Asians were at that time and using very stereotypical ways to do that,” she said.<hr /></blockquote>And in painted-face, too? :rolleyes:

nickg

07-02-2003, 10:33 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by CiaJ:
[QUOTE] QUOTE]And in painted-face, too? :rolleyes: <hr /></blockquote>well i guess there go my plans for a "minstrel" show this weekend!!!! damn!! and i was so looking forward to singin' "momma's little baby loves sho'tnin bread" :D :p

lone ranger

07-02-2003, 01:22 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by CiaJ:
[QB][QUOTE]Narasaki said part of the Asian community’s stance on the old Chan movies is the stereotypical way in which the detective is portrayed <hr /></blockquote>An intelligent detective that could sovle crimes that were too tough for the local cops to solve?
I can see where that may be a negative stereotype :rolleyes:

nickg

07-02-2003, 01:53 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by lone ranger:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />
[QB][QUOTE] <hr /></blockquote>An intelligent detective that could sovle crimes that were too tough for the local cops to solve?
I can see where that may be a negative stereotype :rolleyes: <hr /></blockquote>sorta like Jessica Fletcher on Murder She Wrote. the cops were just local boobs but a mystery writer had ALL the answers!! :rolleyes:

CinaC

07-02-2003, 11:02 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />An intelligent detective that could sovle crimes that were too tough for the local cops to solve?
I can see where that may be a negative stereotype <hr /></blockquote>Actually, I think they were referring to two big things which you seem to have skipped over:

a) Chan, an Asian character, was not played by an Asian actor. How would you like it if someone made a movie about the Civil War and cast a Asian as Robert E. Lee?

b) In some movies, the caucasian actor playing Chan had his face painted yellow, akin to white actors applying black makeup to play black-roles.

jarhead6073

07-03-2003, 12:03 AM

Wasn't there a thread some time back about it being racist to discriminate against actors who were not the color of a historic figure? Like it was wrong to not hire a black guy to portray Abe Lincoln, or something like that. Maybe that wasn't on here but I definately remember reading something to that effect somewhere. I guess that goes out the window when it's a minority character being played by a white guy and not the other way around.

CinaC

07-03-2003, 12:11 AM

When has a black guy portrayed Abraham Lincoln?

Bill R

07-03-2003, 09:25 AM

CrazyinSomething:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />In some movies, the caucasian actor playing Chan had his face painted yellow, akin to white actors applying black makeup to play black-roles.
<hr /></blockquote>The movie Watermelon Man doesn't bother me.

I've never understood the classification "caucasian". How do you know his folks come from the Caucas area?

lone ranger

07-03-2003, 12:31 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by CrazyinaCelica:
[QUOTEActually, I think they were referring to two big things which you seem to have skipped over:

a) Chan, an Asian character, was not played by an Asian actor. How would you like it if someone made a movie about the Civil War and cast a Asian as Robert E. Lee?

b) In some movies, the caucasian actor playing Chan had his face painted yellow, akin to white actors applying black makeup to play black-roles.<hr /></blockquote>I can see where having an Occidental actor play an Oriental detective could be a source of irritation. But let's be realistic, at the time the Chan movies were made there really were not a lot of Asian actors in Hollywood. You've got to work with what you've got. Back in Willy's day, they say there were no female actors. Imagine going to a play where Juliet was played by a male actor?

On your second point... If the Chinese ever did a movie version of Gettysburg, and used Asian actors, wouldn't they need to use makeup to make the actors look more like the people they were supposed to be portraying?

Maybe a Chan re-make for the 21st Century. Wonder if Lucy Liu or Michelle Yeoh would be available for the series?

CinaC

07-03-2003, 03:20 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />You've got to work with what you've got. Back in Willy's day, they say there were no female actors. Imagine going to a play where Juliet was played by a male actor? <hr /></blockquote>In my Shakespeare class (last fall), our professor split our class into groups and required that we performed a scene. Our group got "Taming of the Shrew", and guess who was the Shrew? Me, in high hells, a dress, makeup, wig and balloon-boobs.

<blockquote>quote:<hr />On your second point... If the Chinese ever did a movie version of Gettysburg, and used Asian actors, wouldn't they need to use makeup to make the actors look more like the people they were supposed to be portraying? <hr /></blockquote>Are we talking about financing the movie, or actually making it in China? Because if we're talking about the first, I don't think they'd have a problem hiring white guys and filming at Gettysburg. If we're talking about the second, I don't think they'd care about disguising it at all - for one thing, I doubt they'd be able to replicate the Pennsylvannian country-side in China! "Yes, er, the Great Wall of China was just visible beyond Pickett's Charge, sure it was..." :)

Bill:

<blockquote>quote:<hr />
Cau