Looking back at Roland Winters as Charlie Chan

To me, and I think to most observers, Warner Oland was the best of the three actors to portray detective Charlie Chan in the series of movies. Generally, Roland Winters is the last choice (after Sidney Toler) because his acting is too stiff, not convincing, etc.

However, after due consideration, my opinion of Winters has risen. True, he does not have the quiet dignity of Oland, but Toler, although much funnier and more enjoyable to watch, just did not seem Oriental at all. His humor was almost always with a twist that made it seem like the Caucasian he was. Winters' halting English and much more reserved personality made him seem more Oriental, even if his greater height did not.