Its a remake of sorts of the 1932 movie, the mask of fu manchu. Drums of fu manchu 1940 is a 15chapter republic movie serial based on the character created by sax rohmer. Nayland smith, and his associates fight to keep the evil doctor from getting his hands on the keys. With christopher lee, tony ferrer, tsai chin, douglas wilmer. Fu manchu is one of the most popular villains of his time. With this scepter fu manchu gets all the asian peoples in his power, and. The diabolical experiment of fu manchu the cruelty of fu manchu michael mcquary tribute. Imagine a person, tall, lean and feline, highshouldered, with a brow like shakespeare and a face like satan. Fu manchu searches for the keys to the tomb of genghis khan in an attempt to conquer the.
Fu manchus weapon of evil trailer other youtube movies of note to fu manchu fans. The first novel of the manchu series was published under the title the mystery of dr. Drums of fu manchu s is a collection of old serials put together to form a full movie. From his secret lair deep within the south american jungle, international supervillain fu manchu christopher lee of count dracula and his sadistic daughter lin tang tsai chin of you only live twice reveal their latest diabolical plot for world domination. First 10 mins of chapter five from the old fashioned, embarrasingly politically incorrect 40s serial. Fully restored, but really no better for it, the presentation is enough reason for disappointed fu fans to consider adding it to their collection. While the mysterious wu chung fooa feature that will appeal to all movie fans never officially acknowledges its origins and rohmer was given no credit or payment fu manchu and rohmers plot elements are clearly found in this fourpart silent serial movie appearing july 1914 from the feature photoplay company in new york city.
Now sir denis nayland smith, doctor petrie, and their associates encounter baffling mystery after mystery in one of londons newest hotels and then elsewhere in london itself. The saga of fu manchu and his quest for genghis khans tomb continues with republic pictures 15part serial drums of fu manchu 1940. Fu manchu is an american stoner rock band, formed in southern california in 1985, and longassociated with the palm desert scene. It was released by the titan books publishing house in the year 19. Fu manchu, evil genius and possessor of seemingly unlimited financial resources, has. Fu manchus 168th birthday celebration is dampened when a hapless flunky spills fus ageregressing elixir vitae. Fu manchu returned to the serial format in republic pictures drums of fu manchu 1940, a 15episode serial considered to be one of the best the studio ever made. The adventures of dr fu macnhu s01e01 prisoner of fu. With boris karloff, lewis stone, karen morley, charles starrett. Drums of fu manchu 1940 directed by john english, william. This castle picture is the 5th time lee played fu manchu. The print is the best youre likely to see the film is marginally. Along with a series of novels, fu manchu generated endless spinoffs including five movies, a radio serial and even a brand of sticky sweets, as late as the 1970s, called fu man chews.
Fu manchu personified the genre of the yellow peril mystery, which expressed western fears of the expansion. Fu manchu is trying to take over the world by using the scepter of genghis khan, who was hidden in his tomb. Though using the title of the ninth novel in the series, it actually is based on numerous elements from throughout the series to that point, cherrypicked by the writers. The adventures of dr fu macnhu s01e01 prisoner of fu manchu s. Henry brandon the files of jerry blake movie serial. Fu manchu kidnaps a renowned plastic surgeon, whom he plans to force to operate on adolf hitler who is actually still alive and in hiding. The fu manchu stories, written by sax rohmer 18831959, consisted of novels originally published between 1912 and 1959 and one novel published after his death. Fu manchu is a syndicated american television series that aired in 1956. Drums of fu manchu 15 chapters henry brandon, robert kellard d. Drums of fu manchu is a 15chapter republic movie serial based on the character created by sax rohmer. In his remote asian hideaway, the evil fu manchu plots the death and discredit of his archrival, inspector nayland smith of scotland yard, as the first step in his plan to become leader of the worlds most terrible criminals.
The plot of this book is based in the united kingdom and revolves around the lives of the characters dr. Given his excellent portrayal, its stunning the studio failed to capitalize on its success. Fu manchu, evil genius and possessor of seemingly unlimited financial resources, has pledged to bring about the downfall of western civilization to avenge unknown wrongs of the past. Approved 1h 9min adventure, thriller 27 november 1943 usa dr. In this serial, fu manchu attempts to conquer the world by acquiring the sceptre of genghis khan, which will unite the people of asia under his rule. Oct 26, 2007 first 10 mins of chapter five from the old fashioned, embarrasingly politically incorrect 40s serial. The fu manchu stories, written by sax rohmer 18831959, consisted of novels originally published between 1912 and 1959 and one novel published after. Energetic serial star robert kellard had a wide acting range, which came in handy over his varied cliffhanger career. It feels a little slapped together, and no editing was done, you can tell its just here is todays episode, and boom here is the next one. Fu sends his lackeys to round up ingredients for a new batch of elixir, starting with the star of leningrad diamond, nabbed from a soviet exhibition in washington. The rerelease of the mask of fu manchu in 1972 was met with protest from the japanese american citizens league, who stated that the movie was offensive and demeaning to asian americans. A publicity portrait of robert kellard from the serial drums of fu manchu republic, 1940. With henry brandon, william royle, robert kellard, gloria franklin.
Fu manchu s weapon of evil trailer other youtube movies of note to fu manchu fans. The hand of fu manchu, also known as the sifan mysteries, is the third of 14 fu manchu books that sax rohmer gave the world. Drums of fu manchu 1940 approved 4h 29min action, adventure, crime 15 march 1940 usa the nefarious dr. The syndicated fu manchu tv show had a brief week run, from 93 to 112656. The adventures of fu manchu 1956 8 complete episodes youtube. Heroes come and go but the sign of a great actionadventure movie is always a strong and interesting villain. It starred henry brandon, william royle and robert kellard. Englishmen race to find the tomb of genghis khan before the sinister fu manchu does. During the boxer rebellion in china during the early 20th century, in which a chinese secret society attacked all westerners and anyone who associated with them, dr.
Then fu and hitler will join forces to conquer the world. Thus, drums of fu manchu republic, 1940, saw brandon in his fourth, final, and greatest turn as a serial villain. With christopher lee, nigel green, joachim fuchsberger, karin dor. A handful of television appearances aside including a failed 1952 pilot starring john carradine, the character wouldnt emerge again until 1965, when christopher lee. The show was produced by hollywood television service, a subsidiary of republic pictures. Drums of fu manchu classic cliffhanger movie serial dvd. The agents of interpol do their best to defeat him using. International money and an international cast in this mess of a movie.
The character also appeared in silent and sound films, radio, and comic strips. Robert kellard the files of jerry blake movie serial. Bbc radio and broadway investors subsequently rejected rohmers proposals for an original fu manchu radio serial and stage show during the 1940s. Fu manchu originally formed in 1985 as a hardcore punk band called virulence. Grisly strangulations in london alert nayland smith of scotland yard to the possibility of the fiendish fu manchu may not be dead after all, even though smith witnessed his execution. The fbi sends agents capone and williams to england to confer with. Fu manchu s wife and child are killed by foreigners. Before christopher lee laid siege to isengard as saruman the white, he was the problematic and infamously mustachioed dr. Vci entertainment is now presenting one of the best in their twodvd set of the complete republic serial the drums of fu manchu 1940. The latest youtube michael mcquary movie has been posted. Jan 12, 20 1931 film based on sax rohmers daughter of fu manchu. A killer kitty with poisontipped claws, giant noxious mushrooms and aphoniainducing flowers are just some of the challenges faced by sir denis nayland smith and dr petrie in their battles against archvillain fu manchu.
I make a big batch of popcorn, sit myself down in front of my big flatscreen with childish anticipation, and watch two or three chapters. Next came the 15part 1940 republic serial drums of fu manchu, starring germanborn henry brandon as the dastardly doctor, which was edited down to a 68minute feature in 1943. Fu manchu was the creation of english author arthur henry sarsfield ward under the pen name sax rohmer. Excellent, from jack mathis original printdown from republic pictures negative, mostly stable, excellent sharpness and grey tones. Fifteen exciting chapters of trains wrecks, chases, car crashes, fights, fights and more fights, featuring one of the best villians in all of fiction, dr. He was created and introduced in the 19 novel the mystery of dr. During the boxer rebellion in china during the early 20th century. Nonetheless, it contains all the episodes that were filmed.
The adventures of fu manchu 1956 8 complete episodes. The blood of fu manchu is marginally the better of his two fus, but its still a major step down for the christopher lee series. A killer spray made from tibetan berries seems to be involved and clues keep leading back to the thames. Christopher lee, richard greene, howard marioncrawford adventure crime thriller crime. Agar lyons, fred paul, joan clarkson, humberston wright. With glen gordon, lester matthews, clark howat, carla balenda. Republic studios televesion version suffers from the absense of its serial drums of fu manchu star, henry brandon.
It was later edited and released as a feature film in 1943. Maynard order duallayer dvd entire serial on 1 disk, full quality. Feature film containing the 1956 tv series episodes the golden god of dr. The fu manchu is a category of competition in the world beard and moustache. Brandon gave his fu a cold, passionless, cooly selfconfident demeanor, occasionally flying into a dry. An expansion of the fu manchu sometimes includes a third long tendril descending from a small patch on the chin. Barely a wasted minute as far as inflicting some violence and malicious plans. Republic studios televesion version suffers from the absense of its serialdrums of fu manchu star, henry brandon. Fu manchu christopher lee collection the movie database.
If you down shift your mental gears a bit and suspend the harsh demands ofsophisticated reality the drums of fu manchu can be the source of some of the best unfettered joy any movie goer can ever get. The serial squadron is a multimedia archive the home on the web of the original male and female cinema action heroes, and our goal is to preserve and restore and make available for viewing or study the jungle, mystery, western and scifi cliffhangers that inspired star wars and the hollywood superhero blockbusters of today. Fu manchu searches for the keys to the tomb of genghis khan, in order to fulfill a prophecy that will enable him to conquer the world. The famous facial hair first appeared in the british serial the mystery of dr. Fu manchu, fictional character, a chinese criminal genius who was the herovillain of novels and short stories by sax rohmer pseudonym of arthur sarsfield ward. Terrible action, acting, dubbing, continuity, and plot. Sax rohmers creation, oriental master criminal, fu manchu, whose plans for world domination using a lethal poison gas are thwarted at every turn by his arch nemesis, sir nayland smith of scotland. A fu manchu moustache or simply fu manchu is a full, straight moustache that originates on the corners of the mouth and grows downward past the cleanshaven lips and chin in two tapered tendrils, often extending past the jawline. But of course it gets a bit onedimensional and not enough time to really appreciate whats going on rushing through the scenes, trying to include.
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