Product Details

• Actors: Bela Lugosi
• Directors: Ray Taylor
• Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Gotham Distribution
• DVD Release Date: March 29, 2005
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0007OP1EY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #242,843 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Chandu on the Magic Island:Feature" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Studio: Gotham (dba Alpha) Release Date: 06/07/2005

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hey, Bela Lugosi's not evil in this one!, July 14, 2006

By 

H. Bala "Me Too Can Read" (Just moved to posh Marina Del Rey, CA - where if you drop a quarter, why, you just keep on walking) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chandu on the Magic Island:Feature (DVD)

This black and white 1935 release is short at 66 minutes but is a ton of fun for the nostalgia buffs. For those grown-ups still nurturing an inner child, and who hearken back to a time when cliffhanger serials ruled the cinema, this one's right up the alley. Chandu on the Magic Island tells a strange tale of the occult and the battle between White and Black magic.

Bela Lugosi, more famed for portraying Count Dracula, reprises the role of turban-wearing Frank Chandler, better known as the White Magic sorcerer Chandu. In this one, Chandu must prevent harm from befalling the beautiful Egyptian Princess Nadji, who has been targeted as sacrifice by the depraved feline-worshiping Ubasti cult from the mysterious isle of Lemuria. Then, the stakes go up even higher when Chandu's sister, niece and nephew are kidnapped. Now, trapped in the vast, endless tunnels of Lemuria, Chandu finds his powers diminished. Will his magic be enough to win the day?

This is a nice change of pace for Lugosi, who has been pigeon-holed into portraying sinister characters for much of his film career. Here, he gets a chance to flex his "good guy" muscles, and acquits himself quite well, proving to be a charming and credible protagonist and even an adequate romantic figure. Still, there were moments where I expected him to burst out with a comment about his "chil-dren of the night."

A word to the wise: if the film seems abrupt and disjointed in certain areas, it's probably because of this: in 1934, a 12-part serial titled The Return of Chandu was released, later being edited and broken up into the 2 sequential cinematic pictures The Return of Chandu and this one, Chandu on the Magic Island. Still, while some scenes seem choppy, the exotic action sequences and a sense of high adventure remain intact. So sit back, relax, and sip from this mug of nostalgia.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good stuff but the theater serial version is much better!, July 13, 2008

By 

Patrick W. Crabtree "The Old Grottomaster" (Lucasville, OH USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chandu on the Magic Island:Feature (DVD)

This is the 1935 Feature Film which evolved from the heavy-handed editing of the following 1934 theater serial (broken down into 12 separate chapters), now available on two separate DVDs:

The Return of Chandu the Magician, Vol. 1

The Return of Chandu the Magician, Vol. 2


This Lugosi feature somewhat pales in comparison to that fine old serial version which runs a full 3 hours and 32 minutes -- the feature film version runs for only 65 minutes!

The SERIAL version is terrific (the movie is pretty good too but I prefer viewing the uncut version of the film) with Lugosi playing Frank Chandler, aka Chandu the Magician, as he battles on with the evil High Priest Vindhyan on the South Seas Island of Lemuria.

It is on this island where Chandu's fiancée, the Egyptian Princess Nadji (played by the lovely Maria Alba) is being held captive until Chandu can rescue her. You'll love seeing the special effects as Chandu "vanishes" into thin air -- it really freaks out his adversaries too!

The film is, of course, shot in black-and-white and the aspect is full-screen. It was directed by Ray Taylor. This is one of the few Bela Lugosi films where the great old Master of Horror plays "the good guy," which he pulls off very nicely. It's a great change from his typical and well-known vampire appearances but it's still a fine performance. I was reminded a little of Lugosi's role in The Bowery Boys (The East End Kids) entry, "Spooks Run Wild" but this film is less of a romp than "Spooks".

For a rainy Saturday afternoon of pure theater nostalgia, grab either this one or the serial version ASAP! Tons of fun -- my highest recommendation!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Bastardized version: Return of Chandu, August 16, 2008

By 

Edward Rasen Jr. "ExecEditor" (Maui) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chandu on the Magic Island:Feature (DVD)

Chandu on the Magic Island is a poorly edited, bastardized 65-minute version of chapters 7-12 from Return Of Chandu serial. Some edits are atrocious and there are audio drop-outs and glitches. While this feature film version does include the serial ending, it begins without the storyline for the first six chapters.

I am a Bela fan but, found this bastardized film disappointing, especially with the substandard print used for the Alpha Video release. While, the source print is better than many used for other Alpha releases, it is soft, dark in some scenes, has missing frames, and many hits and glitches. The source print was fair at best, neither bad or good.

If you like Bela then I recommend the VCI Entertainment version for Return Of Chandu. This truncated version is not worth your time or money and Alpha Video is not totally responsible for the disappointment. Even a pristine source print would be less enjoyable than the original cliff-hanger serial.