Product Details

• Actors: Christopher Lee, Nigel Green, Joachim Fuchsberger, Karin Dor, James Robertson Justice
• Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: August 22, 1995
• Run Time: 96 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303465927
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #188,361 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

First of new series of Fu Manchu movies. In this one Nayland Smith of Scotland Yard may have witnessed the execution of Fu Manchu, but a series of gruesome strangings in London indicate that he might not be dead after all. Clues include a deadly spray made from Tibetan berries. There also seems to be a Fu plot brewing - a plot to take over the west. Sequel to this film is The Brides of Fu Manchu.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Christopher Lee in his second most famous role, December 1, 2002

By 

Simon Davis (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Face of Fu Manchu [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The talented Christopher Lee only occasionally involved himself in a long running character in his movie roles and of course his brilliant portrayal of Dracula in a series of films for Hammer Studios has gone into movie folklore. Another character that he portrayed in a series of films and made his own was the evil oriental mastermind Dr. Fu Manchu.

Made famous in the 30's by Boris Karloff and by a long running series in the 40's here Christopher Lee puts his own original stamp on the evil doctor who was always bent on taking over the world by some fiendish method involving torture, deadly weapons and mind games. "The Face Of Fu Manchu" was the first of the films in this new series and was by far the best. It not only offers a wonderfully sinister character for Lee to sink his teeth into (no pun intended) but offers a lavish production with wonderfully recreated 1920's atmosphere, excellent costumes and a fine supporting cast of veteran performers like Nigel Green in the role of Sir Nayland Smith from Scotland Yard who would be Fu Manchu's main nemesis in many an adventure in the future. Equally effective is asian actress Tsai Chin who portrays Lin Tang, Fu Manchu's evil daughter and one of his main cohorts in his evil schemes.

The plot of "The Face Of Fu Manchu" is a straightforward one whereby London experiences a series of grisly deaths and then the kidnapping of famed scientist Prof. Fuchsberger who has discovered a lethal product that if used by those in the know is capable of wiping out huge numbers of people in a short time. It is up to Nayland Smith to try and find the source of these murders and also find the missing scientist before he reveals the secret formula to the evil Fu Manchu who faked his own death in order to throw Scotland Yard off his scent.What develops is a terrific adventure drama involving Fu Manchu wiping out a whole English Village as a "demonstration" of his power, drowning a female traitor for trying to warm Scotland Yard of his insane scheme and the final closing in on the evil doctor in a monastery in Tibet where he finally meets his much deserved end in an explosion, .......or does he? . I wont go into the tired argument about it being racist for caucasian actors to play asian characters. Christopher Lee brings an excellent majestic quality to the role of Fu Manchu which could not be bettered with its equal portions of intelligence, wordly polish and insanity. He repeated the role in 4 more entries in the series but this film was the one that is most memorable and stylish in its delivery.

I personally love the stories of the mad doctor Fu Manchu bent on taking over the world by foul means and for an exciting and atmospheric adventure story not based in any reality that we would know they can't be beaten. Being a big Christopher Lee fan it is always a pleasure to see him in his other famous role after Dracula and "The Face Of Fu Manchu' is an ideal vechicle to see his great talent for creating evil characters on screen. Enjoy!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best in the series...thanks for region-free DVD players, December 13, 2004

By 

Darren Harrison "DVD collector and reviewer" (Washington D.C.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Face of Fu Manchu [VHS] (VHS Tape)

So far only available on VHS in Region 1, I picked up the Region 2 DVD release of `Face of Fu Manchu' recently and blessed my region-free DVD player for every wonderful fun-filled moment of this enjoyable fantasy romp.

Based on the character originally envisioned by British author Sax Rohmer, Christopher Lee made a total of five appearances in the 1960s as arch villain Fu Manchu. This entry (the first in the series) is by far the best, closely followed by the second `Brides of Fu Manchu' (another Region 2 only DVD release).

What makes this entry so enjoyable is the wonderful Nigel Green as Fu Manchu's greatest nemesis - Nayland Smith of Scotland Yard. In fact it is in the opening minutes of this movie that we see Smith invited by the Chinese government to witness the execution of Fu Manchu.

Fast forward a couple of months and Smith is sturdy in his belief that Fu Manchu survived and is behind a series of grisly crimes in western Europe. Then when a professors servant is found murdered in the same manner in which Fu Manchu's followers had practiced, Smith becomes even more convinced that he is up against the evil genius.

Through a series of machinations Smith learns that the professor has been kidnapped by Fu Manchu and is being forced to make a toxin that could wipe out most of the western world. Of course (in a plot device also used in the following `Brides of Fu Manchu') the professors daughter has also been captured and is being used to comply the professor to complete his task.

Directed with skill by Don Sharp this movie is fast-paced enough to overlook the plot holes and colorful enough to keep the fun factor umpped up to the ultimate degree. It's a visual feast and the movie is also helped by a tight script and some well drawn characters. I grew up watching these movies on British television and my memories did not disappoint me.

Also notable is the inclusion of one-time Bond girl Karin (You Only Live Twice) Dor ho turns in a strong performance as the professors daughter.

This is an ultimate Saturday afternoon movie to be watched relaxed in a recliner with a bag of popcorn in one hand and a soda in the other, all the while reveling in every outlandish moment.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars WHEN WILL IT BE AVAILABLE?, May 29, 2008

By 

Bill Cunningham "bill cunningham" (San Marcos, Tx. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Face of Fu Manchu (DVD)

When will this original Hammer Fu Manchu and the equally good Brides of Fu Manchu be made available for American distribution? The ones available now are inferior sequels but these were great Hammer entries. I would even settle for a box set of all the Hammer Fu Manchu with the great early ones and the lesser latter ones.