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Mask of Fu Manchu [VHS]

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"The Mask of Fu Manchu" would have to be one of the unfairly maligned cinema efforts of the 30's. Myrna Loy in her great autobiography while referring to it as pure hokum also had the good sense (something you would expect from Nora Charles!!) to point out how alot of effort went into the production and it was peopled by wonderful actors ideally cast.

I have always loved the sheer exotica of this film and the lavish production and look of the piece will keep you entranced from start to finish.

Towering over all is Boris Karloff as the nefarious Dr. Fu Manchu... everyones favourite villian. It was a role Boris was born to play and he employs the right combination of sheer evil, cruelty and even wry humour to bring the part the right conviction. Karloff was a fine actor who too often was trapped in poor material in his Hollywood years. He does have a role of a life time here in Fu Manchu and, despite loving Christopher Lee is his interpretation of the evil doctor, I feel he has never been equalled in this role .

Special mention must also be made of Myrna Loy as Fu's "ugly daughter!" She is terrific in the role of the evil daughter who has designs on the young white explorer Charles Stratton. Only one year off real stardom in "The Barbarian" with Ramon Novarro and "The Thin Man" of course with William Powell, here she is playing the last of her exotic roles before she became in the next evolution of her illustrious film career the "perfect wife" ( a title she hated). She is pure evil here and is quite startling in the controversial whipping sequence which was cut out of many prints for years . Lewis Stone lends his always excellent support as the head of the expedition to the Gobi desert in search of the fabled tomb of Genghis Khan.

Full attention was lavished on the look of the film from the exotic art deco/Chinese palace interiors by Cedric Gibbons to the out of this world creations by Adrian for Karloff and Loy which will take your breath away. The film has the definite MGM feel to it so you know great care was taken in every area in mounting this production.

All of the evils associated with the "good doctor" are here to be relished by the viewer.Pits of hungry crocodiles, bell tortures, the "room of a thousand fingers" which is in reality a wall of spikes and assorted creepy crawlies in glass jars. Totally engrossing stuff!!!. No one need ever take this film seriously but it is terrific fun and as a lover of films of the 30's I can't help but admire the work that went into it.
One note though, it appears that the film was edited for release onto video as I always feel that Myrna Loy's character seems to simply disappear before the finale and no explanation is ever given. The jacket cover mentions that someone betrays Fu Manchu to help release the men but that doesn't occur in the version on video. Just a little mystery that needs to be cleared up.

Enjoy "The Mask of Fu Manchu" As a piece of first class froth it has no equals

Wow, this l932 camp classic squeezes so much into its running time--S&M, near-nudity, drugs, racism,sex, sex--you're left gasping. Boris Karloff turns in a delightful turn as the menacing Fu Manchu. Myrna Loy, in her pre-superstar days, is his "horribly ugly" daughter, who delights in capturing gorgeous hunk, Charles Starrett, and playing with him like a toy. His nearly nude scenes--when he wears a loose, constantly shifting diaper--while she runs her long talons over her glistening torso--must've have accelerated pulses of all sexes back in this pre-Code extravaganza. Fay Wray should have played Karen Morley's squealing heroine. Silver-haired and elegant Lewis Stone makes an off-beat hero-adventurer. Gorgeous photography by Tony Gaudio, comic book costumes by Adrian, art deco settings by Cedric Gibbons make this a smash-hit from the first frame to the last. Lots of flesh baring by Charles and the dark slaves. It's fun to watch Myrna lash her whip over Starrett and her "Nubian" slaves. Great quote: "Will we ever understand this Eastern race?"

They most certainly do not make them like they used to. This 1932 film is probably the best Fu Manchu adaption and a strangely enjoyable film in its own right. One note, this film has been rated G according to the box. I do not agree with this rating for, thoughit is not as risque as it is made out to be, it still would not be proper viewing for very young children. I would give it a low PG.

The plot (if indeed it can be called that) involves everyone's favorite evil doctor plotting to gain the mask and sword of Genghis Kahn in order to rule the world. To gain that end, he and his equally wicked daughter abduct an archaelogical team one by one and come up with "only in the movies" methods of torture.

Now, a note on political correctness. It is a very risky proposition to judge a movie from a different era by modern standards. I don't agree with it. That said, some of the inaccuracies are very amusing. A few things I never knew before I saw The Mask of Fu Manchu:

Buddhists apparently loved human sacrifices (and worship Shiva)
Boas have poisonous bites
Scientists and archaeologists are terrified of tomb curses (like they've never seen them before)

Someone didn't do their research. (in all fairness, the books also play fast and loose with the facts, they are also great candy reading.)

The main reason to watch this film is to see Myrna Loy (pre-fame) and Boris Karloff chewing scenery with apparent relish as a wicked father/daughter duo. Who could have known in 1932 that Loy would enjoy a long career as a comedienne?

This movie is wonderful for lovers of camp. Also, movies buffs will enjoy seeing how this movie influenced many later serials. (I could see traces of Fu Manchu in Flash Gordan and G-Men vs. the Black Dragon) If you wish to compare pre and post Code movies, I suggest the old Tarzan series as a better indicator. (The pre and post study is not my cup of tea so that's the best I can offer by way of suggestions)

This movie can be great cornball fun if you relax and try not to judge it by modern standards.

This film is short (68 minutes) and superbly entertaining. It tells the story of a Chinese evil scientist/warlord (Boris Karloff) who wants to seize the golden mask and sword which belonged to Genghis Khan, to dominate the world and impose the supremacy of Eastern Cultures over the "Western World".

Karloff is rightly cast as the menacing Fu Manchu, more frightful than ever; this role along with the ones he played in "Frankenstein", "The Mummy" and "The Old Dark House", are my favorites of him.

Mention apart deserves a pre-"The Thin Man" Myrna Loy, as his "ugly and insignificant daughter", an oversexed, nymphomaniac and sadistic oriental girl, who's got as aides in her schemes, many tall, muscular black men, dressed in loin-cloths.

Check the scene where Loy has the hero (Charles Starrett) whipped by her aides and others in which she has him at her complete mercy, like for example when Starrett is being injected a "serum" that will have him under the spell of Loy & Karloff, and do whatever they will: he's strapped on a sort of "Operations Table" and around him are these "muscular" slaves wearing loin-cloths, standing above pedestals and thus resembling "living statues" (The Art Deco Sets and the Art Direction in general is excellent).

There's another scene in which Karen Morley (dressed as a white virgin) is taken to a sacrificial "tableau" in front of an Oriental God.

Lewis Stone plays the head of the British Secret Service, who wants to prevent Fu Manchu from finding Genghis Khan's tomb and thus, his sword and mask.

Karen Morley plays the daughter of the British scientist who knows the Tomb's exact localization in China and who's kidnapped by Fu Manchu; hunky Charles Starrett plays her fiancé, who is also very much sought after by Myrna Loy.

Also in it Jean Hersholt as scientist.

A must-see for Pre-Code, Adventure and Horror fans.

After having completed Frankenstein and The Mummy, Boris Karloff turned his considerable acting talents to playing Sax Rohmer's firendish Yellow Menace, Fu Manchu. Karloff in this picture is a sadistic monster. Even by the standards of the period, The Mask of Fu Manchu is VERY racist, but it is an exciting movie which has all the benefits of an MGM production, with cinematography by Tony Gaudio, and sets by Cedric Gibbons. Especially notable is the beautifully photographed and staged sequence of the opening of Genghis Khan's Tomb.

The Mask of Fu Manchu is also very much an example of pre-Code film making with some of the wildest scenes that ever made their way onto the screen in the early 1930's--particularly those in which Fu's daughter, played by Myrna Loy in her Chinese period, drools over the recumbent, nearly naked body of an immobilized Charles Starrett. It's a bit unnerving to see the woman who would epitomize 30's style and chic in just a few years in the Thin Man movies, playing such a wicked, and sex-crazed harlot.

Lewis Stone as a Scotland Yard inspector & Jean Hersholt as an archeologist both give the expected fine performance. Charles Starrett, as the much-abused young hero, & Karen Morley, as the requisite young woman on a dangerous expedition, both give a good account of themselves.

The dialog is typically weak and outdated early 30's fare and theres not much of a musical score, but other than those two drawbacks, this is a mighthy fun film to watch.

The kind of movie they, alas, don't make anymore -- a stylish adventure with exotic settings, a glamorous cast, zesty direction, and a lacing of humor.

The video I bought has trimmed some of the "yellow peril" dialog which now seems blatantly racist, but it also edited down the famous scene in which handsome-and-hunky Charles Starrett is flogged by Myrna Loy's slaves. (Myrna appears to get really excited while watching Charlie writhe.) Considering all the head-exploding violence going on in movies today, it's bewildering to find that someone took the time and trouble to edit out the simple lashing of a whip.

If you are a Karloff fan, you must see this movie. What a role - a rich Asian sadist! Myrna Loy is also quite impressive. I think the best part of this movie (other than Karloff's acting, and his make-up job - wow!) are the sets. There are different torture rooms for different characters. I've never read any of the Fu Manchu books, so I can't comment about that. But Karloff's portrayal is pure evil and pure genius!

Ah yes, Boris Karloff as an Oriental nutcase in search of the mystical mask of Genghis Khan. His daughter is "Fah-Lo-See," (love the pun) played by then vamp, later to be Nora Charles, Myrna Loy. The movie is great fun, and of course the bad guys get their comeuppance in the end.

My greatest concern with this film, as with the first Fu Manchu novel, is its need to typify the sexuality of Chinese women. For instance, when Terry is first captured and made unconscious by Fu Manchu, he allows his daughter to kiss and fondle the man, as it's her "customary procedure." Prior to this, she demonstrates how her cruelty is comparable to her father's, allowing her henchmen to continuously whip Terry into unconsciousness. The juxtaposition of these two scenes only alludes to the sexual gratification Fah Lo See attains with abuse and power.
This description differs from the one Sax Rohmer endorses in at least his first novel, The Insidious Fu Manchu. In the novel, one of the protagonists makes a suggestion to torture Fu Manchu's slave (who is also an Asian woman) with sexually suggestive methods in order for her to reveal Fu Manchu's ulterior motives; here, the character even claims that the woman would "adore [the] savagery" (100). In this case, the woman is put in Terry's place in the film.
However, in both the film and the novel, Chinese women are portrayed to be hypersexual beings, obtaining it from either control or through being subjugated. And while it is understandable that it is difficult to give social commentary on antiquated narratives, I still believe that it is important and still relevant in our society today to continue to discuss the themes this film, and the rest of the Fu Manchu series, brings up.

The Mask of Fu Manchu is a 1932 film from Cosmopolitan Pictures. The character is based on a 1912 serialized novel by Sax Rohmer, the popular English novelist Fu made his film debut in 1923 in a UK serial "The Mystery of Fu Manchu". He made his U.S. debut in 1929 in "The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu", played by Warner Oland who would go on to star 3 more Fu films (1930, 1931) and then in a host of Charlie Chan films between 1931 and 1937.

Boris Karloff (1887-1969) appears as Fu. He started in films in 1916 and up until 1931 he was a bit player in B films. Then came "Frankenstein" (1931), "The Mummy" (1932) and "The Mask of Fu Manchu" (1932) and he was off on a whirlwind career that lasted for decades. For his makeup to be applied Karloff required more than 2 hours a day

Myrna Loy (1905-93) plays his daughter. She's best remembered as Nora Charles from "The Thin Man" series that produced 6 films between 1934 and 1947 She made more than 100 films, the most notable of which are "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946), "Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House" (1948) and "Cheaper by the Dozen" (1950).

Lewis Stone (1879-1953) plays the good guy, Commissioner Smith. He was a major star in the 20s and 30s and was nominated for an Oscar for "The Patriot" (1930). Between 1914 and 1953 he made more than 150 films; his memorable roles were as the warden in "The Big House" (1930), Doctor Otternschlag in "Grand Hotel" (1932), and "Doc" in "Three Godfathers" (1936). Gretta Garbo used him in 7 of her films. He's probably best known for his continuing role as Judge Hardy in the Andy Hardy films (1937-46).

Jean Hersholt (1886-1956) plays Dr. Von Berg. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1906 and 1955, including such memorable films as "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" (1921), Erich von Stroheim's "Greed" (1924), and "The Country Doctor" (1936). He's best remembered as Shirley Temple's grandfather in "Heidi" (1937).

Karen Morley (1909-2003) plays the threatened girl. She was originally hired by Clarence Brown as a stand in for his protégé Greta Garbo, and then built her own film career with appearances in films like "Mata Hari" (1931), "Scarface" (1932) and "Dinner at Eight" (1933). She was married to the film's director, Charles Vidor, from 1932 to 1943. She made more than 40 films before being blacklisted in the 50s.

Charles Starrett (1903-86) plays Morley's fiance. He is best remembered for his western films, notably, "The Durango Kid" series (1940-52).

The film was directed by Charles Brabin who directed nearly 100 films between 1912 and 1934, the most famous of which are "The Mask of Fun Manchu" (1932) and "Rasputin and the Empress" (1932) which is the only film to feature all 3 Barrymore siblings. Brabin is best known for his long lasting marriage to screen vamp Theda Bara. Much of the erotica in Fu Manchu can be found in Theda Bara's films.

The film was criticized in general for its portrayal of the Chinese, and specifically for a line delivered by Karloff - "Kill the white men and take their women." This didn't disturb media mogul William Randolph Hearst who owned Cosmopolitan Pictures, but World War 2 and alliance with the Chinese kept Fu from the big screen for many years.

Some pundits believe that the evil "Ming the Merciless" from the Flash Gordon comic (1934) and film series (1936) was taken from Fu. Ming himself was the prototype for the Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars series. The parallels between Ming and Fu are numerous. Both are oriental with distinct mustaches and prone to wearing long robes. Both have daughters, called Princess, who have dark hair and who eventually fall for the athletic hero (Buster Crabbe/Charles Starrett) who ironically enough, has a parallel life as a screen cowboy. Both Ming and Fu are smitten by the blond girlfriend of the athlete, and both are opposed by the smart older man (Frank Shannon/Lewis Stone). Both Ming and Fu have a plethora of inventive tortures at their disposal, and both have access to super weapons.

BTW - Ian Fleming was a fan of the Sax Rohmer novels about Fu Man chu and we see this influence in characters like Ernst Stavro Blofeld (1957) and Dr. No (1958).

Fu Man chu was voted the #1 "most infamous Yellow face film performances" by Asian Week.


The film is a hoot and Karloff is marvelous. Definitely worth viewing.