Chandu the Magician (1932)

Directors:

William Cameron Menzies
Marcel Varnel

Writers:

Harry A. Earnshaw (radio serial) &
Vera M. Oldham (radio serial) ...
(more)

Release Date:

18 September 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi

Plot:

When delusional madman Roxor kidnaps a scientist in hopes of using his death ray to achieve world dominance, he is opposed by Chandu, a powerful hypnotist and yogi.

Plot Keywords:

Death Ray | Yogi | Magician | Megalomaniac | Brother In Law

Cast

Edmund Lowe	...	Chandu / Frank Chandler
Irene Ware	...	Princess Nadji
Bela Lugosi	...	Roxor
Herbert Mundin	...	Albert Miggles
Henry B. Walthall	...	Robert Regent
Weldon Heyburn	...	Abdullah
June Lang	...	Betty Lou Regent (as June Vlasek)
Michael Stuart	...	Bobby Regent (as Nestor Aber)
Virginia Hammond	...	Dorothy Regent
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nigel De Brulier	...	Yogi Teacher (uncredited)
John George	...	Third Man Bidding on Betty Lou (uncredited)
Charles Stevens	...	Ali - Nadji's Servant (uncredited)
Dick Sutherland	...	Henchman (uncredited)

Directed by
William Cameron Menzies		(as Wiliam C. Menzies)
Marcel Varnel

Writing credits
Harry A. Earnshaw		(radio serial) &
Vera M. Oldham		(radio serial) and
R.R. Morgan		(radio serial)
Barry Conners		(screenplay) and
Philip Klein		(screenplay)
Guy Bolton		script and additional dialogue (uncredited)
Bradley King		script and additional dialogue (uncredited)
Harry Segall		script and additional dialogue (uncredited)

Original Music by
R.H. Bassett		(uncredited)
Peter Brunelli		(uncredited)
Louis De Francesco		(uncredited)
Glen Knight		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
James Wong Howe		(as James Howe)

Film Editing by
Harold D. Schuster		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Max Parker

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Walter Mayo	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Joseph E. Aiken	....	sound recordist

Camera and Electrical Department
Jack Epstein	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Paul Lockwood	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Irving Rosenberg	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Anthony Ugrin	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Earl Luick	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Louis De Francesco	....	musical director
Val Burton	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Alfred Dalby	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Heinrich Kiehl	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Edmond Lavagne	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
André Petiot	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Léo Pouget	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Henri Poussigue	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
J.S. Zamecnik	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Fox Film Corporation (1932) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Rex Miller Video (video)

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #4786-R, 11 October 1938 for re-release) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | USA:Unrated

Company:

Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

This movie was based on "Chandu the Magician," a radio show that was airing at the time. Chandu was the basis for many of the later magician characters, including DC's Sandor the Mystic and Marvel Comics's Dr. Strange.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the scene where Chandu sneaks into the slave auction by luring the guard away with an astral projection. The guard chases the illusion, corner it, only to see it disappear before him. Shot over his shoulder we see him raise his hands in amazement and drop his rifle. There is a cut and the new angle shows the guard from the front with a look of stupefaction on his face - but still holding the gun.

Quotes:

Princess Nadji: Have you been married since you last saw me?
Chandu - aka Frank Chandler: That's one feat of magic that requires a beautiful assistant.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Grave Danger (2009)

Soundtrack:

How Dry I Am

Enjoyable serial-style hokum

If you like old-fashioned cliffhanger thrills, you'll enjoy CHANDU THE MAGICIAN. It has everything you could want in a serial adventure- a dashing hero, a megalomaniacal villain, an exotic setting, and a series of hair-raising perils that keeps the scenario rolling until the end. CHANDU's plot which concerns the title character's supernatural efforts to prevent the fiendish Roxor from taking over the world is trite and simplistic. However, the story's very triteness and simplicity is part of CHANDU's corny charm.

CHANDU boasts dazzling set design and fluid cinematography that create a fascinating, mysterious Egyptian milieu with majestic temple sets and an atmospheric desert locale. CHANDU's sense of adventure and mystique is further enhanced by special effects illustrating the powers of both Chandu and a death ray Roxor plans to employ in his world-domination plot. Even by today's Industrial Light and Magic standards, these effects look impressive.

Edmund Lowe is acceptable in the title role of Chandu but Bela Lugosi in the role of Roxor steals the film. Lugosi tackles his part with a demonic zeal, displaying odious glee over his scheme in both his facial expressions and line deliveries. There is little restraint or subtlety in his performance, but Lugosi projects such persuasive charisma that one can forgive his indulgences. Overall, CHANDU is no classic, but it's fun escapist entertainment.