The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Charles Brabin

Writers:

Sax Rohmer (story)
Irene Kuhn (writer) ...

Release Date:

5 November 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Horror | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Englishmen race to find the tomb of Ghengis Khan. They have to get there fast, as the evil genius Dr...

Plot Keywords:

Fu Manchu | Tomb | Mad Scientist | Bell | Human Sacrifice

Cast

Boris Karloff	...	Dr. Fu Manchu
Lewis Stone	...	Sir Denis Nayland Smith
Karen Morley	...	Sheila Barton
Charles Starrett	...	Terrence Granville
Myrna Loy	...	Fah Lo See
Jean Hersholt	...	Professor Von Berg
Lawrence Grant	...	Sir Lionel Barton
David Torrence	...	'Mac' McLeod
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Herbert Bunston	...	Undetermined Role (scenes deleted)
Gertrude Michael	...	Undetermined Role (scenes deleted)

Runtime:

68 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1933) | USA:Approved

Company:

Cosmopolitan Productions

Trivia:

As originally scripted, during the torture sequence, it was planned to have Von Berg (Jean Hersholt) suspended over the crocodile pit and Neyland Smith (Lewis Stone) about to be impaled by the walls of spikes. This was reversed when, for reasons unknown, it was thought that a fat captive would make more sense being impaled than a thin one.

Goofs:

Continuity: While he is Fu Manchu's prisoner, it is an important plot point that Sir Lionel Barton has had his hand cut off by Fu, his severed hand falling out of a tree and being discovered by Terrence Granville. But later, when Barton's body is abandoned in front of the expedition headquarters after his murder, he clearly (in long shot) has both hands.

Quotes:

Nayland Smith: What do you expect to find in that tomb?
Sir Lionel Barton: A record, the golden plate, the threat of Genghis Khan's return, the golden mask he wore, and the famous golden scimitar.
Nayland Smith: Exactly, of course in your hands these things would be merely interesting archaeological specimens to go into British Museum, but should Fu Manchu put that mask across his wicked eyes and take that scimitar into his bony, cruel hands, all Asia rises. He'll declare himself Genghis Khan come to life again. And that, my friend, is what you have got to prevent. You must find that grave, and you must be the first to find it. And you must bring those pretty things back to England.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Creature Features: The Mask of Fu Manchu/Return of the Ape Man (#1.42)" (1971)

KARLOFF WANTS TO EXTERMINATE THE WHITE RACE!

Dr. Fu Manchu(Boris Karloff) is a ruthless oriental who desires to obtain the ceremonial mask and sword of Genghis Khan. He believes if he secures these two sacred items, his leadership over the hordes of Asia will exterminate the white race so that he will rule the world. Professor Von Berg (Jean Hersholt, radio veteran of "Poems That Touch the Heart") and Nayland Smith(Lewis Stone) of Scotland Yard try to prevent Fu Manchu from getting these important relics. These members are subject to murder and torture and are even sentenced to death in the crocodile pit. Fah Lo See(Myrna Loy,wife of Wm. Powell in the "Thin Man Series")is a very sexual daughter of Fu Manchu who wants to make a young expedition member Terry Granville(Charles Starrett) to be her slave for life. Boris Karloff spoke for the first time in his second career in this film after " Frankenstein". Sax Rohmer who wrote the novel wanted Karloff because of his natural lisp to make it sound like a snake-like hissing in his hateful role as Fu Manchu. It is a must see film and a great film classic for all generations.