Drums of Fu Manchu (1940)

Directors:

John English
William Witney

Writers:

Sax Rohmer (book)
Franklin Adreon (original screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 March 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Action | Fantasy

Plot:

The nefarious Dr. Fu Manchu searches for the keys to the tomb of Genghis Khan, in order to fulfill a...

Plot Keywords:

Fu Manchu | Genghis Khan | B Movie | Tribe | Hostage

Cast

Henry Brandon	...	Dr. Fu Manchu
William Royle	...	Sir Dennis Nayland Smith
Robert Kellard	...	Allan Parker
Gloria Franklin	...	Mary Randolph
Olaf Hytten	...	Dr. Flinders Petrie
Tom Chatterton	...	Prof. Edward Randolph
Luana Walters	...	Fah-Lo-Suee
Lal Chand Mehra	...	Sirdar Prahni, high priest [Chs.9-10]
George Cleveland	...	Dr. James Parker [Ch.1]
John Dilson	...	Prof. Ezra Howard [Chs.5-6]
John Merton	...	Loki
Dwight Frye	...	Prof. Anderson [Ch.5]
Wheaton Chambers	...	Dr. Humphrey [Chs.2-3]
George Pembroke	...	C.W. Crawford - Si Fan member [Chs.1,4,7-8]
Guy D'Ennery	...	Ranah Sang, Si Fan member [Chs.1,7; b.g.4]

Also Known As:

Drums of Fu Manchu: The Serial (USA) (informal alternative title)
Fu Manchu (USA) (working title)
Fu Manchu Strikes (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

269 min (15 chapters)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA High Fidelity Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Corriganville, Ray Corrigan Ranch, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tiovivo c. 1950 (2004)

The Drums of Death and Thrills

Dr. Fu Manchu is searching for the tomb of Genghis Kahn in order to obtain the conqueror's scepter, where Fu Manchu can become messiah of the numerous tribes in Asia, as prophesized, and then conquer the western world. Fu Manchu's eternal nemesis, Sir Nayland Smith, arrives in America to track down Fu Manchu and with the help of Dr. Petrie, Allan Parker (whose explorer father was killed by one of Fu's dacoits), Prof. Randolph, and Randolph's daughter Mary, and prevent the keys to the location of Khan's tomb from falling into the hands of Fu Manchu. A very good serial, helped out by directors Witney and English who took advantage from a larger Republic budget and great cinematography from William Nobles. Brandon is probably the best Fu Manchu seen on screen, but still couldn't capture the evil portrayed in the Rohmer novels. I don't understand why Republic decided to make Sir Nayland Smith older than he was in the books (as well as Dr. Petrie, limiting his role), but Royle is very good in the role. Kellard is listless at times as Parker. Franklin is at times unconvincing as Fah Lo Suee (using a thick city accent most of the time) and Walters is missing much of the times as Randolph. My real beef with this serial is when the serial shifts from Los Angeles (or San Angeles as pointed out in the serial) to the Asian hills of Branaphur, the serial starts to shift down in excitement and becomes a run of the mill Republic fare with nothing standing out. Still this is among Republic's best efforts of the 40's and worth watching. Rating, based on serials, 9.