The Face of Fu Manchu
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The Face of Fu Manchu is a 1965 thriller based on the character of Fu Manchu, the oriental villain created by Sax Rohmer. Don Sharp directed, with Christopher Lee as Fu Manchu and Nigel Green as Nayland Smith, the Scotland Yard detective in his pursuit.
It was a joint British-German production between Hallam Films and Constantin Film Produktion, and was produced by Harry Alan Towers. It was filmed on location in Dublin, Ireland.
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[edit] Plot
The film opens with the ghostly execution of world mastermind criminal Fu Manchu, witnessed by arch-nemesis Nayland Smith.
Back in England, however, it is increasingly apparent that Fu Manchu is still operating. Smith is quick to detect that the execution he witnessed was that of a double, an actor hypnotised into taking Fu Manchu's place. The villain is back in London, working from a secret base underneath the River Thames. He has kidnapped the esteemed Professor Muller, who holds the key to a potentially deadly solution from the seeds of a rare Tibetan flower.
[edit] Sequels
There were four sequels, all starring Christopher Lee in the title role, and produced by Harry Alan Towers.
- The Brides of Fu Manchu (1966, again directed by Sharp, this time with Douglas Wilmer as Nayland Smith)
- The Vengeance of Fu Manchu (1967, directed by Jeremy Summers, again with Wilmer)
- The Blood of Fu Manchu (1968, directed by Jesus Franco, with Richard Greene as Nayland Smith)
- The Castle of Fu Manchu (1969, also directed by Franco, with Richard Greene again)
[edit] Trivia
- The movie was a surprise hit in America, helped by an unusual marketing campaign in New York City which had numerous subways covered in black-and-white poster of Christopher Lee with the phrase 'Fu Manchu For Mayor'. Allegedly, he did receive a number of write-in votes in that year's mayoral race. This is an early example of a viral marketing campaign.
[edit] See also
- The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932), an earlier screen portrayal of Fu Manchu by Boris Karloff
[edit] External link
| Fu Manchu films |
|---|
| Starring Warner Oland The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu | The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu | Daughter of the Dragon |
| Starring Boris Karloff The Mask of Fu Manchu |
| Starring Henry Brandon Drums of Fu Manchu |
| Starring Christopher Lee The Face of Fu Manchu | The Brides of Fu Manchu | The Vengeance of Fu Manchu | The Blood of Fu Manchu | The Castle of Fu Manchu |
| Television series The Adventures of Fu Manchu |
| Parody films The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu |
