The Face of Fu Manchu (1965)

After the execution of Fu Manchu, a mysterious new criminal mastermind arises. Strangely, he acts the same as Fu Manchu. . .

Director:

Don Sharp

Writer:

Harry Alan Towers (screenplay) (as Peter Welbeck)

Stars:

Christopher Lee, Nigel Green, Joachim Fuchsberger

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher Lee	...	Fu Manchu
Nigel Green	...	Nayland Smith
Joachim Fuchsberger	...	Carl Jannsen
Karin Dor	...	Maria Muller
James Robertson Justice	...	Sir Charles
Howard Marion-Crawford	...	Dr. Petrie (as Howard Marion Crawford)
Tsai Chin	...	Lin Tang
Walter Rilla	...	Muller
Harry Brogan	...	Gaskell
Francesca Tu	...	Lotus (as Poulet Tu)
Archie O'Sullivan	...	Chamberlain
Edwin Richfield	...	Chief Magistrate
Joe Lynch	...	Custodian
Peter Mosbacher	...	Hanumon (as Peter Mossbacher)
Ric Young	...	Grand Lama (as Eric Young)

Storyline

Grisly strangulations in London alert Nayland Smith of Scotland Yard to the possibility of the fiendish Fu Manchu may not be dead after all, even though Smith witnessed his execution. A killer spray made from Tibetan berries seems to be involved and clues keep leading back to the Thames.

---

Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | execution | scotland yard | strangulation | fu manchu | 

---

Taglines:

The most evil man the world has ever known!

---

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

"MGM" had also announced a Fu Manchu project in 1963 ("Mask of Fu Manchu", a title the studio filmed in 1932) but Harry Alan Towers beat them to it.

---

Goofs

Near the end of the movie when Smith and Janssen rescue Prof. Muller and set up the bomb, they capture Lin Tang, tie her up and gag her. Lin Tang is seen in the following scene making a great show of struggling against her bonds and even falling behind the bed, so that the guards did not find her when they looked into the room, so she couldn't alert them. So far the story, but looking at the way Lin Tang was tied up she would have been able to remove the gag any time she wanted to and cry out for help.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Chief Magistrate: In the name of Imperial China, your presence is commanded here to witness an execution.

---

Alternate Versions

When originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure a 'U' rating. All cuts were waived in 1991 when the film was granted a 'PG' certificate for home video.

---

Connections

Follows The Clue of the Pigtail (1923)

---

Soundtracks

Radio Revels
(uncredited)
Music by Ivor Slaney
De Wolfe Music Ltd

User Reviews

Very entertaining and a treat for Christopher Lee fans.

The legendary Boris Karloff played the fiendish Dr. Fu Manchu back in 1932. Who else than Christopher Lee would be able to bring this notorious screen-villain back to life? Karloff and Lee both have an amazing charisma and disguised in many evil characters before…The Yellow Peril Dr. Fu Manchu surely is one that speaks most to the imagination. In this first film of the new series, Dr. Fu Manchu hypnotized a look-alike of his and this person was decapitated. While everybody initially believes Fu Manchu is dead, vicious events start to happen again. The clever archenemy of Fu Manchu, Scotland Yard's Nayland Smith, once again opens the hunt for this diabolical doctor.

The Face of Dr. Fu Manchu isn't a very suspenseful film and the script (written by the legendary producer Harry Alan Towers) hasn't got any compelling aspects to offer. Yet, it's enormous fun to see Lee act at his fiendish best and horror fans will enjoy watching all his terrific torturing-tricks! Director Don Sharp (also known for his brilliantly insane film `Psychomania') makes great use of the ominous locations and the scenery and all the rest is up to Lee and a surprisingly good performance by Nigel Green! The Face of Fu Manchu meant the start of a new series of film, all starring Lee as the abominable Dr. Four sequels followed, of which the last two were directed by Jess `Godfather of Sleaze' Franco. Every single film is worth watching only because they're so much fun! Don't ever expect a masterpiece, though! If you do desire to stumble upon a masterpiece, track down `The Mask of Fu Manchu' starring Boris Karloff.

Details

Country:

UK West Germany

Language:

English German

Release Date:

24 October 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Face of Fu Manchu

Filming Locations:

Skerries, Fingal, County Dublin, Ireland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hallam Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min 92 min (2003) 96 min (Indicator Blu-ray release)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1