I loved "Fu Manchu" as kid, and though I'm not quite old enough to recall this first time round, it's still a good outing for the criminal mastermind (Harry Agar Lyons) as he despatches his minions to swap the "chloral tabloids" of scientist "Dr. West" (Wingold Lawrence) with hashish so he will be too zonked to notice when the steal some top secret plans for an aero-torpedo from his safe. He remembers little when he summons the help of "Insp Nayland Smith" (Fred Paul) except that he was in the Oriental Club the day before where he met a charming young lady! Now the police must try and piece together just where these plans now are, afore their cunning nemesis manages to smuggle them out of the country, another weapon in his increasing arsenal against a weak and feeble western civilisation. There's plenty going on here - especially at the end of this episode in crime fighting which sees them aboard a not particularly luxury liner and swimming - with their hats on! It's part of a series, so there must be more...?
2 Reviews
The West Case was the second episode of the serial The Mystery of Dr. Fu Manchu and the earliest one found
tavm21 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Just watched this, the second episode of the silent serial The Mystery of Dr. Fu Manchu, on YouTube in which the upload had no music score. This one concerns a Mr. Frank Norris West who is woken from a slumber-by Dr. Petrie-in which he was found to have been drugged by the evil mastermind Dr. Fu Manchu and one of his henchman in order for West to reveal his safe combination number where his torpedo-making plans were. This ep wasn't too exciting though the flashback scene that I just described as seen onscreen while Nayland Smith tells Petrie what he believes happened had the suitable atmospheric tone. YouTube accidentally ID'ed this ep as Aaron's Rod which I've still yet to find...
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