|
(1930) Warner Oland, Jean Arthur, O. P. Heggie, Neil Hamilton, Evelyn Hall. Dr. Fu Manchu is back! He really didn’t die. And now, rescued from eternal rest inside a coffin, he’s back to polish off those he holds responsible for the deaths of his wife and child. There are many twists and turns in this wonderful early talkie with Fu Manchu continually outwitting his opponents, yet not quite achieving his murderous goals. Hamilton and Heggie are in his crosshairs all film long and he uses pretty Jean Arthur as bait to lure them into his clutches. Heggie was a few years away from his memorable performance as the blind hermit in Bride of Frankenstein and in this thriller he turns in a grand performance as Inspector Nayland Smith, Fu’s primary adversary. Oland turns in another marvelous performance as the crazed Oriental doctor. Though not really a horror film, it’s sinister enough to be included on the fringe of the genre. Look for Wild Bill Elliot in an uncredited role. Oland would move on to Charlie Chan the following year, with one brief encore as the doctor in 1931’s Daughter of the Dragon. From 35mm.
|
|
