Drums of Fu Manchu (1940)

[Zone Fighter]

Drums of Fu Manchu (1940)

Director: John English (Zorro Rides Again, Zorro's Fighting Legions, Daniel Boone tv series)
Director: William Witney (SOS Coast Guard, Adventures of Captain Marvel, Adventures of Dr. Fu Manchu tv series)

Starring
Henry Brandon - Dr. Fu Manchu
Robert Kellard - Allan Parker
William Royle - Sir Dennis Nayland Smith
Gloria Franklin - Fah-Lo-Suee
Olaf Hytten - Dr. Flinders Petrie
Tom Chatterton - Prof. Edward Randolph
Luana Walters - Mary Randolph
John Merton - Loki
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]
Dwight Frye - Prof. Anderson [Ch.5]
Wheaton Chambers - Dr. Humphrey [Chs.2-3]
George Pembroke - Crawford, Si Fan member [Chs.1,4,7-8]

15 Chapters (269 minutes):
Chapter 1: Fu Manchu Strikes (original working title for the seriel)
Chapter 2: The Monster
Chapter 3: Ransom in the Sky
Chapter 4: The Pendulum of Doom
Chapter 5: The House of Terror
Chapter 6: Death Dials A Number
Chapter 7: Vengeance of the Si Fan
Chapter 8: Danger Trail
Chapter 9: The Crystal of Death
Chapter 10: Drums of Doom
Chapter 11: The Tomb of Genghis Khan
Chapter 12: Fire of Vengeance
Chapter 13: The Devil's Tattoo
Chapter 14: Satan's Surgeon
Chapter 15: Revolt

Dr. Fu Manchu attempts to find the tomb of Genghis Khan and the Khan's sceptre hidden within. With this he will be able to unite all of Asia behind him and conquer the world.

Chapter summaries start next week.

[Zone Fighter]

[Sorry for the delay. I'm renting this on two DVDs. First disc had to come from Georgia so it took longer then I expected. Then had to make time to watch it.]

Sir Nayland Smith survives an attempt on his life by a knife throwing thug. Archaeologists Dr. James Parker is abducted. A newsman who discovered where Dr. Parker is being held is murdered by a disolving dart hidden inside his microphone. The dart was fired by the sound of the DRUMS OF FU MANCHU. Professor Edward Randolph is knocked out by a knock out gas cigarette used by Fah-Lo-Suee, Fu Manchu's daughter and carried off in a mummy case. Right under the noses of Sir Nayland Smith, Dr. Petrie, Allan Parker (James adult son) and several police officers. The sound of the drums tipped them off that something had gone wrong.

Dr. Parker unable to stand seeing Prof. Randolph tortured tells Fu Manchu that Mary Randolph has the plaque which contains part of the directions to Ghengis Kahn's tomb is. The three good guys are able to find the archeologists (thanks to newsman's carbon paper) but Dr. Parker gets a knife in the back. Allan doesn't want to leave his father but Jame insists that Allan rush to save Mary.

One of Fu Manchu's killers hiding in a mailbag is able to board the train Mary Randolph is on. Allan boards the train by climbing down from a two seater air plane, on a rope ladder. The plague is stolen. Another thrown knife kills a railroad worker befor he can flip a very important switch. As Allan and a killer struggle with each other the train they are on and a second train run straight into each other.


Note: Fu Manchu's men have had brain surgery to destroy their wills so they are essentiallly zombies. Intelligent, fast moving zombies but zombies never the less.

[Zone Fighter]

Allan, of course defeats the Dacoit (Fu Manchu's zombie henchman), grabs the Dalai Plaque and tells Mary to jump, all just before the trains crash. Mary knocks her self out when she hits the ground. Allan carries her away.

At Fu Manchu's lair we discover that the Dacoit survived the crash as well, but for allowing the Dalai Plague to fall into the hands of his enemies Fu Manchu dropped the man into waiting tentacles of a large octopus. The scroll on the plague will need to be translated so Fu Manchu sends Loki (one of his Dacoit) to find out who the translator will be. Loki is captured but his captors don't realize that he has a audio/video transmitter on his wrist (Fu Manchu is ahead of his time) which is transmitting their discussion to Fu Manchu. Fu Manchu sends his daughter, with a special cigarette, to visit Dr. Humphrey, the translator. She switches cigarettes on the doctor and after inhaling the "incense of obedience" he has to obey the order to take the parchment to Fu Manchu.

When the parchment arrives the doctor claims he needs a "cryptograph frequency tabulator" (to us layman, that's a blackboard or chalkboard) and leaves the room, locking the door behind him. The doctor gets into a car driven by a Dacoit. Allan climbs out a window and down a fire escape. He hitches a ride by hanging on the side of the car. Once the car arrives at its destination, Allan finds a phone and reports to Sir Nayland Smith. The he climbs through an open window, setting off a flashing light and buzzer but the two Dacoit he respond to the alarm are easily dealt with. Drawing his handgun, Allan enters Fu Manchu's office and takes the parchment. When the translator tries to take it back Alan knocks him out. He intends to hold Fu Manchu for the police but makes the mistake of standing on the trapdoor. Fu Manchu sends him to meet the giant octopus. The episode ends with Allan in the animal's tentacles.

[Zone Fighter]

Sir Nayland Smith and Dr. Petrie arrive. Fu Manchu and Fah-Lo-Suee hide in a secret room. Hearing splashing, Sir Nayland Smith finds the trapdoor controls and opens the door. He shoots the giant octopos. As he and the doctor are pulling Allan out of the water Fu Manchu and Fah-Lo-Suee make good their escape. Dr. Humphrey is rescued as well.

As he's in the process of translating the scroll, Dr. Humphrey receives a telepathic message from Fu Manchu. Following his new orders he sends Mary to get the "6th cuniform key" from the museum. Allan decides to acommpany her. While Allan is busy fighting with two Dacoit, Mary is grabbed. The unconscious Mary is driven away. Allan follows but when he catches up he finds their car empty, except for a note instructing him to be at the Randolph Mongolian Foundation at midnight.

Fu Manchu himself appears to demand the scroll as ransom. Sir Nayland Smith after consulting with Mary's father agrees to send Allan with the scroll, assuming Allan will be able to save both scroll and girl. Fu Manchu takes Allan to an airplane which takes off. Mary is a rear compartment and for reasons only the irrational female mind could understand, she breaks the fuel line (which oddly enough was exposed). It never entered what passes for Mary's brain that the pilot would look at the fuel gage. Fu Manchu was going to give Mary and Allan parachutes and kick them out of the plane but upon discovering Mary's sabotage he and the Dacoit take the parachutes and they jump out instead. As Allan tries to find a place to land among the mountains, the plane crashes.

[Zone Fighter]

Of course Allan and Mary survive the crash.

Fu Manchu has the scroll and along with the scroll he already had in the beginning this gives him two-thirds of the directions to Genghis Khan's tomb. He intends to get the third scroll.

Sir Nayland Smith had taken the precaution of having the scroll copied before he gave it to Allan. This is another movie serial cheat. On screen we saw the scroll handed over to Allan immediately without any intervening stage.

The second scroll leads Fu Manchu to a Dr. Chang but the doctor had received a warning phone call from Nayland Smith and refuses to cooperate.

In another plot hole, Loki, should still be Sir Nayland Smith's prisoner is somehow back with Fu Manchu. Chang is tied to a chair. A crossbow is rigged so that a knife thrown by Loki hitting the correct rope will drop a flower pot and fire the crossbow, killing Chang. There are three flower pots, two are not linked to the crossbow. Loki throws his first knife. Chang won't talk. Second knife. Chang still won't talk. Allan and Sir Nayland Smith arrive and get it an outdoor fight with Dacoit. Fu Manchu stops Loki from throwing the third knife. He has him rewire the crossbow so it aims at the doorway and will fire when the door is opened. Fu Manchu and Loki leave through another door. Their rigged door opens, but its a Dacoit who gets the arrow in the chest not Allan or Sir Nayland Smith. From Dr. Change, Allan and Sir Nayland Smith learn that they must now contact a Dr. Howard, their conversation is of course over heard by a Dacoit who was outside the window. He was standing on a barrel and when he jumped down he knocked it over. The noise gave him away. He's shot at but makes good his escape. Allan and Sir Nayland Smith follow.

Sir Nayland Smith gives Allan his skeleton keys to use on the front door while he heads around back to look for a rear entrance. Once again Allan points a gun at Fu Manchu and once again his hesitation is his undoing. A net falls on him. He's disarmed. Turns out the Dacoit was hit after all and made it to Fu Manchu but died before he could tell what he learned.

Sir Nayland Smith does find a rear entrance but there is a Dacoit waiting behind it. As the two men struggle over who will get the knife they fall off the the back porch.

Instead of using an oriental torture Fu Manchu decides to use an American invention to make Allan talk. Fu Manchu is an admirer of Edgar Allan Poe and has Allan Parker strapped under a swinging blade he acknowledges borrowing from "The Pit and the Pendulum". After a few passes of the blade Fu Manchu asks Allan to change his mind. Allan refuses. The blade is lowered and started swinging again. "This is your last chance, Mr. Parker".

[Zone Fighter]

Sir Nayland Smith recovers from his fall and brandishing a gun rescues Allan Parker but Loki is able to turn off the lights so Fu Manchu is not captured. Sir Nayland Smith and Allan Parker do capture a Dacoit and take him away in Fu Manchu's car. Sir Nayland Smith puts his handcuffs on the Dacoits ankle locking the man in the car while Sir Nayland Smith and Allan go indoors. The Dacoit is able to reach the radio and contacts Fu Manchu who tells him to leave the transmitter on. When Sir Nayland Smith and Allan return to the car they discovering that the radio is on and trick Fu Manchu into sending Dacoits to the museum, to get the altar stone, instead of to Professor Howards's home. Allan waits to be attacked at the museum while Sir Nayland Smith goes to the Howard estate. Okay plan but Fu Manchu out smarted them again. Half the manikins in the museum were actually disguised Dacoits, including one in the curator's office and through another audio/video transmitter on its wrist Fu Manchu learned the truth. After Allan and the curator leave the office this Dacoit flees. A fight breaks out between Allan, the curator and 4 Dacoit. After the Dacoits are defeated the curator finds the 5 wax dummies and realizes their was a spy in his office. Professor Howard refuses to have a phone in his home so Allan can't warn Sir Nayland Smith. He drives off to his aid instead.

Poison darts take care of Professor Howard's guard dogs and burly servant. Allan is lassoed. Sir Nayland Smith and the professor are attacked by Dacoits. Someone, presumably a Dacoit takes the altar stone. Seeing Sir Nayland Smith laying on the floor, Fu Manchu smiles and closes the sliding door. Not much of a cliffhanger.

[Zone Fighter]

Sir Nayland Smith recovers. Allan breaks free of the rope. Allan has a fist fight. Sir Nayland Smith shoot another Dacoit who drops the Kardec Segment, but another Dactoir recovers it and flees with Fu Manchu. However, its a stormy night and when the altar stone hit the ground it landed face first in the mud leaving an imprint. Using plaster Sir Nayland Smith makes a new stone. The text is incomplete, the rest is on a temple wall. Sir Nayland Smith is able to get the American authorities (California state patrol and FBI) to block Fu Manchu's attempts to leave for Asia. Allan is sent to watch the airport and is spotted by Fah-Lo-Suee who uses a pay phone to inform her father. Fu Manchu has a plan for Allan Parker.

Fah-Lo-Suee allows Allan to see her and follow her in his car, leading him into a trap. Allan is captured by Dacoit. Fu Manchu needs to borrow his face. A plastic expert creates an Allan Parker mask. After the mask is fitted on Fu Manchu by its make, Fu Manchu borrows Allan's clothes(loaning him a robe). Fu Manchu connects a bomb to his telephone. When the phone rings Allan will be killed. If Fu Manchu is captured he will use Allan's to gain his liberty, but if he makes it safely out of the country he intends to call his number, since Allan won't be of anymore use to him.

At the airport the imposter is about to send a telegram to Sir Nayland Smith when Mary Randolph appears so he gives a note for Sir Nayland Smith instead. He should have stuck with the telegram. Mary takes the note to Sir Nayland Smith. The note reads: "Call Gladsonte 4453 at 3:30. Do not fail me. Allan." Mary starts to dial the number but Sir Nayland Smith stops her. "Its not 3:30. And... that's not Allan's hand writting". He phones the telephone company which gives him the name of the subscriber (The Oriental Import Company) and the address. With 30 minutes before the note says to call,. Sir Nayland Smith and company head to "Oriental Import company". As the police surround the place, Sir Nayland Smith instructs Mary to call that number at 3:30 and keep whoever answers busy, he'd do it himself but if Fu Manchu answered he'd know his voice.

In the plane Fu Manchu decides that they've past the borrder and speaking in his own voice not mimicing Allan, tells the stewardess that he would like to make a phone call. On the ground, Mary dials the number. The stewardess informs Fu Manchu that the number is busy. "Never mind".

As Allan struggles to untie himself, the phone rings. The fuse is lit. KABOOM!
-----------------------

It may be the end of this week or into next week before I will be able to continue, depends on where the second disc has to come from.

[Zone Fighter]

Allan manages to pull the couch ontop of himself to shield himself from the blast.

Fu Manchu receives a coded telegraph warning him that Allan has survived and that he and Sir Nayland Smith are on the way. Fu Manchu is not concerned about Allan but Sir Nayland Smith is a worthy foe. He sends a telegraph instructing Crawford to take the same clipper ship as Sir Nayland Smith and to arrange for a fatal accident.

Crawford's oriental servant plants a venemous lizard (I didn't know there were any other than the Gila Monster) in Sir Nayland Smith's cabin but the Englishman is expecting an attempt on his life and when the servant attempts to retreive the lizard he's the one who ends up bitten.

Arriving in Branaphur, Sir Nayland Smith has the British Consulat call Crawford in for a "routine passport inspection". Sir Nayland Smith goes to send a telegram. Allan decides to search Crawford's room.

Crawford returns to his room and the resulting fight trashes it. I couldn't side with Allan in this one because he was entirely in the wrong. Broke into another man's room and then assaulted him. Allan wins the fight and uses a tie to bind Crawford. When a messanger of the Si Fan arrives and shows Allan a jewel, before telling him about the meeting, Allan is able impersonate Crawford by showing the messanger the jewel he found in the drawer.

Borrowing a robe, Allan joins the meeting. Crawford escapes. Sir Nayland Smith follows Crawford.

Crawford joins the meeting and passes Fu Manchu a note about Allan Parker being there. Fu Manch pulls a knife but Allan pulls a gun. When Crawford moves to defend his master, Allan shoots him. Allan backs away not realising that the doorway he's backing towards has two men with carved swords standing on either side, waiting for him.

[Zone Fighter]

Sir Nayland Smith arrives and shoots the two men with swords. Fu Manchu and the Si Fan escape, leaving Crawford for dead, but Crawford is only wounded and Sir Nayland Smith hands him over to the British army. Promised save passage back to the US, "half a world" from Fu Manchu, Crawford talks, he says the Temple of the Dragon where the final clue to the tomb of Genghis Khan is located, is now known as the Temple of the Sun.

Learning that Sir Nayland Smith and Allan Parker intend to fly to the Temple of the Sun, Fu Manchu has their plan sabotaged. Believing his enemies to be already in the air, Fu Manchu, radios them to gloat over their impending doom. However, Crawford had hijacked the plane so its the unfaithful Si Fan member who dies.

Now Sir Nayland Smith and Allan Parker have no choice but to go by car. A native spy overhears their plans. He's spotted by Allan who gives chase. Two Dacoit see that their ally in danger. As Allan fights with one, the spy is able to speak to the other. After which a thrown knife misses Allan and hits the native instead. Allan not having seen the spy talking to a second Dacoit, incorrectly reports that the dead man was not able to share what he had learned because he had no time to pass any papers to the lone Dacoit.

Warned of the enemies coming by Fu Manchu, through Loki, native horseman attack the car carrying Sir Nayland Smith, Allan Parker, a guard and a driver. The guad and driver are both shot. The out of control car goes off a cliff.

Note: the writers can't seem to make up their minds whether Sir Nayland Smith is with Scotland Yard or the Foreign Office.

[Zone Fighter]

Sir Nayland Smith and Allan Parker jumped out of the car before the car went over the cliff. They were just the advanced team. Two other cars show up. Sir Nayland Smith drives off in the second car, leaving Allan with Mary Randolph, to make camp.

Mary is captured by Fu Manchu. Allan attempts a rescue and is also captured. Fu Manchu has a tree bent over and Allan tied to it. When the rope holding the tree breaks it won't be good for Allen. Fu Manchu asks if he can do any last thing for him. Allan asks for water. Fu Manchu pours the water out on the ground. Fu Manchu sets a fire under the rope holding the bent tree then drives off, with with, Miss Randolph. Allan uses the edge of a large rock to cut his hands free.

Sir Nayland Smith and company enter the temple and after talking to the priest place their plaster copy of the missing altar piece on the altar. According to prophecy the goddess should speak, but of course the statue is silent. Fu Manchu appears claiming truthfully that he has the real piece but lies about his intentions being peaceful and the others wanting rebellion. Fu Manchu removes the false stone and destroys it. After he adds his piece a female voice ( Fah-Lo-Suee hiding behind the altar) demands a sacrifice to make up for the desecration of her temple. Fu Manchu claps his hands and a hypnotized Mary appears. Mary is to be vaporized by sunlight reflected through mirrors and amplified by an ancient crystal. The ray first passes over small bronze idols then the stone table Mary is laying on.

[Zone Fighter]

Allan fights his way into the temple and shoots the mirrors. The priest is about to have Allan and Sir Nayland Smith's party locked up when Fu Manchu's trick is revealed and the priest orders Fu Manchu to be taken instead. Throwing smoke bombs, Fu Manchu escapes with is daughter.

Having a microphone lowered through the hole in the temple roof, Fu Manchu over hears the translation of the writing on the altar, but drives off to the Devil's Gorge without hearing the warning that "death guards the door". Sir Nayland Smith and Allan Parker head for the tomb, not knowing Fu Manchu is on the way as well. Mary and Dr. Petrie stay at the temple.

A Dacoit unknowingly sets off a spear trap and is killed. Fu Manchu has other Dacoit reset the trap, as a "pleasant surprise for Sir Nayland Smith".

Shortly after Fu Manchu and his Dacoits enter the cave which houses the tomb of Genghis Khan, Sir Nayland Smith and Allan Parker arrive. Allan decides to have a look around, so when Sir Nayland Smith trips and falls setting off the spear trap no one is hurt, the three spears passing over Sir Nayland Smith laying on the ground and Allan being elsewhere.

Fu Manchu has his Dacoit move a statue, placing it in front of the tunnel he took. When Sir Nayland Smith and Allan show up they take the the wrong tunnel. The Dacoit attempt to block the tunnel with boulders but are heard. After dealing with the Dacoit Sir Nayland Smith and Allan find the correct tunnel and set off after Fu Manchu. One Dacoit got away and is able to warn Fu Manchu. Hiding in the shadows Fu Manchu telepathically summons the sound of the Drums of Fu Manchu the vibrations of which brings the cave ceiling down on his enemies.

[Zone Fighter]

The falling ceiling misses Sir Nayland Smith and Allan Parker who are able to take Fu Manchu captive at gun point. After Fu Manchu translates a warning posted over the tomb door, Allan decides that his life is not as valuable as Sir Nayland Smith's and insists on enter the tomb alone. The tomb door closes (with a little help from Robert Kellard who's pounding on it as he calls for Sir Nayland Smith's help actually keeps it closed). Sir Nayland Smith is distracted by the closing door just long enough for Fu Manchu to break the lever which opens the door. Too late, Sir Nayland Smith thinks to tie Fu Manchu's hands behind his back. The tomb begins to fill with gas. Now unable to open the tomb door without help, Sir Nayland Smith leads his prisoner away. As he falls to the floor, Allan bumps ino a stone in the wall which gives away. Taking the sceptre he uses the secret exit.

Loki and another Dacoit are able to disarm Sir Nayland Smith but their rescue of Fu Manchu is short lived as Allan arrives on the scene. Loki pretends to be remain unconscious and overhears the Allan's plan to have Sir Nayland Smith hold Fu Manchu at the Temple of the Sun while Allan attempts to get back to the fort and get help.

A Dacoit rescues Fu Manchu. Fu Manchu then has his enemies locked up.

Another Dacoit, who doesn't know that Fu Manchu has been freed, locates Fah-Lo-Suee and tells herSir Nayland Smith has her father and Allan Parker has gone to get British troops. .(Actually we just hear her repeating back what the Dacoit apparently told her). Fah-Lo-Suee and her Dacoits are able to capture Allan. She thinks she has to echange him for her father.

Fu Manchu has had the road mined with dynamite. Not knowing his daughter has captured Allan Parker he assumes that Allan's car is returning with British troops and has the dynamite detonated. The car rolls.

[Zone Fighter]

Allan survives the crash without suffering any ill effects. Fah-Lo-Suee on the other hand isn't moving. Fu Manchu finds his daughter. Allan hides in the trailer and Fu Manchu unknowing takes him to his camp. Allan takes the Scepter and (committing yet another crime) steals Fu Manchu's car as well.

Fu Manchu contacts a native chief to have the hill people on the look out for their enemies.

Allan goes to the now unguarded temple and releases his friends. Then trying to sneak passed the native horseman the drive across the country at night, with their lights out. Like the horseman won't hear the the only automobile in the area.

After managing to get passed the first ambush, Allan parks the car so he and Sir Nayland Smith can scout ahead to make sure the gorge is clear. Spotting more horseman, Allan sends Sir Nayland Smith back to the car. Then using a pole that just happens to be handy, sends the natives own signal fire down on top of them. Witnessing this murder of his people, a lone local jumps on Allan. In the ensuing struggle both men appear to topple off the ledge into the flames below.

[Zone Fighter]

In another movie serial cheat, Allan didn't go over the age after all. The so called good guys make it back to the fort and Sir Nayland Smith has a telegraph sent to the High Lama, to ask him to come to the fort to get the Scepter. Fu Manchu understands Morse code and intercepts the message. The High Lama can't make it himself but is sending an emissary Fu Manchu has the local chieftain send men to capture the man. A disguised Fu Manchu shows up at the fort to claim the Scepter. He asks to "return to the High Lama" immediately but the fort's commander insists on offering rest and refreshment, in order to have time to prepare a military escort. Fu Manchu pretends to accept the hospitality while planning his get away. His men deal with a guard and then Fu Manchu puts the major in a closet. While Allan Parker is fighting with his men, Fu Manchu drives off with the scepter's case, unfortunately the Scepter had been removed by Dr. Petrie, so he could photograph it.

Later the night, a native delivering hay to the fort free Fu Manchu's two men and the scepter is removed from the safe. The body of the guard is found and an alarm sounded. As Fu Manchu's men attempt to escape the fort Allan goes after them and a soldier mistaking Allan for one of Fu Manchu's men in the dark fires his machine gun at him.

[Zone Fighter]

Once again looks are deceiving, Allan wasn't hit by a single bullet. Realizing he's shooting at Allan, the soldier apologizes. One man is killed, one gets away on horse back and one wounded man limps away. Sir Nayland Smith convinces the major that it would be better for Sir Nayland Smith, Allan Parker and one soldier to follow the man then having several troops go after him.

Sir Nayland Smith and Allan Parker murder a Dacoit [the poor man was defending his home against trespassers] and abduct some Si Fan members.

The soldiers send local horseman to hunt a "thief and murderer". The horseman shoot up some Dacoit who were minding their own business harming no one. Fu Manchu appears with the Scepter of Genghis Kahn and the horseman switch sides. He orders them to bring Nayland Smith to him alive, he needs him to get past the British troops.

Sir Nayland Smith is captured and drugged into unconsciousness so Fu Manchu can perform brain surgery. "Sir Nayland Smith, Dacoit slave of Fu Manchu."

[Zone Fighter]

Allan Parker shows up and holding what he claims is a bottle of nitroglycerin (it isn't) threatens to kill everybody and destroy the Scepter if he and Sir Nayland Smith are not allowed to leave and take the Scepter with them. In his attempt to wake Sir Nayland Smith the bottle is dropped and although it does not explode Allan and Sir Nayland Smith manage to escape. Fu Manchu tells the tribal chieftain to have all the tribes send men to destroy the British troops in an ambush.

Using a spot light on his car, Fu Manchu projects an image of Genghis Kahn's Scepter into the air to stir the natives into action .

Sir Nayland Smith returns to the fort. Allan Parker follows the chief. In a major plot hole, the chieftain gives his men their orders in English so that All Parker can over hear and head out to warn the army. Although he succeeds in warning the soldiers, they are out numbered, most of the troops are on maneuvers else where. They'll be wiped out unless the natives can be convinced to stop fighting. So, Sir Nayland Smith and Allan Parker set out to find Fu Manchu.

They find his car and shoot out the search light. When the natives can no longer see the projection of the Scepter they stop shooting. Fu Manchu's last Dacoit, including Loki are shot down like animals. Fu Manchu flees in his car but Allan Parker is able to catch up and jumping onto the top of the car reaches through the window and causes Fu Manchu to crash.

The High Lama (in act of treachery against his own people) orders the natives to obey the British who now possesses the Scepter.

In the final scene, Fu Manchu, arm bandaged, enters the tomb of Genghis Khan and vows that although the Scepter has fallen into the hands of his enemies, he will strike again and will someday conquer Asia as Genghis Kahn did.

There was another Fu Manchu serial planned but it never came about.

[Zone Fighter]

I did not enjoy this serial. It seemed to me that it had the heroes and villains reversed. The audience is supposed to accept that Fu Manchu is the villain because he kills "innocent" Americans and wants to rule Asia. But looking at it from his point of view, Westerners are invaders who have taken Asia from its rightful rulers. All Fu Manchu and the Si Fan are trying to do is put Asians back in command of Asia. Seems to me that Sir Nayland Smith and Allan Parker are the real villains, keeping Asia enslaved to Great Britain. Those "innocent" Americans (including Allan's father) are thieves who break into tombs, steal the contents, and then take the stolen property to foreign lands. Allan himself is a murderer, not to mention a trespasser and a thief.

The cliffhangers were poor. Fu Manchu nodding his head when seeing Nayland Smith laying unconscious isn't much of a cliffhanger.

As for Fu Manchu, he's not very impressive. He's not at all frightening. It doesn't help that his usual response to the appearance of Sir Nayland Smith or Allan Parker is to sneak out the back door. After he fed one of his Dacoits to a giant octopus I thought he would be ruthless to subordinates who fail in their assignments, but that was the one and only time. He never again punishes failure, in fact he lets Loki get away with failure after failure without even a harsh word. It was the gun toting Sir Nayland Smith and Allan Parker who were the real killers. The only reason they didn't shoot Fu Manchu is that it would have ended the serial in 2 episodes. Although Fu Manchu threatens to torture prisoners to death three times I never had the sense that he would actually let them die without talking. When he had Allan and Mary in the airplane he actually intended to let them go free once he got the information he wanted. It was only because Mary sabotaged the plane that he took the parachutes and left them to die. Chastising Mary for her lack of honor before he jumped.

The two women in the story were wasted. Mary Randolph just appeared so she could be rescued a couple of times. There wasn't even a hint of romance between the (so called) hero (Allan Parker) and the rarely seen heroine. On the other side, Fah-Lo-Suee, who should have been Fu Manchu's right hand was hardly utilized at all. Instead Loki the mostly silent zombie gets more scenes. And once Fah-Lo-Suee was dead, her father seemed to have forgotten her. He didn't want Allan who survived the crash, dead?

[Xenorama ™]

sorry to hear it wasn't that exciting.