THE FACE OF FU MANCHU

UK, 1965, 89 minutes, Colour.
Christopher Lee, Nigel Green, Karin Dor, James Robertson Justice, Walter Rilla.
Directed by Don Sharp.

The Face of Fu Manchu is based on the series of popular novels by Sax Roemer. It was adapted for the screen by veteran horror writer, Harry Alan Towers. It was directed by Tasmanian-born Don Sharp who made a number of horror films in the 1960s including The Curse of the Fly and Rasputin: The Mad Monk. During the 1970s he went more upmarket with remakes of The Thirty Nine Steps and The Four Feathers as well as the Alistair Mc Lean thriller, Bear Island.

Christopher Lee enjoys himself as yet another villain – very English despite the Chinese background. Nigel Green is Sir Nayland Smith from Scotland Yard who is investigating murders in England, the result of a deadly power plot by Fu Manchu to take over the world. There is an interesting supporting cast, especially with James Robertson Justice in an ambiguous double role.

There was another film in the series of Fu Manchu, The Vengeance of Fu Manchu.

1. How good a thriller was this, adventure fantasy?

2. Audience expectations from title, style of film? How well were they fulfilled? The conventions of this kind of thriller?

3. The film as particularly British, British adventure, the comic—strip adventure style fiction book? The reasons for audience
enjoyment of this?

4. The use of colour, wide—screen, sets, locations, atmosphere, the Thames,
cars, planes etc.?

5. The opening and its atmosphere? Fu Manchu as a transcendent villain? The continued dangers and their momentum?

6. The personality of Fu? Christopher Lee's style, the arch-villain, the
explanations of his background and power, his character, his evil presence, his power of suggestion and hold over people?

7. Neyland Smith by contrast? The imperturbable British detective, the clash of the two? How credible, audience involvement in it?

8. The plot and the science—fiction apparatus? World-power and audience response to this? The exotic poisons etc.?

9. The picture of the British Empire, detectives and detection and skill?

10. The contribution of the minor characters, the scientist, Maria, Carl?

11. The picture of the Chinese? As villains and sinister?

12. The portrayal of the hideouts, hypnotism etc.?

13. The value of the chases in olden cars?

14. The destruction of Fleetwlck - by suggestion and sinister means?

15. The popularity of the Fu Manchu stories?