Fu Manchu retreats to a northern Chinese province to wreak remote vengeance on his Nemesis, Nayland Smith, who is back home in 20s London. Never mind the plot, which involves an early form of Interpol. Some scenes are laid in Smith's cosy rooms, still decorated in Edwardian style (the influence of Holmes is strong and the actors who play Smith and sidekick Petrie previously starred as the famous detective duo).
Meanwhile Fu and his entourage ride towards his mountain fastness through barren hills, accompanied by impressive photography and music. That faint wind that blows through Hammer films ruffles their silk clothes.
It was made in 1967, when Hammer was teasing the censor (censorship was abolished the following year). Just how violent could the film-makers be? Quite violent, is the answer, and the public loved it. Here we have a prolonged execution scene while Fu and his daughter look impassively on from thrones.
Later a plastic surgeon and his daughter are kidnapped and the daughter is tortured with red-hot irons. The plastic surgeon agrees to turn a hypnotised stooge into a facsimile of Nayland Smith and the substitution is made. Wilmer does a good job of portraying the hypnotised man, who commits a murder so that Fu can observe "Smith" being condemned to death and hanged.
There follows a creepily effective execution scene carried out in near silence, mirroring the earlier "execution" of Fu (filmed at Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin).
Back in China there is an unnecessary brawl in a bar and a nightclub singer and friend decide to travel north to join Fu, who is trying to take control of the world's criminals. (There are some touches of humour, like the couple who continue to slow-dance as mayhem breaks out.)
The two reach Fu's hideout, where they are joined by a baddie and the real Nayland Smith. Of course good triumphs after a lot more action sequences and some more unnecessary violence. Fu's palace burns, while the good guys ride away into the stark hills (actually in Hong Kong - the film was made with the Shaw brothers).
Is Fu dead? What do you think?
Meanwhile Fu and his entourage ride towards his mountain fastness through barren hills, accompanied by impressive photography and music. That faint wind that blows through Hammer films ruffles their silk clothes.
It was made in 1967, when Hammer was teasing the censor (censorship was abolished the following year). Just how violent could the film-makers be? Quite violent, is the answer, and the public loved it. Here we have a prolonged execution scene while Fu and his daughter look impassively on from thrones.
Later a plastic surgeon and his daughter are kidnapped and the daughter is tortured with red-hot irons. The plastic surgeon agrees to turn a hypnotised stooge into a facsimile of Nayland Smith and the substitution is made. Wilmer does a good job of portraying the hypnotised man, who commits a murder so that Fu can observe "Smith" being condemned to death and hanged.
There follows a creepily effective execution scene carried out in near silence, mirroring the earlier "execution" of Fu (filmed at Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin).
Back in China there is an unnecessary brawl in a bar and a nightclub singer and friend decide to travel north to join Fu, who is trying to take control of the world's criminals. (There are some touches of humour, like the couple who continue to slow-dance as mayhem breaks out.)
The two reach Fu's hideout, where they are joined by a baddie and the real Nayland Smith. Of course good triumphs after a lot more action sequences and some more unnecessary violence. Fu's palace burns, while the good guys ride away into the stark hills (actually in Hong Kong - the film was made with the Shaw brothers).
Is Fu dead? What do you think?