Music composed and conducted by Malcolm Lockyer. Songs: "The Real Me" and "Where are the Men", lyrics by Don Black; sung by Samantha Jones. Camera operators: Tony Spratling, Neil "Ginger" Gemmel. Producer: Harry Alan Towers. Babasdave Films.
U.S. release through Warner Bros.-Seven Arts: January 1968. New York opening at the Lyric (as the lower half of a double bill with "The Shuttered Room"): 14 February 1968. U.K. release through Anglo Amalgamated: 3 December 1967. Australian release through British Empire Films: 26 July 1968. Sydney opening at the Capitol (ran one week). 7,960 feet. 89 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: This time the insidious Fu plots to have all the police chiefs of the world replaced by doubles under his control.
NOTES: Third of the Christopher Lee/Fu Manchu series. (Available on a very good Momentum DVD).
COMMENT: This film offers good entertainment but it is a disappointing effort, when compared with the first two films in the series ("The Face of Fu Manchu" and "The Brides of Fu Manchu") of which this is the third. Lee, Wilmer, Crawford and Chin are again on hand; but on the production side, only film editor Morrison remains, together with the producer and production manager — though photographer Kotze has been promoted from 2nd to main unit, and has provided some appealing color photography.
There are also some attractive sets and costumes. Fortunately, Wilmer gives a vigorous performance as the alter ego, but, beyond a brilliantly staged execution scene, director Jeremy Summers seems to have a very loose grip on the production. His direction has mostly very little punch (though there's an exciting night club brawl).
Perhaps the rigors of a tighter shooting schedule and a less lavish budget all around, account for the director's general lack of inventiveness. Even Fu Manchu's black-garbed attendants are presented so flabbily, they fail to inspire the terror of their earlier appearances.
The film's dispirited air even extends to its pedestrian music score. As for the songs, they also peg in as distinctly fourth rate.
U.S. release through Warner Bros.-Seven Arts: January 1968. New York opening at the Lyric (as the lower half of a double bill with "The Shuttered Room"): 14 February 1968. U.K. release through Anglo Amalgamated: 3 December 1967. Australian release through British Empire Films: 26 July 1968. Sydney opening at the Capitol (ran one week). 7,960 feet. 89 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: This time the insidious Fu plots to have all the police chiefs of the world replaced by doubles under his control.
NOTES: Third of the Christopher Lee/Fu Manchu series. (Available on a very good Momentum DVD).
COMMENT: This film offers good entertainment but it is a disappointing effort, when compared with the first two films in the series ("The Face of Fu Manchu" and "The Brides of Fu Manchu") of which this is the third. Lee, Wilmer, Crawford and Chin are again on hand; but on the production side, only film editor Morrison remains, together with the producer and production manager — though photographer Kotze has been promoted from 2nd to main unit, and has provided some appealing color photography.
There are also some attractive sets and costumes. Fortunately, Wilmer gives a vigorous performance as the alter ego, but, beyond a brilliantly staged execution scene, director Jeremy Summers seems to have a very loose grip on the production. His direction has mostly very little punch (though there's an exciting night club brawl).
Perhaps the rigors of a tighter shooting schedule and a less lavish budget all around, account for the director's general lack of inventiveness. Even Fu Manchu's black-garbed attendants are presented so flabbily, they fail to inspire the terror of their earlier appearances.
The film's dispirited air even extends to its pedestrian music score. As for the songs, they also peg in as distinctly fourth rate.