Difference between revisions of "The Castle of Fu Manchu BluRay review"
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'''The Story''' | '''The Story''' | ||
Fu Manchu has conceived a device to freeze Carribean waters and sink ships, with which he is now blackmailing the world's powers into submission. Next up he aims for control of the world's opium trade, but moving against the underworld kingpin Omar Pashu, their Turkish allies led by Lisa ('''Rosalba Neri''') turn against them. After seizing power there, Fu Manchu locks her away and leaves her alive against the advice of his daughter and right hand Lin Tang ('''Tsai Chin'''). Meanwhile in London, the government's agent Nayland Smith ('''Richard Greene''') uncovers the mystery of Fu Manchu's power: it's a theory devised by Prof. Heracles ('''Gustavo Re'''), whereby a certain crystalline substance could help turn water into an uncontrollable icy whirl: Opium. It all fits together now, that's why Fu Manchu moved into Turkey to take control of the opium trade. The professor seems to be in the fangs of Fu Manchu already, however struggling with his health. So his minions set out to capture another academic, Dr. Kessler ('''Günther Stoll'''), who Nayland and his partners have met already. He lets them know the professor left to Istanbul. So their suspicion is confirmed, but Manchus men abduct Kessler and his assistant Ingrid ('''Maria Perschy''') and bring them to his castle. Smith and his partners set out for Istanbul to free Kessler from the fangs of the evil mastermind and stop his diabolical plan from materializing. As Fu Manchu keeps demonstrating his evil powers, it becomes a race against time | Fu Manchu has conceived a device to freeze Carribean waters and sink ships, with which he is now blackmailing the world's powers into submission. Next up he aims for control of the world's opium trade, but moving against the underworld kingpin Omar Pashu, their Turkish allies led by Lisa ('''Rosalba Neri''') turn against them. After seizing power there, Fu Manchu locks her away and leaves her alive against the advice of his daughter and right hand Lin Tang ('''Tsai Chin'''). Meanwhile in London, the government's Scotland Yard agent Nayland Smith ('''Richard Greene''') uncovers the mystery of Fu Manchu's power: it's a theory devised by Prof. Heracles ('''Gustavo Re'''), whereby a certain crystalline substance could help turn water into an uncontrollable icy whirl: Opium. It all fits together now, that's why Fu Manchu moved into Turkey to take control of the opium trade. The professor seems to be in the fangs of Fu Manchu already, however struggling with his health. So his minions set out to capture another academic, Dr. Kessler ('''Günther Stoll'''), who Nayland and his partners have met already. He lets them know the professor left to Istanbul. So their suspicion is confirmed, but Manchus men abduct Kessler and his assistant Ingrid ('''Maria Perschy''') and bring them to his castle. Smith and his partners set out for Istanbul to free Kessler from the fangs of the evil mastermind and stop his diabolical plan from materializing. As Fu Manchu keeps demonstrating his evil powers, it becomes a race against time.... | ||
This one ups the ante in terms of Fu Manchus mad designs on world domination, but tones down the exotic locations and banditry. In its place a power struggle between the mad villain and an opium magnate, fought out on the backs of the science community. An unlikely alliance builds up in secret against Fu Manchu, who patiently sits in a castle overlooking the Bosporus (but some shots clearly filmed in Barcelona). In the end he brings out Lisa from capture... in a dramatic ending that is just as mad as Fu Manchus mind. Jess Franco again lets the script ramble around, not offering any character an opportunity to really mature, but dashing from one grotesque confrontation to the next. | |||
[[File:Fumancastle1.jpg|The Castle of Fu Manchu]] | [[File:Fumancastle1.jpg|The Castle of Fu Manchu]] | ||
Revision as of 13:59, 28 December 2018
Review of the Blue Underground BluRay release of The Castle of Fu Manchu (which is a double feature with The Blood of Fu Manchu, see separate review).
The Story
Fu Manchu has conceived a device to freeze Carribean waters and sink ships, with which he is now blackmailing the world's powers into submission. Next up he aims for control of the world's opium trade, but moving against the underworld kingpin Omar Pashu, their Turkish allies led by Lisa (Rosalba Neri) turn against them. After seizing power there, Fu Manchu locks her away and leaves her alive against the advice of his daughter and right hand Lin Tang (Tsai Chin). Meanwhile in London, the government's Scotland Yard agent Nayland Smith (Richard Greene) uncovers the mystery of Fu Manchu's power: it's a theory devised by Prof. Heracles (Gustavo Re), whereby a certain crystalline substance could help turn water into an uncontrollable icy whirl: Opium. It all fits together now, that's why Fu Manchu moved into Turkey to take control of the opium trade. The professor seems to be in the fangs of Fu Manchu already, however struggling with his health. So his minions set out to capture another academic, Dr. Kessler (Günther Stoll), who Nayland and his partners have met already. He lets them know the professor left to Istanbul. So their suspicion is confirmed, but Manchus men abduct Kessler and his assistant Ingrid (Maria Perschy) and bring them to his castle. Smith and his partners set out for Istanbul to free Kessler from the fangs of the evil mastermind and stop his diabolical plan from materializing. As Fu Manchu keeps demonstrating his evil powers, it becomes a race against time....
This one ups the ante in terms of Fu Manchus mad designs on world domination, but tones down the exotic locations and banditry. In its place a power struggle between the mad villain and an opium magnate, fought out on the backs of the science community. An unlikely alliance builds up in secret against Fu Manchu, who patiently sits in a castle overlooking the Bosporus (but some shots clearly filmed in Barcelona). In the end he brings out Lisa from capture... in a dramatic ending that is just as mad as Fu Manchus mind. Jess Franco again lets the script ramble around, not offering any character an opportunity to really mature, but dashing from one grotesque confrontation to the next.
The actors and characters
xxxx is back as Lin Tang..
also Richard Greene is back as Nayland Smith.
Christopher Lee ......
No Maria Rohm this time, but instead we get..... Rosalba Neri (a very good trade I think) as well as Maria Perschy as Dr Kesslers assistant. and of course José Manuel Martín as the Omar Pashu pulling the strings in the Istanbul unerworld. also jess franco shows up as a police inspector.
Verdict
That gets me to my little verdict......
Cinematographer Manuel Merino .... and this time better, the music by....
You'll see some archival footage of Campbell's Kingdom (1957) and A Night to Remember (1958) in this film, showing a dam busting and the Titanic sinking, respectively.
It's an entertaining movie....
The BluRay offers a sub-average 2K transfer which is often lacking detail and crispness and runs not always steady, but is overall sufficient. Both movies are on one disc, so the bit rate is also not very high but the material also wouldn't need it. There is only an English language track, but it sounds alright for what it is. You can select subtitles (English SDH), but there are no other language options. Extras are "The Rise of Fu Manchu" with interviews with Jess Franco, Harry Alan Towers, Christopher Lee, Tsai Chin and Shirley Eaton (15mins) as well as the international and the US trailer, plus a poster and still gallery. Interesting little insight into these obscure films and the adaption of the Sax Rohmer universe to which also belong movies like The Million Eyes of Sumuru.
Overall, a rather campy adventure, but with lots of charm and cult flair to it, on a decent HD presentation. ....xxxx
Continue reading: The Blood of Fu Manchu BluRay review
Special thanks to Blue Underground for supplying the BluRay.
Sebastian, co-founder and admin of the Grindhouse Cinema Database (GCDb). He also started The Spaghetti Western Database (SWDb), The Quentin Tarantino Archives, The Robert Rodriguez Archives, Nischenkino and Furious Cinema. Outside of movies, he works on the intersection of technology and policy. He lives in Berlin, Germany.
