"Oh, not the Yellow Peril again", Dr. Petrie mockingly says to Nayland Smith after Smith once again speaks of a Crime Lord using Asians. Yes, Dr. Petrie. The Yellow Peril is back. At the end of these Fu Manchu films starring Christopher Lee the vanquished Chinese mastermind always proclaims that "The world shall hear from me again". But will it? Can he return? Nayland Smith could not kill him, but times and political correctness perhaps has. Fu Manchu and Charlie Chan are both residing restlessly in Limbo - between heaven and hell waiting for redemption, a second chance. I would argue that Charlie Chan deserves better; Fu Manchu perhaps not. Even an Asian playing him would be questionable. These five Fu Manchu films from 1965 - 1969 are really not that good, but there is something about them that I find irresistible. The fiendishly diabolical plots to take over the world, the hidden lairs, the brainwashed fanatical followers in their black outfits and red bandanas in order to be indiscreet, the beautiful women in their cheongsams, the clever assassination attempts, the imaginative malicious ways to kill his prisoners or betrayers, routine torture, the sadistic daughter, the stalwart Nayland Smith of Scotland Yard and his boy-toy Petrie always watching and the evil genius of Fu Manchu in his Mandarin get-up with his sharp metal fingernail guard, the famous drooping moustache, the commanding presence and his abject cruelty to those around him who fail. It is a delicious stew of pure pop pulp that never grows old.


The film begins in grand fashion with Fu Manchu being executed in China and his head gently rolling into a basket like a piece of fruit off a tree to be served at dinner as Nayland Smith looks on. Back in London though he begins to hear of things - quiet rumors, whispers in back alleys - or the strangulation with a Tibetan prayer cloth with a coin of Kali attached - that begin to make him suspect that Manchu is alive and well. Of course he is and is up to his usual evil deeds of kidnapping, murder and world domination. The film has echoes of being a German Krimi with its outlandish plot and Joachim Fuchsberger and Karin Dor in it. Joachim is the assistant and Karin the daughter of a scientist who has been kidnapped and has invented a gas formula that can kill everyone in London with some Tibetan seeds.


Joachim and Nayland go to visit a supplier and the receptionist is a lovely polite Chinese woman in glasses with her hair up in a bun. Nayland "I have seen her somewhere before. I can't remember where". Can't remember! What the hell. That is Tsai Chin! She plays the daughter of Fu Manchu is all five films. How could you forget her. After he leaves,  she haughtily takes off her glasses and undoes her hair in a sweeping gesture as if to say, Nayland you fool. I was right in front of you. Look at me now. Am I not all woman. Later she has a lovely little girl moment when she is about to whip a woman and dad stops her. "But you promised" she pouts. Well, he kills the girl and lets her watch with glee. Father knows best.


This first in the Fu Manchu films is directed by Don Sharp as was the next one The Brides of of Fu Manchu, which if memory serves me are the two best in the series.  The always great Nigel Greene is Nayland Smith and he plays him just right - serious without a hint of humor. Unfortunately, this role was to go to others less worthy. Petrie is Howard Marion-Crawford who had lots of practice playing the loyal British to the bone friend as Watson in the  Sherlock Holmes TV series in the 1950s. This is good fun but sedate if compared to the spy films that were becoming popular at the same time. Dr. No, From Russia with Love and Goldfinger had already come out and this is a good step below those in ambition and imagination. But Fu Manchu in earlier iterations and books had created the figure of the mad genius who wants to take over the world. He will be back. Just not in the movies.