The Fu Manchu Cycle 1965 - 1969

Region B, Limited Edition

THE FACE OF FU MANCHU (Don Sharp, 1965)

THE BRIDES OF FU MANCHU (Don Sharp, 1966)

THE VENGEANCE OF FU MANCHU (Jeremy Summers, 1967)

THE BLOOD OF FU MANCHU (Jesús Franco, 1968)

THE CASTLE OF FU MANCHU (Jesús Franco, 1969)

 

Release date: 2 November 2020

Limited Blu-ray Edition (2 x UK & 3 x World Blu-ray premieres)

In 1965, maverick British producer and writer Harry Alan Towers (The Bloody Judge) scored a hit with The Face of Fu Manchu, a thrilling revival of Sax Rohmer’s super-villain imperiously portrayed by Christopher Lee (The Terror of the Tongs). Over the next four years, Lee and Towers would collaborate with directors Don Sharp (Psychomania), Jeremy Summers and Jesús Franco (Venus in Furs) on four ever more delirious tales of attempted world domination (The Brides of Fu Manchu, The Vengeance of Fu Manchu, The Blood of Fu Manchu, The Castle of Fu Manchu), each pitting the criminal mastermind against his arch-nemesis Nayland Smith, as played variously by Nigel Green (Play Dirty), Douglas Wilmer (Sherlock Holmes) and Richard Greene (The Adventures of Robin Hood).

 

Now, all five classic Fu Manchu films are presented on Blu-ray for the first time, newly restored from original negatives and containing a wealth of new and archival extras, including critical appreciations, cast and crew interviews and audio commentaries. This stunning collection is strictly limited to 6,000 units, and is presented with an exclusive, fully illustrated 120-page book, featuring new writing by Tim Lucas.

 

INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY BOX SET SPECIAL FEATURES

THE FACE OF FU MANCHU

New restoration from a 4K scan of the original negative

Original mono audio

Audio commentary with genre-film experts, critics and authors Stephen Jones and Kim Newman (2020)

The BEHP Interview with Don Sharp – Part One: From Hobart to Hammer (1993, 96 mins): archival audio recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring Sharp in conversation with Teddy Darvas and Alan Lawson

The BEHP Interview with Ernest Steward – Part One: The BIP Years (1990, 96 mins): archival audio recording of an interview with the respected cinematographer, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project

Archival interview with Christopher Lee (1965, 4 mins): extract from the Irish television programme Newsbeat, filmed during location shooting in Dublin

Vic Pratt Introduces ‘The Face of Fu Manchu’ (2020, 7 mins): appreciation by the BFI curator

Underneath the Skin (2020, 49 mins): broadcaster, educationalist and author of The Yellow Peril: Dr Fu Manchu & The Rise of Chinaphobia, Christopher Frayling, examines the origin, history and reputation of Sax Rohmer’s works

Alternative titles and credits

Super 8 versions: cut-down home cinema presentations with original vinyl soundtracks

Original UK, German and French theatrical trailers

Image gallery: promotional and publicity material

New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing

World premiere on Blu-ray

 

THE BRIDES OF FU MANCHU

New restoration from a 4K scan of the original negative

Two presentations of the film: the original UK theatrical version (94 mins) and the original US theatrical version with unique prologue (95 mins)

Original mono audio

Audio commentary with film historians Kevin Lyons and Jonathan Rigby (2020)

The BEHP Interview with Don Sharp – Part Two: A Director of Substance (1993, 95 mins): archival audio recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring Sharp in conversation with Teddy Darvas and Alan Lawson

The BEHP Interview with Ernest Steward – Part Two: From Teddington to ‘Carry On’ (1990, 93 mins): archival audio recording of an interview with the respected cinematographer, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project

The Guardian Interview with Christopher Lee (1994, 87 mins): wide-ranging onstage interview with the legendary actor, conducted by the film critic David Robinson

Vic Pratt Introduces ‘The Brides of Fu Manchu’ (2020, 7 mins): appreciation by the BFI curator

Pages of Peril (2020, 21 mins): genre-film expert, critic and author Kim Newman discusses Sax Rohmer and the Fu Manchu novels

Original theatrical trailer

TV spot

Image gallery: promotional and publicity material

New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing

World premiere on Blu-ray 

 

THE VENGEANCE OF FU MANCHU

New restoration from a 4K scan of the original negative

Original mono audio

Audio commentary with film historians Kevin Lyons and Jonathan Rigby (2020)

The BEHP Interview with Jeremy Summers (2001, 72 mins): archival audio recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring Summers in conversation with Darrol Blake

Vic Pratt Introduces ‘The Vengeance of Fu Manchu’ (2020, 7 mins): appreciation by the BFI curator

Tall, Lean and Feline (2020, 50 mins): film historian Jonathan Rigby, author of English Gothic, on the early career of Christopher Lee

The Cheque’s in the Post (2020, 5 mins): first assistant director Anthony Waye remembers Harry Alan Towers and Fu Manchu

The Ghost of Monk’s Island (1966, 93 mins): Jeremy Summers directs this exciting mystery made for the Children’s Film Foundation

Alternative title sequence

Original theatrical trailer

Image gallery: promotional and publicity material

New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing

World premiere on Blu-ray

 

THE BLOOD OF FU MANCHU

New restoration from a 4K scan of the original negative

Two presentations of the film: with the original The Blood of Fu Manchu title sequence, and the alternative Kiss Me to Death titles

Original mono audio

Audio commentary with critics and auhors David Flint and Adrian J Smith (2020)

Vic Pratt Introduces ‘The Blood of Fu Manchu’ (2020, 7 mins): appreciation by the BFI curator

The Men Who Killed Fu Manchu? (2020, 41 mins): author and musician Stephen Thrower on Jesús Franco and Harry Alan Towers

Any Way to Save Money (2020, 11 mins): clapper loader Ray Andrew remembers Harry Alan Towers and Fu Manchu

The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu: ‘The Fiery Hand’ (1923, 37 mins): chilling episode from the original silent serial starring Harry Agar Lyons, presented with an optional new score by the band Peninsula

Alternative title sequences

Colour tests: previously unseen production footage of Christopher Lee and Tsai Chin

Original UK theatrical trailer

US Kiss and Kill theatrical trailer

Image gallery: promotional and publicity material

New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing

UK premiere on Blu-ray

THE CASTLE OF FU MANCHU

New restoration from a 4K scan of the original negative

Two presentations of the film: with the original The Castle of Fu Manchu title sequence, and the alternative Assignment Istanbul titles

Original mono audio

Vic Pratt Introduces ‘The Castle of Fu Manchu’ (2020, 7 mins): appreciation by the BFI curator

From Alicante to Istanbul (2020, 13 mins): actor Rosalba Neri remembers Jesús Franco, Maria Rohm and the making of The Castle of Fu Manchu

An Interview with Harry Alan Towers (2008, 45 mins): far-reaching personal account of the intrepid producer’s life in radio, TV and film

The Further Mysteries of Dr. Fu-Manchu: ‘The Coughing Horror’ (1924, 31 mins): Fu Manchu torments Nayland Smith with a terrifying creature in this silent serial sequel, presented with an optional new score by the band Peninsula

Alternative title sequences

Original theatrical trailer

Image gallery: promotional and publicity material

New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing

UK premiere on Blu-ray

Limited edition exclusive 120-page book with a new essay on the Fu Manchu cycle by Tim Lucas, a look at the career of producer/screenwriter Harry Alan Towers, an examination of the work of Fu Manchu creator Sax Rohmer, new writing on The Ghost of Monk’s Island and the Stoll Pictures’ Fu Manchu silent serials, archival newspaper articles on the films, extracts from the films’ pressbooks, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits

 five replica production stills

UK and World premieres on Blu-ray 

Limited edition box set of 6,000 numbered units