The Blood of Fu Manchu * (1968, Christopher Lee, Richard Greene, Tsai Chin, Shirley Eaton, Howard Marion-Crawford, Götz George, Maria Rohm) – Classic Movie Review 2947

Director Jesús Franco’s crime thriller horror movie is the fifth and concluding chapter in Christopher Lee’s Fu Manchu cycle of movies. Series regulars Howard Marion-Crawford (as scientist Doctor Petrie) and Tsai Chin (as Fu’s daughter Lin Tang) also re-appear for the fifth time, and Richard Greene returns from the fourth episode, The Castle of Fu Manchu, as Scotland Yard Inspector Nayland Smith.

This time Fu Manchu (Lee) gives 10 women poison and if anyone kisses them they go blind and die a slow death. He sends the Black Widow (Shirley Eaton) out to kiss and kill his arch-nemesis Nayland Smith (Greene), who escapes being killed off by the venom.

But he is blinded by the poison and he and his friend Doctor Petrie go to the jungles in South America to seek Fu Manchu for an antidote. They team with agent Carl Jansen (Götz George) and learn of Fu Manchu’s latest scheme for world domination.

Unfortunately, The Blood of Fu Manchu is made little vigour by director Franco and unattractively shot by cinematographer Manuel Merino, with poor use of Brazil and Madrid locations. Sadly, it is even feebler and shoddier than The Castle of Fu Manchu.

Also in the cast are Maria Rohm, Ricardo Palacios, Loni von Friedl, Isaura de Oliveira and Frances Kahn.

Its alternative title Fu Manchu and the Kiss of Death proved ominous. It dealt the Kiss of Death to the series. It was time to call it a day.

Its running time is 91 minutes but the cut version runs only 60 minutes. Producer Towers co-scripted both the story and screenplay under his usual pseudonym as ‘Peter Welbeck’ along with director Franco.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2947

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