The Return of Dr Fu Manchu *** (1930, Warner Oland, O P Heggie, Jean Arthur, Neil Hamilton) – Classic Movie Review 5819

Director Rowland V Lee’s creaky but creepy 1930 Paramount horror thriller brings back Warner Oland, who is fun re-creating his role as Sax Rohmer’s evil criminal mastermind Dr Fu Manchu from the 1929 film The Mysterious Dr Fu Manchu.

This time, we find him rising as if from the grave to try to avenge himself on Dr Jack Petrie (Neil Hamilton) and Inspector Nayland Smith (O P Heggie) after his family has been killed.

Despite the obvious technical problems inherent in the early sound film-making in 1930, there is still plenty to enjoy in this brisk-paced, lip-smacking and appealing follow-up to his 1929 hit The Mysterious Dr Fu Manchu.

Also in the cast are Jean Arthur, William Austin, Evelyn Hall, Margaret Fealy, Shayle Gardner, Evelyn Selbie, Will Stanton, Tetsu Komai, Olaf Hytten, Toyo Fujita, Bill Elliott, David Dunbar, Nora Cecil and Ambrose Barker.

It is written by Florence Ryerson and Lloyd Corrigan, loosely adapting Sax Rohmer’s novel, and shot in black and white by Archie J Stout.

It is the second of a trilogy, followed by Daughter of the Dragon (1931).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5819

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