Daughter of the Dragon *** (1931, Anna May Wong, Warner Oland, Sessue Hayakawa, Bramwell Fletcher) – Classic Movie Review 3889

Anna May Wong stars as the young and beautiful Chinese aristocrat Princess Ling Moy, who makes an unfortunate choice of address when she comes to live next door to evil genius Dr Fu Manchu (Warner Oland), who wants to rule the world.

Many plot surprises, much suspense and some excitement are all in store in co-writer/ director Lloyd Corrigan’s antique and creaky but amusingly exotic and quite fun 70-minute Paramount crime drama. Japanese actor Sessue Hayakawa plays Chinese detective Ah Kee.

It is preceded by The Mysterious Dr Fu Manchu (1929) and The Return of Dr Fu Manchu (1930), both with Warner Oland.

And it is followed by The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932) with Boris Karloff as Fu, Drums of Fu Manchu (1940), a Republic Pictures serial with Henry Brandon, The Face of Fu Manchu (1965), The Brides of Fu Manchu (1966), The Vengeance of Fu Manchu (1967), The Blood of Fu Manchu (1968), and The Castle of Fu Manchu (1969), all with Christopher Lee, and The Fiendish Plot of Dr Fu Manchu (1980) with Peter Sellers.

Swedish actor Oland went on to play Charlie Chan.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3889
Check out more reviews on: derekwinnert.com