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The Fu Manchu Cycle 1965-1969 (Blu-ray) Indicator Ltd

$149.00

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 ManchuThe Vengeance of Fu ManchuThe Blood of Fu ManchuThe 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.

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Special Features

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’ press books, 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

Format

Bluray

Label

Indicator