Chandu the Magician (1932)

Directors:

William Cameron Menzies
Marcel Varnel

Writers:

Harry A. Earnshaw (radio serial) &
Vera M. Oldham (radio serial) ...

Release Date:

18 September 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Megalomaniac and would-be world dominator Roxor has kidnaped Robert Regent, along with his death ray invention...

Plot Keywords:

Blindness | Buzzard | Alcoholic | Nile River | Megalomaniac

Cast

Edmund Lowe	...	Chandu - aka Frank Chandler
Irene Ware	...	Princess Nadji
Bela Lugosi	...	Roxor
Herbert Mundin	...	Albert Miggles
Henry B. Walthall	...	Robert Regent
Weldon Heyburn	...	Abdullah
June Lang	...	Betty Lou Regent (as June Vlasek)
Michael Stuart	...	Bobby Regent (as Nestor Aber)
Virginia Hammond	...	Dorothy Regent

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric System)

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #4786-R, 11 October 1938 for re-release) | USA:Unrated

Company:

Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

This movie was based on "Chandu the Magician," a radio show that was airing at the time. Chandu was the basis for many of the later magician characters, including DC's Sandor the Mystic and Marvel Comics's Dr. Strange.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Grave Danger (2008)

Soundtrack:

How Dry I Am

Enjoyable serial-style hokum

If you like old-fashioned cliffhanger thrills, you'll enjoy CHANDU THE MAGICIAN. It has everything you could want in a serial adventure- a dashing hero, a megalomaniacal villain, an exotic setting, and a series of hair-raising perils that keeps the scenario rolling until the end. CHANDU's plot which concerns the title character's supernatural efforts to prevent the fiendish Roxor from taking over the world is trite and simplistic. However, the story's very triteness and simplicity is part of CHANDU's corny charm.

CHANDU boasts dazzling set design and fluid cinematography that create a fascinating, mysterious Egyptian milieu with majestic temple sets and an atmospheric desert locale. CHANDU's sense of adventure and mystique is further enhanced by special effects illustrating the powers of both Chandu and a death ray Roxor plans to employ in his world-domination plot. Even by today's Industrial Light and Magic standards, these effects look impressive.

Edmund Lowe is acceptable in the title role of Chandu but Bela Lugosi in the role of Roxor steals the film. Lugosi tackles his part with a demonic zeal, displaying odious glee over his scheme in both his facial expressions and line deliveries. There is little restraint or subtlety in his performance, but Lugosi projects such persuasive charisma that one can forgive his indulgences. Overall, CHANDU is no classic, but it's fun escapist entertainment.