Chandu the Magician (1932) User Reviews

Enjoyable serial-style hokum

[RJV · 7/10 · 27 May 2000]

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.

Curses, foiled again! ...

[AlsExGal · 6/10 · 4 July 2019]

... I almost expect somebody in this film to say those tired old lines. This is one of the few precode Fox films that has managed to survive. So many were lost to vault fires or just nitrate deterioration from neglect. Odd how this obscurity survived and is on DVD even!

Chandu (Edmund Lowe) is a magician who seems to just be "graduating" as the film begins with a ceremony full of mumbo jumbo that I cannot make sense of even when I rewind and replay it several times. Chandu finds out that his brother-in-law, who was working on a death ray invention, has been kidnapped by Roxor (Bela Lugosi), and so he rushes to his sister's side to protect her and her daughter and try to save his brother-in-law before Roxor can learn the secret of the death ray. And what does Roxor want? Power? RIches? Fame? no he wants to destroy society so mankind will revert to beasts and he can be the smartest guy in the world. Weird. I guess this is what happens when a sociopath is forced to wear a dunce cap as a kid.

If this sounds like something out of silent film, that is how it plays out too. The romance scenes, the action scenes, everything plays out with silent film technique in direction and acting. I generally really like Edmund Lowe and his roles, so I have to lay this at the feet of the director. I could take this in stride in 1929 and 1930 during the transition to sound, but that time is long over.

Probably the most tiresome character, though, is Albert, Chandu's loyal companion. He is cowardly, a drunk, and always having to be rescued by Chandu even though saving Albert from himself is NOT his primary mission. Prohibition was still in force, so maybe all of these unfunny drunks I encounter in these Prohibition era films are supposed to be knocks at an unpopular law. But today, it's just not funny.

Mildly recommended for fans of Edmund Lowe and Bela Lugosi.

An Entertaining Fantasy

[Rainey-Dawn · 7/10 · 2 October 2015]

I have to agree with other reviewers on this film: Bela Lugosi steals the show. He's good a usual in this underrated fantasy film.

The sets and costuming are lavish, elegant and beautiful eye candy. Loved the Egyptian setting. The special effects are great for it's time era.

The story is good, it has quite a bit of romance and comedy in it. The film does have some action and it's fun adventure to watch. It's simply a worthwhile film classic to view.

Simply worded: If you like film surrounding magic, mysticism, fantasy, Egyptian-themes, and/or Bela Lugosi then I'm sure you will enjoy Chandu the Magician.

7.5/10

Bela, Egyptian Settings, and Rollicking Adventure

[BaronBl00d · 5 October 2002]

Willian Cameron Menzies does a more than adequate job creating suspense in this early serial-style thriller about a yogi mystic named Chandu protecting the world, his sister and her family, and his Egyptian princess love from the evil megalomaniacal ways of Roxor. Roxor has built a death ray to make himself master of the world. Only trouble is that the inventor will not give him the secret of the ray and Chandu is on to his dastardly scheme. Edmund Lowe makes a dashing, affable hero with his ready wit and his theatrical gestures conjuring magic. Roxor is played with aplomb by heavy Bela Lugosi. Lugosi steals all of his scenes and gives a first-rate performance. Irene Ware as the Princess Nadja makes an attractive, bright leading lady, and the rest of the cast fares well too. A thoroughly nice comedic turn is performed by Herbert Mundin as Mr. Miggles. He is a drunken friend/servant of Chandu and sees himself in miniature every time he takes a drink. The film boasts what must have been relatively high production values for the day. It plays well considering it was made in 1932. There are some great scenes in the film. Menzies, best known for directing Invaders From Mars, uses a very fluid camera. A scene where Chandu looks into a crystal is most impressive as the camera zigs and zags through a Egyptian tomb. Another memorable scene depicts the scientist's daughter, clad only in a tight slip, offered on the slave trading block. The scene was risque for its time to be sure. While Chandu is certainly not a great film, it is definitely a cut above many films made in its time.

The Eyes Have It

[richardchatten · 7/10 · 22 November 2019]

Stylish hokum in which suavely villainous Bela Lugosi commandeers Henry Walthall's death ray with the intention of returning the civilised worth to Year Zero with himself as the Messiah, but reckons without urbane hero Edmund Lowe; a hypnotist rather than a magician.

Made equidistant between the first two versions of 'The Thief of Baghdad', with designs and special effects of the calibre one would expect from the man who worked on both of them, further enhanced by atmospheric photography by the young 'James Howe' (as he is here billed).

"This death ray in the hands of Roxor means an end to goodness"

[hwg1957-102-265704 · 6/10 · 24 July 2023]

Chandu the newly qualified yogi goes off to Egypt to rescue his brother-in-law Robert Regent, protect his sister Dorothy, re-kindle an old flame named Princess Nadji and stop the evil Roxor employing a death ray to destroy the major capitals of the world. There is a lot to like about this movie; the wonderful sets and miniatures, the effective special effects (rifles into snakes!) the excellent photography (great close-ups of people's faces) by James Wong Howe and the watchable over-the-top performance from Bela Lugosi as Roxor, dressed in tight fitting black clothes. Herbert Mundin amuses, as he usually does, as the cowardly batman Miggles. Unfortunately Edmund Lowe as Chandu is rather boring and pales in comparison to Mr. Lugosi. With a better leading man it would be a better movie but as it is, well it's still an entertaining romp. Recommended.

Inspiration for the Creation of Mandrake?

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 24 July 2020]

After a long training with the yogi in India, the American magician Frank "Chandu" Chandler (Edmund Lowe) learns that his brother-in-law Robert Regent (Henry B. Walthall) has been kidnapped by the evil Roxor (Bela Lugosi). Robert is a prominent scientist that has developed the powerful death ray and the megalomaniac wants to use his invention to dominate the world. Chandu teams up with his beloved Princess Nadji (Irene Ware) and his sidekick Albert Miggles (Herbert Mundin) to rescue Robert from the claws of the dangerous Roxor.

"Chandu the Magician" is a delightful 1932 adventure with Bela Lugosi in one of his best performances. The viewer immediately associates Chandu, Princess Nadji and Miggles with Lee Falk's Mandrake (created in 1934), Princess Narda and Lothar. "Raiders of the Lost Ark" is another association. Unfortunately, the hero Edmund Lowe is miscast, but the villain Bela Lugosi steals the show. Herbert Mundin is responsible for very funny scenes, like the one that he sees his miniature in the bottle's cabinet. The special effects are top-notch. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Chandu, O Mágico" ("Chandu the Magician")

Unremarkable oldie

[Prof-Hieronymos-Grost · 5/10 · 3 October 2008]

From his secret lair beneath an Egyptian tomb, Madman Roxor(Bela Lugosi) plans world domination. He kidnaps a scientist who is working on a deadly death ray that can destroy a whole city. Chandu the Magician(Edmund Lowe) with his magic powers newly in his possession is sent to stop him by using his Yogi supernatural powers. Roxor does his best to deny him by finding out his power is in his eyes. Not terrible, but not enough to keep you awake if you're tired, Lugosi is fine, the rest of the cast are unremarkable, the production values are pretty good,if a little hokey by todays standards, they were state of the art at the time. There's plenty of wandering through Egyptian bazaars,listening to the locals with their Brooklyn accents, all to the backdrop of generic arab music. Disappointing

Talk about COOL--this is a really exciting 1930s Saturday morning all rolled into one film!

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 9 January 2008]

Okay, I'll admit that technically speaking, this film isn't what you'd expect for a score of 8. After all, this was a very low-budget production and occasionally it really shows it--though most of the time, they do make the most of their limited resources. The film does earn super-high marks, though, for its ability to entertain, as there is one thrill after another after another--just like a Saturday morning movie serial condensed into one great package. In fact, it isn't all that surprising that just two years later they DID make a serial version of the Chandu character and a couple more movies--though oddly, he was played by Bela Lugosi in them, while in CHANDU THE MAGICIAN, he actually played the evil villain!!

Edmund Lowe stars here as Chandu--a Westerner who has "learned the psychic powers of the East". In other words, he spent years with gifted Hindu holy men and learned to use their great powers to control mens' minds. Using hypnosis, Chandu can make just about anyone do or see anything!! This makes him one heck of an amazing super-hero. Some of his tricks involved making men think their guns had turned to snakes, the ability to make doubles of himself to lure away the bad guys and his funny ability to mess with his man servant whenever he tries to take a drink!! Aside from comic heroes such as Mandrake, this is a truly unique character--and a very, very unique one for film. The closest I can think of are films such as THE COBRA WOMAN and ALI BABA, but they really aren't the same. Considering how exciting and fun this film was, I really wished they had made more of them--especially since the writing was so "seat of your pants" good.

In addition to these cool psychic powers, the film features a death ray, kidnappings and an evil cult of followers for Lugosi--what more could you possibly want in an old-time action-suspense film?! This is really great and exciting stuff--much better than the usual film for Lugosi or Lowe--who both do an exceptional job in this film. Too bad they just don't make 'em like they used to.

Proto Indiana Jones style fun

[MissSimonetta · 7/10 · 8 January 2016]

It would not surprise me one bit if Chandu the Magician (1932) was one of the films which inspired George Lucas and Steven Spielberg when they were coming up with the Indiana Jones films back in the 1980s. This is great schlock: a white hatted hero, damsels in distress, and a campy, heartless villain (played with relish by Bela Lugosi in one of his most memorable film roles). Be warned it also shares that key flaw of the IJ films, namely colonial undertones (okay, in this movie, they're more like overtones... big overtones).

The special effects are hit and miss in terms of how they have dated, but really, even that hokey-ness adds to the charm of the movie. Not a second is to be taken seriously and it all moves at a brisk pace. My only regret is that they cast the bloodless Edmund Lowe as the titular hero; you really need someone with more charm and humor here, like a Douglas Fairbanks Jr. or Melvyn Douglas.

If you love camp and cheese, there are few pre-code films that are better.

Only a diehard Bela booster might be satisfied by this episodic mess

[kevinolzak · 4/10 · 19 July 2021]

1932's "Chandu the Magician" marked Bela Lugosi's return to Fox, the one studio that kept him gainfully employed both before and after his realization of Universal's "Dracula" (this would be his 7th talkie for the studio), but is forced to take a back seat to Edmund Lowe's somnambulistic portrayal of the title character, an ordinary man named Frank Chandler emerging after three years of dedicated training to become genuine yogi Chandu, his hypnotic powers able to overwhelm all those who mean to do harm. His sister's husband (Henry B. Walthall) has been captured by Lugosi's power hungry madman Roxor, hoping to make use of his death ray device to become absolute ruler of the world (not a bad thing if you can do it), capturing various family members to apply pressure in getting what he desires. Chandu also must protect his former love, Princess Nadji (Irene Ware), also a pawn in Roxor's ambitions, using his eyes and mystical skills to foil his adversary at every turn. Only at the climax do the two actually meet and, sad to say, it ain't a fair fight as Roxor easily falls in line, helpless to prevent his own creation from being the cause of his destruction, carefully rigged to blow up the entire cast unless they can escape in time. This adaptation of a popular radio serial betrays its origins only too well, a foolish, simple minded treatment further burdened by Herbert Mundin's obnoxious drunken antics, occasionally offset by the magnificent set design and special effects, courtesy of two credited directors, Marcel Varnel and the fabled William Cameron Menzies. It's a much smaller part than expected, only one major scene during the entire first half, 16 1/2 minutes screen time out of a merciless 72 minute running time, a stock character that only Lugosi could have pulled off (he would be reunited with lovely Irene Ware for Universal's 1935 "The Raven"). Edmund Lowe was a frequent Bela costar in titles like "Women of All Nations," "Gift of Gab," and "The Best Man Wins," all of which were better suited for the tough guy actor than this Eastern mystic, so it's no wonder that Lugosi himself inherited the role for Sol Lesser's 1934 "The Return of Chandu," granting him the one time only opportunity to essay an old fashioned, two fisted action hero in a genuine serial (only two more Fox features lay ahead, 1933's "The Devil's in Love" and 1939's "The Gorilla").

Grand Mystical Adventure

[dbborroughs · 9/10 · 20 July 2004]

Based upon the radio show of the same name this film is the story of Chandu,, real name Frank Chandler, a white man taught the secrets of the yogis. Chandler has been set loose to save his family who has been put into peril by the evil Roxor, played by Bela Lugosi (who not long after would play Chandu himself in a movie serial).

Containing more action than most serials this is a true popcorn movie that moves pretty much from start to finish. There are dangers aplenty as Chandu struggles to save the world.

The film is near perfect, but suffers from a couple of small flaws. The first is the over use of the small man that Biggles sees each time he drinks. Chandu enchants Biggles to prevent him from drinking and its used a couple of time too many. The second is that toward the end the effects look weak. The underwater sequence is terrible, and the use of rear screen as people flee the temple is awful.

Still this is a movie to sit down with a big bucket of popcorn and enjoy.

9 out of 10.

Important Stepping Stone for Magic in Movies

[Reviews_of_the_Dead · 6/10 · 25 May 2022]

This is a movie that I never heard of until looking for horror movies from 1932 on Letterboxd. My interest was piqued seeing Bela Lugosi starring in this one. Other than that, I didn't know much about this aside from it involving magic from the title.

The synopsis is: when delusional madman Roxor (Lugosi) kidnaps a scientist in hopes of using his death ray to achieve world dominance, he is opposed by Chandu (Edmund Lowe), a powerful hypnotist and yogi.

We start this off with Frank Chandler being inducted into the order of the yogi. I'm not entirely sure if this is in line with those that do yoga like in the real world or if this is a made-up thing for the world of this movie. I have played video games where magic users are called magi, so I don't know if that is a play on that. Regardless, Frank is given the name of Chandu.

He then is taken into another room with his teacher and he is shown through a crystal ball his rival, Roxor. Chandu has not heard of him, but he is fated to fight this other magician. He is also shown his family. Chandu's sister is Dorothy Regent (Virginia Hammond). She is married to Robert (Henry B. Walthall). What is interesting here is that he is painted as a mad scientist who has created a death ray. Roxor is out for this weapon and kidnaps Robert.

The problem is that he won't give over the secret to make this work. Roxor's henchmen take all the components, but there is something missing. Roxor is forced to kidnap Robert's family as a way to blackmail him. This would be his daughter Betty Lou (June Lang) and son Bobby (Michael Stuart). Chandu shows up before they can. It doesn't stop them from trying, but Chandu uses his powers to save them.

It then becomes a hunt to find Roxor before it is too late. This will bring Chandu to Princess Nadji (Irene Ware). The two of them are interested in each other. Chandu also enlists the aid of a man he met in the military who served under him, Albert Miggles (Herbert Mundin). He has a drinking problem and Chandu uses hypnotism to keep him sober. It won't be an easy journey to get this death ray from this villain, but they do what they can to prevent the destruction of major cities.

That is where I'm going to leave my recap and introductions to the characters. Settling in to write this review, I didn't realize that this was based off a radio play. I'm not shocked by that as quite a bit from this era of films were from novels or stage productions. Being that it is from this radio play, I do think this movie jumps right in assuming that the audience knows this character. I don't mind seeing the ritual of him being inducted into the order, so we are skipping the training and knowing that he can use his powers already. It was a bit jarring, but not enough to ruin the movie. Something else here I wanted to include is that this feels like a serial with how things play out. I'm not shocked to see that is where the series would go. It also felt like watching a movie based off a comic book as well.

To delve a bit more into what we are getting here, this is horror in the loosest since. Fans today of the genre wouldn't consider this if it was released today. I feel like this fell in due to the era since we have a villain like Roxor looking to destroy major cities with this death ray. Some of the things with the magic could also push it closer to the genre. We get an intriguing scene in an Egyptian temple with a statue coming to life. There is also torture hinted at, but we don't see it on the screen. I would also fall in that camp that if it was made today, we wouldn't consider this in the genre.

Where I'll then go would be the acting. The concept is what would get people into the theater, but I think the acting is what carries this. Lowe does well as our hero. I like him and he has charisma to fit the character. He does sway Princess Nadji quickly. They did meet prior to the events of the movie so that works. I would say that Ware is fine as her. She isn't given a lot to work with. I've noticed that quite a bit as she feels like she is here as the love interest. There is also Abdulah (Weldon Heyburn) who wants her. Lugosi is probably the best performance. He plays this villain so well. Mundin adds comedic value, especially since he sees a smaller version of himself that scolds him when he tries to take a drink. The rest of the cast was fine in rounding this out for what was needed. No one is great, but they work.

The last things to go into would be the cinematography, effects and soundtrack. For the former, I think it is shot well. We are getting mostly static shots, but that is the era. The set pieces we see are cool. There's the temple that I brought up earlier as well as Roxor's hideout. I also like what they do when the death ray is looking for a target to destroy. That was interesting as well as how this movie ends. Moving with this would be the effects. We aren't getting a lot, but what we do are solid. They use in camera effects due to the era. I did like what they did with Albert and seeing a smaller version of him. That I'm assuming is superimposing. It works. The things with the ray were fine. The only other thing would be the soundtrack which didn't stay out but worked for what the movie needed.

In conclusion, this movie was fine for what it was. I think we have interesting concepts that are introduced and paved the way for different characters. I don't mind our villain of Roxor and even our hero is fine. This just feels like a serial or a radio play so it is hampered by its own confines. Lugosi is good and the rest of the cast is fine. The movie just feels too safe. I acknowledge that this movie isn't for me, so I won't hold it against the movie too much. I do think this is well made overall though. I just want more from the story. What we do get is interesting though. I would say that after this first viewing, this is over average for me. It is just lacking elements for me to go higher.

My Rating: 6 out of 10.

From India to Egypt with Edmund Lowe

[wes-connors · 5/10 · 25 January 2009]

Otherwise ordinary Edmund Lowe (as Frank "Chandu" Chandler), who has been given magical "Yogi" powers in India, finds mankind-threatening evil lurking in Egypt. Mr. Lowe's brother-in-law, the inventive Henry B. Walthall (as Robert Regent), has developed "death ray" technology, which could destroy the world. Of course, this invention interests Egyptian megalomaniac Bela Lugosi (as Roxor), who kidnaps Mr. Walthall. Mr. Lugosi is hell-bent on forcing Walthall to help him create a world-threatening "super death ray". Can "Chandu the Magician" rescue Walthall and stop Mr. Lugosi from taking over the planet?

Directors Marcel Varnel and William C. Menzies, photographer James Wong Howe, and a lively cast of troupers help make this version of the radio adventure nostalgically entertaining.

***** Chandu the Magician (8/4/32) Marcel Varnel, William C. Menzies ~ Edmund Lowe, Bela Lugosi, Henry B. Walthall

Mystical Goings On

[Bucs1960 · 8 October 2004]

What fun! This is a dandy film of its type.......so corny and the typical early 30s serial type cliffhanger with lots of dashing around, ridiculous plot and narrow escapes. The settings with the Egyptian flavor are simply silly and fake but the special effects are not as bad as you might expect for an early film.

Edmund Lowe doesn't seem quite right for the part of Chandu.....I would have pictured someone with a little more exotic look to add just a hint of mystery. Ricardo Cortez or Nils Asther, although supporting players, may have been able to pull it off; however, Lowe does a serviceable job. Of course Lugosi went on to play the part later but appears here as the arch-villain who is bent on conquering the world with a death ray stolen from Chandu's brother-in-law. As usual he is over the top which is just what the film needs....a maniacal bad guy with visions of grandeur. He is all ham but of course this was his stock in trade and he pulls out all the stops.

Herbert Mundin is on hand for a little humor which probably wasn't necessary but he is such a great character actor that you aren't too put off by it. If you like Mundin, see "Cavalcade", in which he really gets a chance to show his acting ability which is not all comedic.

If you like films that are camp, don't require you to think too much or try to figure out character's motivations, this is the one for you. Its fast, fun and so dumb that you love it. Great for a rainy Saturday afternoon at the matinée.

Best for Bela Lugosi's villain and William Cameron Menzie's art direction

[robertguttman · 7/10 · 22 October 2017]

Although largely forgotten today, "Chandu the Magician" was the subject of a very popular radio series. In fact, it was among the longest-running radio shows, lasting from 1931 until 1950. It was so popular that, in 1932, Fox adapted it into a feature motion picture. The result is the sort of Saturday matinée action-adventure picture that Steven Spielberg and George Lucas spent a fortune trying to emulate when they produced "Raiders of the Lost Ark" in 1981, nearly half a century later.

Like "The Shadow", a character who appeared a little later,"Chandu is an American who has mastered the "Mysticism of The East", and uses that knowledge to fight evil and crime. However, in the case of "Chandu the Magician", the action is set not in America but Egypt, a circumstance which also makes it appear somewhat more similar to "Raiders of the Lost Ark".

There are two outstanding aspects to "Chandu the Magician" that make it still worth seeing. One is the very impressive (for 1932) art direction and special effects created by the legendary William Cameron Menzies, who was billed as co-director. When one considers the limited budget and time available to the production, and the lack of modern-day technology, what Menzies achieved in "Chandu the Magician" remains impressive even today.

The other is the equally-impressive work by the equally-legendary Bela Lugosi as the villain, "Roxor". The rest of the cast may appear somewhat wooden or melodramatic, Bela leaves no scenery un-chewed and no scene un-stolen. When one is casting a villain who is attempting no less then the conquest of the entire world, it is always best to eschew subtle, method-type of actor, and go for someone who knows how to really go over the top. That is exactly what Bela Lugosi does here, and with plenty extra to spare.

Worth Watching

[zzmoore · 6/10 · 5 March 2022]

You have to keep in mind that this movie, circa 2022 was made 90 years ago :-) Parts of it seem silly by todays standards, but that is what happens.

The acting is perfectly fine. The script is a GOOD B-Movie script.

If you want. Some light-entertainment, give this a watch.

A Fox Horror Classic?

[gavin6942 · 7/10 · 30 December 2016]

When delusional madman Roxor kidnaps a scientist in hopes of using his death ray to achieve world dominance, he is opposed by Chandu, a powerful hypnotist and yogi.

Someone at Fox put together a "Horror Classics Volume 2" set and put this film in it. But does it belong there? I suppose having a "death ray" makes this horror, or at least science fiction. And, of course, it stars Bela Lugosi. But it is not really horror in any true sense.

That being said, it is still an interesting film and well worth a watch, both for Lugosi fans and for fans of the fantastic film. I did not listen to the audio commentary from Gregory Mank (yet), but I feel like it would add a great deal to the film.

I Ken Dee-stroy Dah Whole Vorlt!

[rmax304823 · 3/10 · 2 August 2012]

I found it impossible to really enjoy this movie, probably because I'm not a ten-year-old kid listening to the radio in 1932. I'm considerably older and I'm watching television where these idiotic people are running around in costumes that belong in a stage magician's trunk.

It's a cheaply construed action-filled mystery story. Edmund Lowe is Chandru, a student of Oriental mysticism who has learned the arts of yoga, the transmutation of the alter self, and the power to cloud men's minds. Wait -- that last is from "The Shadow", but what's the difference? Audiences of the time, I suppose, were familiar with these characters from the nightly radio shows. There's Chandru. There's his main squeeze, Princess Nadji. There's Bela Lugosi as the palindromic Roxor. And then there's an innocent scientist who has invented a death ray, and his family too. It just occurs to me. If the scientist is such a nice, innocent man, why would he want to invent a death ray? At any rate, man does Lugosi want to get his hands on that death ray gun. "I wheel make everybody eento a SLAVE." He plays the role perfectly straight, which is to say he hams it up outrageously. He looks fine, though, dressed in a black blouse buttoned up to the neck like Rasputin.

William Cameron Menzies directed it and is responsible for the impressive special effects and the set dressing -- Ancient and Modern Egypt. The audio commentary on the DVD is more interesting than the movie. It's filled with irony and authority.

Example: The innocent scientist's daughter is abducted by Lugosi and, to induce the scientist to reveal his secrets, the daughter is put up on the block to be auctioned into the harem of one of the swarthy men in a crowd of libidinous foreigners, goggle-eyed with lust.

Now, the daughter is played by June Lang, who was only fifteen years old when this was released. She's gotten up in a Jean Harlow platinum do and a slinky silken gown. She's standing up there on the block, all disheveled and virginal. Her real name is June Vlasic. "Looks like June's in a pickle," says the commentator. Oh, he's a very helpful commentator. Like Jean Harlow, June Lang seems to eschew the use of any thoracic undergarments. "Now if you look closely, you'll see what the censors in Ontario saw." I'll tell you the truth. June Lang can't act but I'd have put in a bid for her anyway. I'd have bid half my worldly assets even though, granted, she's probably worth more than $254.67. I wonder how that would convert into shekels or dinars or whatever they used for currency in 1932 Egypt. Dried dates?

My first movie about magics ...

[henrysarki99 · 8/10 · 11 December 1999]

Sixty or more years ago, I saw this movie in Tehran, Iran. I was about ten at that time and there was a huge poster of the movie in the bicycle shop where I took my bike for repairs. The whole poster was the face of Chandu the Magician with his hands and opened fingers in front of him. I was mesmerized by the supernatural powers of that magician, who could make the audience see things that were not there. It was the first movie I fell in love with, but they didn't show the sequels which I now see on this website had been produced. I was waiting in such earnest to see more of my favorite hero. They were innocent times....

"Beg pardon Captain, is this where the danger starts?"

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 7 February 2016]

Edmund Lowe as Chandu the Magician may have had hypnotic eyes, but they were no match for Bela Lugosi's own in the film he made just prior to this one, "White Zombie". Lugosi uses that signature eye stare to mesmerize his victims and induce nightmares. I think in a head to head contest, Lugosi wins hands down, so even though he portrays a supporting character here, it's far and away his picture whenever he's on screen as the madman Roxor.

Then again, Chandu the Magician is no slouch in the theatrics department. For 1932, there were some pretty impressive effects concocted for the story. I thought the one where he turned the rifles into snakes, or created a vision of same, was done pretty effectively. Chandu had that great mystic vibe going for him too until nephew Bobby called him Uncle Frank. Some of the story's power seemed to deflate right there for me, seeing as how Chandu was a mere mortal.

For it's time, the picture was pretty daring in it's depiction of women, you'll have to check out the slave auction scene with June Lang as Betty Lou Regent, a kidnap victim of one of Roxor's henchmen. By the same token, the romance between Frank/Chandu and Princess Nadji (Irene Ware) was pure schmaltz, one in which Chandu's mysterious eyes turned googly if not downright comical.

You can't really evaluate the picture against present day efforts because you'll wind up disappointed. Most of the acting is merely adequate, but with it's special effects and Lugosi's insane portrayal of a world conquering madman, it's high in entertainment value. You should give it a try.

Gloriously tacky, but definitely a 30's version of Indiana Jones.

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 14 April 2015]

Edmund Lowe is the heroic Chandu, a good magician who is determined to stop the evil Roxor (Bela Lugosi) from destroying the world and ruling the ruins he creates. It appears that his brother-in-law has created a death ray and has gone into business with Roxor, eventually being betrayed by Lugosi when he realizes what evil this man does. Well, what else do you think would happen if you invented a death ray? Would that invention ever be utilized for good? Just that ridiculous premise alone leaves a big hole in this plot line, especially when brother-in-law ends up imprisoned in Lugosi's compound with wife, daughter, son and a beautiful exotic princess on Lugosi's lists of ways to get the inventor to comply. Lugosi, of course, gets to chew up the scenery, especially as he envisions the destructions of the world's biggest cities. Some truly horrific moments includes Lowe being buried in a coffin alive under water and the floor of the prison cell slipping open as his prisoners try not to fall to their deaths in the same water where Lowe is trapped. Certainly not as offensive as the same year's "The Mask of Fu Manchu" (with Lugosi's rival Boris Karloff in one of the tackiest of all villain roles), it's one of those ridiculous adventure tales that dominated the best and worst of the serials, even if it is relatively short. Ironically, Lugosi would later play Chandu in a serialized version where you at least know that the narrative will be silly. Given the fact that Lugosi's abode reminds me of the witches' castle from "The Wizard of Oz" makes me praise it instantly for its art direction and photography, but lacking in much of anything else except some good old unintentional laughs.

Surprisingly Fun and Stylishly Designed

[glofau · 8/10 · 20 July 2011]

Leave your brain at the door, because Chandu the Magician (utilizing his Powers from the Mysterious East) is about to enchant you into believing that trash is pure gold!

This pre-code potboiler from Fox Films introduces Edmund Lowe as Chandu the Magician, an American who has learned almost supernatural powers from the Yogi of the East. He can control men's minds, he possesses powerful protective powers of divination, he can walk on fire or astrally project or perform any number of other miraculous feats.

For reasons that defy logic, Chandu's brother(?) Robert, a Scientist, has been working on developing a Death Ray which can take out an entire city. Just as Robert has finally perfected this project, the evil Roxor (the fabulous Bela Lugosi as "That Monster in Human Form") and his Arabic henchmen kidnap Robert in an attempt to wrest the Secret of the Death Ray from its creator.

In the meantime, Chandu has fallen in with the beautiful Egyptian Princess Nadji, with whom he has been in love for 3 years... Princess Nadji is also in love with Chandu, but has been sacrificing herself Most Nobly for her People. Will these unusual interracial lovers find happiness at last? (Since miscegenation was illegal in many parts of the U.S. during this period in history, this is actually a genuine question!)

Of course, Princess Nadji falls into the clutches of the evil Roxor, and a great deal of deranged soliloquizing follows in the villain's Super-Scientific Laboratory (filled with the requisite Bride of Frankenstein-like crackling electrical apparatus). Will Robert have the strength to keep his Secret of the Death Ray before Roxor has tortured or destroyed all of his loved ones? Will Chandu be able to find Roxor's secret lair in time to Save the World and rescue Robert and the Princess?

In the directorial hands of Marcel Varnel and the brilliant William Cameron Menzies, this unpromising material becomes a stylish-looking, stunningly photographed and beautifully paced bonbon of pulp-y goodness.

If you are in the mood for a campy, beautifully designed, fast-moving melodramatic kiddie-matinée "thriller", I highly recommend this movie. Yummy, stupid, enchanting... and surprisingly progressive about miscegenation for a 1930's film that otherwise wallows in racial stereotypes!

Can't Do Chandu

[view_and_review · 3/10 · 9 August 2023]

"Chandu the Magician" can loosely be considered an action movie though by today's standards it certainly can't be. Just about every action movie has the good guy, the bad guy, and the girl. In this case Chandu (Edmund Lowe) was the good guy. He was a white guy who went to Egypt and became a powerful yogi. I'm sure he was the most powerful yogi Egypt had ever seen even though yoga and yogis aren't endemic to Egypt. Roxor (Bela Lugosi) was the bad guy. He wanted to create a death ray and he needed the knowledge of Robert Regent (Henry B. Walthall) to do so. Princess Nadji (Irene Ware) was the girl. She was a young, beautiful, Egyptian princess who Chandu was in love with. She told him that she was dedicated to her people, but we all knew that Chandu would woo her anyway.

It was a lame movie to me. Chandu went around staring at people and making them do what he wanted. This movie further cemented the idea of white superiority and non-white inferiority. They even had the nerve to play on the fears of many white men.

In order to try and force Robert Regent to give him the information he needed to make his death ray work, Roxor had Robert's daughter put on an auction block to be sold. Robert stared on in horror as grubby dirty Egyptians bid for his blond, fair-skinned, nubile daughter. It was such a putrid scene. It was a clear case of projection to show a group of people openly auctioning off another human being. This way we could all point our righteously indignant fingers at Egypt.

Of course, there was nothing to really worry about because Chandu the Magnificent and Omnipresent was there to save her.

No, I didn't like this movie. It was corny, terribly written, and terribly acted (even for 1932). I can't do Chandu.

Free on YouTube.

Approach this in the right way and a high old time is guaranteed

[Prichards12345 · 8/10 · 17 November 2008]

Wow, they really knew how to make 'em back in the grand old days of Hollywood. This is the sort of film - step up Kingdom of The Crystal Skull, I mean you - that would be ruined by CGI and uninventive action these days. But if you leave your cynical side at home Chandu will astonish and delight you.

And that's in spite of a leaden performance from Edmund Lowe in the title role. Lowe plays Frank Chandler - alias Chandu The Magician, a Caucasian learner of the mystic secrets of Tibetan Yogis. I can't help thinking he proved the inspiration for Marvel Comics' Doctor Strange; Chandu even has some sort of Astral Self that comes in handy during his adventure. An evil scientist named Roxor, played in OPERATIC villain mode by Bela Lugosi, is determined to wrest the secret of a death ray from Chandu's brother, attempting to kidnap his family to force the silly soul (who on Earth would want to invent a death ray in the first place?) into revealing the secret of its operation.

At times this film is almost a lesson for modern-day superhero movies in the imaginative use of powers. In a pre-Hayes Code sequence Chandler's niece is about to be sold into slavery in Cairo (not exactly politically correct these days) when our mystic hero stages a brilliantly inventive rescue. There's a touch of Sherlock Holmes, Robin Hood and Steven Strange about it all. All I know is that it works beautifully.

Some lavish sets, pleasing miniatures and glossy cinematography only add to the effect. There's a few poor back projection process shots near the end, but this doesn't spoil things. In all this is a terrific adventure movie, with more old-time thrills and serial escapes than many a current blockbuster.