IMDb RATING
4.9/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
When Fu's age-regressing elixir vitae is spilled by a hapless flunky, Fu Manchu sends his lackeys to round up supplies for a fresh batch of elixir, including a precious jewel, which prompts ... Read allWhen Fu's age-regressing elixir vitae is spilled by a hapless flunky, Fu Manchu sends his lackeys to round up supplies for a fresh batch of elixir, including a precious jewel, which prompts a team of agents to track him down.When Fu's age-regressing elixir vitae is spilled by a hapless flunky, Fu Manchu sends his lackeys to round up supplies for a fresh batch of elixir, including a precious jewel, which prompts a team of agents to track him down.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 3 nominations
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaPeter Sellers had such a weak heart that he was advised not to make this movie at all. He ignored that advice and did the movie anyway. Chillingly prophetic was part of the story-line where Dr. Fu Manchu keeps his heart beating by intermittently giving himself electric shocks. This movie was Sellers' final movie. It debuted about two weeks after Sellers' death in London on 24 July 1980.
- GoofsFu Manchu states he is reminded of the musical San Francisco (1936) and its stars. That film was not released until 1936. However, as stated in the opening credits the date of this film is "possibly around 1933", so such anachronism can be written off.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter (1982)
- SoundtracksRock a Fu
(uncredited)
Written by Marc Wilkinson, Piers Haggard and Leland Nolan
Sung by Dr. Fu Manchu and his band
Featured review
Sellers comes home... a little gem of a film...
I'm baffled as to why so many people hate this film.
This is vintage Sellers, a return to before Hollywood got it's grip on him. I saw it in the cinema, when I was 15, and laughed my ass off.
Lovely characters, funny set pieces, familiar faces and a plot-of-sorts.
Yes it can get a little slow, but I really wish you'd go and look at some of Sellers' films of the late 50's/early 60's. THAT'S where this film belongs.
It's VERY British and enters that whole territory that includes "One of our Dinosaurs is Missing", "The Magic Christian", "Peter Cook's Hound of the Baskervilles", "The Adventure of Sherlock Holmses Smarter Brother" and their ilk. Not a bad thing really, but perhaps a minority taste. These tend to play more like extended TV sketch shows, and tend not to appeal to the majority. I mean.. flying houses?!
My irritation is the addition of Sid Caeser and Steve Franken.. WHY??? Merely to make the film sellable to the US one would imagine! They serve no purpose at all. They come across as caracture Americans.. shooting at plants and the like!
And oh boy...Helen Mirren as PC Rage.. just TOO much!! The Lady of Warrington Minge!!
It's very Goon-like, in terms of plot and characterisation: David Tomlinson as Neddie, Simon Willams as Bluebottle, Sellers as Colonal Bloodnok.... but it DOES lack Milligan's edge and drive. Descendants of this film include "The Crimson Permanant Insurance"...
What about the scene with FIVE sets of the King and Queen in the theatre box?? Hysterical...
Make no mistake though....this is a vehicle for Sellers and his characters. Sellers is in top form as the bonkers, but delightfully deadpan Nayland Smith (and his .... attachment to a lawnmower!) and the evil Fu Manchu.. "Hello boys!".... He's Dr Evil before the fact! More impeccable characters. It is, in fact, quite gutting to see how much he still had to give, just before his death, and one does wonder what would follow, given his huge profile after the completion of "Being There", his pet project for nearly 10 years.
So there you have..... my attempt to balance things a bit. If you wants full-on Hollywood Sellers.. go see the Panthers. But maybe you'd like to have a closer look at Sellers the comic actor in a pearl of the British comedy. His last.
This is vintage Sellers, a return to before Hollywood got it's grip on him. I saw it in the cinema, when I was 15, and laughed my ass off.
Lovely characters, funny set pieces, familiar faces and a plot-of-sorts.
Yes it can get a little slow, but I really wish you'd go and look at some of Sellers' films of the late 50's/early 60's. THAT'S where this film belongs.
It's VERY British and enters that whole territory that includes "One of our Dinosaurs is Missing", "The Magic Christian", "Peter Cook's Hound of the Baskervilles", "The Adventure of Sherlock Holmses Smarter Brother" and their ilk. Not a bad thing really, but perhaps a minority taste. These tend to play more like extended TV sketch shows, and tend not to appeal to the majority. I mean.. flying houses?!
My irritation is the addition of Sid Caeser and Steve Franken.. WHY??? Merely to make the film sellable to the US one would imagine! They serve no purpose at all. They come across as caracture Americans.. shooting at plants and the like!
And oh boy...Helen Mirren as PC Rage.. just TOO much!! The Lady of Warrington Minge!!
It's very Goon-like, in terms of plot and characterisation: David Tomlinson as Neddie, Simon Willams as Bluebottle, Sellers as Colonal Bloodnok.... but it DOES lack Milligan's edge and drive. Descendants of this film include "The Crimson Permanant Insurance"...
What about the scene with FIVE sets of the King and Queen in the theatre box?? Hysterical...
Make no mistake though....this is a vehicle for Sellers and his characters. Sellers is in top form as the bonkers, but delightfully deadpan Nayland Smith (and his .... attachment to a lawnmower!) and the evil Fu Manchu.. "Hello boys!".... He's Dr Evil before the fact! More impeccable characters. It is, in fact, quite gutting to see how much he still had to give, just before his death, and one does wonder what would follow, given his huge profile after the completion of "Being There", his pet project for nearly 10 years.
So there you have..... my attempt to balance things a bit. If you wants full-on Hollywood Sellers.. go see the Panthers. But maybe you'd like to have a closer look at Sellers the comic actor in a pearl of the British comedy. His last.
helpful•276
- Hardylane
- Dec 7, 2002
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Das boshafte Spiel des Dr. Fu Man Chu
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $10,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $10,697,276
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $2,399,109
- Aug 10, 1980
- Gross worldwide
- $10,697,276
- Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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By what name was The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu (1980) officially released in India in English?
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