The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932) in Color — Starring Boris Karloff & Lewis Stone

The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover The Mask of Fu Manchu, the 1932 American pre-Code film directed by Charles Brabin and starring Boris Karloff as Dr. Fu Manchu and Myrna Loy as his daughter, now available as a professionally colorized version. Sir Denis Nayland Smith of the British Secret Service warns Egyptologist Sir Lionel Barton that he must beat Fu Manchu in the race to find the tomb of Genghis Khan. Fu Manchu intends to use Khan’s sword and mask to proclaim himself the reincarnation of the legendary conqueror and inflame the peoples of Asia and the Middle East into a war to wipe out the “white race”. Barton is kidnapped soon afterward and taken to Fu Manchu, who tries bribing his captive for the tomb’s location, even offering his own daughter, Fah Lo See. When that fails, Barton suffers the “torture of the bell” in an unsuccessful attempt to get him to reveal the location of the tomb. This pre-Code adventure horror classic features Boris Karloff in one of his most memorable roles, with elaborate sets, torture devices, and a race against time to prevent world domination. Own this classic adventure film in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

Sir Denis Nayland Smith of the British Secret Service warns Egyptologist Sir Lionel Barton that he must beat Fu Manchu in the race to find the tomb of Genghis Khan. Fu Manchu intends to use Khan’s sword and mask to proclaim himself the reincarnation of the legendary conqueror and inflame the peoples of Asia and the Middle East into a war to wipe out the “white race”. Barton is kidnapped soon afterward and taken to Fu Manchu, who tries bribing his captive for the tomb’s location, even offering his own daughter, Fah Lo See. When that fails, Barton suffers the “torture of the bell” (lying underneath a gigantic, constantly ringing bell) in an unsuccessful attempt to get him to reveal the location of the tomb.

Barton’s daughter Sheila insists on taking her father’s place on the expedition, as she knows where the tomb is. She finds the tomb and its treasures with the help of her fiancé Terrence “Terry” Granville and his associates, Dr. Von Berg and McLeod. Smith joins them soon afterward. McLeod is killed by one of Fu Manchu’s men during a robbery attempt, after McLeod kills one of Fu Manchu’s men. An emissary offers to trade Barton for the priceless artifacts. Despite Terry’s misgivings, Sheila persuades him to take the relics to Fu Manchu without Smith’s knowledge. However, when Fu Manchu tests the sword he determines that it is a fake (Smith had switched them). Terry is whipped under the supervision of Fah Lo See, who is attracted to him. Meanwhile, Fu Manchu has Barton’s severed hand delivered to Sheila. When Smith tries to rescue Terry, he is taken captive as well.

Terry is injected with a serum that makes him temporarily obedient to Fu Manchu and released. He tells Sheila and Von Berg that Smith wants them to bring the sword and mask to him. Sheila senses something is wrong, but Von Berg digs up the real relics and they follow Terry into a trap. Captured by Fu Manchu, the party is sentenced to death or enslavement, but not before Sheila manages to bring Terry back to his senses. Sheila is to become a human sacrifice, Smith is to be lowered into a crocodile pit, and Von Berg placed between two sets of metal spikes inching toward each other. Terry is prepared for another dose of the serum, which will make him a permanent slave of Fu Manchu’s daughter. However, Smith manages to free himself, Terry and Von Berg. Using one of Fu Manchu’s own weapons—a death ray that shoots an electric current—the men incapacitate the archvillain as he raises the sword to execute Sheila. When Fu Manchu drops the sword, Terry picks it up and hacks him to death. While Terry frees Sheila and carries her away, Smith and Von Berg incinerate Fu Manchu’s followers using the same weapon. Safely aboard a ship bound for England, Smith tosses the sword over the side so that the world will be safe from any future Fu Manchu.

Cast & Crew

Director: Charles Brabin

Stars: Boris Karloff, Lewis Stone, Karen Morley, Charles Starrett, Myrna Loy, Jean Hersholt, Lawrence Grant, David Torrence

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The Mask of Fu Manchu was originally filmed in black and white, with cinematography by Tony Gaudio that captured the elaborate sets and atmospheric locations of the adventure horror epic. This professionally colorized restoration enhances every scene with frame-by-frame precision, from the Egyptian tomb sequences to the torture chambers and the climactic death ray confrontation. The colorized version reveals new visual richness in the film’s settings, where the tomb of Genghis Khan, Fu Manchu’s lair, and the various exotic locations gain authenticity that transports viewers to the thrilling world of pulp adventure. Boris Karloff’s legendary performance as Dr. Fu Manchu gains additional dimension in color, his elaborate makeup and menacing presence becoming even more striking as color highlights the details of his costume and the atmospheric lighting that made him one of cinema’s most iconic villains. Myrna Loy’s performance as Fah Lo See benefits from colorization, her sadistic and seductive character becoming even more vibrant and memorable. The film’s elaborate torture devices, action sequences, and death ray weapon become even more dynamic in color, the contrast between the dark dungeons and the colorful costumes creating visual intensity that enhances the adventure and horror elements. Now also available in colour.

Buy The Mask of Fu Manchu in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Released in 1932, The Mask of Fu Manchu represents one of the most elaborate film adaptations of Sax Rohmer’s legendary villain character, featuring Boris Karloff in what many consider the definitive portrayal of Dr. Fu Manchu. The film was made following Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s box office failure of Freaks (1932), and despite its troubled production—director Charles Vidor was fired mid-production and replaced by Charles Brabin—it became a financial success for the studio despite generally negative reviews. The film’s pre-Code status allowed for content that would later be heavily censored, including scenes of torture, sadism, and controversial dialogue about racial themes that would be removed in later releases.

The production was notoriously chaotic, with Karloff recalling that there was no completed script when filming began. He received his lines while in the makeup chair, with scenes written in everything from beautiful Oxford English to pidgin English. Myrna Loy described her character as a “sadistic nymphomaniac” and noted that she and Karloff “brought some feeling and humor to those comic book characters.” The film featured elaborate sets and costumes, including Fu Manchu’s personal bodyguard squad consisting of large bald men in loincloths and his “box o’ creepy creatures” containing snakes, lizards, and tarantulas.

The film’s racial themes and stereotypes, reflective of the “Yellow Peril” fears of the era, led to controversy. On the film’s theatrical re-release in 1972, the Japanese American Citizens League requested that the film be removed from circulation due to its negative portrayal of Asian people. The film was not released on home video in the 1980s, and when it was finally released in 1992, about one minute and five seconds was removed, predominantly of Karloff’s dialogue scenes such as “Yes, this is only the beginning! I will wipe out your whole accursed white race!” and “Would you all have maidens like this for your wives? Then conquer and breed! Kill the white man and take his women!” Later DVD releases have restored these scenes.

The film is recognized by the American Film Institute in AFI’s 100 Years…100 Heroes & Villains, with Dr. Fu Manchu nominated as one of the greatest villains in cinema history. The character of Fu Manchu would appear in numerous subsequent adaptations, including radio dramas, film serials, television series, and other feature films starring Christopher Lee as Fu Manchu starting with The Face of Fu Manchu (1965). Through modern colorization, this pre-Code adventure horror classic reaches new audiences who can appreciate its place in the history of American cinema and the enduring legacy of one of cinema’s most iconic villains. Now also available en couleur.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 / MKV digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: English original mono
• Runtime: 68 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Who stars in The Mask of Fu Manchu?
A: Boris Karloff stars as Dr. Fu Manchu, with Lewis Stone as Sir Denis Nayland Smith, Karen Morley as Sheila Barton, Charles Starrett as Terrence Granville, Myrna Loy as Fah Lo See, and Jean Hersholt as Dr. Von Berg.

Q: Is The Mask of Fu Manchu a horror film?
A: Yes, The Mask of Fu Manchu is a pre-Code adventure horror film that combines elements of horror, science fiction, and adventure.

Q: What is the plot of The Mask of Fu Manchu?
A: British archaeologists race to find the tomb of Genghis Khan before the evil Dr. Fu Manchu, who intends to use Khan’s sword and mask to proclaim himself the legendary conqueror’s reincarnation and lead a war against the white race.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as MP4 and MKV files that play on virtually any device.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

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• Frankenstein 1970 (1958)
• Grip of the Strangler (1958)
• Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953)
• The Black Castle (1952)
• Lured (1947)
• Bedlam (1946)
• The Body Snatcher (1945)