THE MASK OF FU MANCHU

Director: Charles Brabin

Stars: Boris Karloff, Lewis Stone, Karen Morley, Charles Starrett, Myrna Loy, Jean Hersholt

Year: 1932

Rating: N/R

Politically correct? No. But damned entertaining - mostly due to a sincerely sinister performance by Boris Karloff, here playing the evil Chinese crime genius set upon stealing the crown and sword of Genghis Khan so that - along with his daughter Fah Lo See (Myrna Loy) - he can rule the world and rid it of white White race.

Pure escapist fare, and the special makeup to get Karloff and Loy to look "oriental" for the film may turn off the politically correct ... but the film plays out like an exciting action comic book, or pulp novel, and in that sense it both works and is a whole lot of fun to watch.

Lewis Stone (patriarch of the famous Andy Hardy series of film, still years down the road when this one was made) stars as an archaeologist financing an expedition to find the lost treasures of Genghis Khan. Along with him for the trip to Asia is young beauty Susan (Karen Morley), whose father (who knows where the tomb lies) has been kidnapped by the infamous Fu Manchu, and Susan's boyfriend Terry (Charles Starrett), a handsome leading man type who is soon kidnapped by Fu Manchu, as well.

Only with Terry, it's the evil doctor's daughter who wants Terry for her own. When he refuses to cooperate, the beautiful seductress and her father instead drug Terry, turning him into a slave who will do their bidding so that he may go back to camp and steal the Khan artifacts for their own. When Terry brings back fake relics, however, Fu Manchu's rage is such that he sets out to destroy all who are part of the expedition - determined to achieve his goal of supreme ruler at all costs.

The action and drama remain tense throughout, as do the performances of the cast - especially Karloff and Loy, who do the "mysterious evil Oriental" schtick well enough, considering the film's time frame. Overall the film is just fun and exciting, intriguing as an old Saturday morning serial shown in its entirety - perfect if watched with a big bowl of popcorn and a child's imagination. I loved it. ***1/2 - Reel Cool-Reel Awesome