Chandu the Magician (film)

Chandu The Magician
Directed by	William Cameron Menzies, Marcel Varnel
Written by	Barry Conners, Philip Klein
Starring	Edmund Lowe Bela Lugosi Irene Ware Virginia Hammond
Cinematography	James Wong Howe
Edited by	Harold D. Schuster
Distributed by	Fox Film Corporation
Release dates	September 18, 1932 (1932-09-18)
Running time	71 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Chandu the Magician is a 1932 American Pre-Code mystery-fantasy film starring Edmund Lowe as Frank Chandler and Bela Lugosi as the villain Roxor that he must stop. Based on the radio play of the same name, written by Harry A. Earnshaw, Vera M. Oldham and R.R. Morgan. The radio series ran from 1932 to 1933 and Fox obtained the rights hoping the film would appeal to a ready-made audience. In 1934 Chandu returned in a twelve part serial, The Return of Chandu, with Bela Lugosi ironically playing the title role.

Plot

Frank Chandler had learned eastern magics from the Yogis in India and is now known as Chandu. He has the power to teleport, astral project, mesmerize, as well as project illusions. With these supernatural abilities he has been entrusted to "go forth with his youth and strength to conquer the evil that threatens mankind." Specifically, an Egyptian villain known as Roxor, played by Bela Lugosi. Roxor kidnaps Chandu's brother-in-law, Robert Regent, an inventor who has developed a death ray with a range that covers half way round the world. Chandu must use his entire bag of tricks to rescue not only his brother-in-law but his sister and their children, whom Roxor has kidnapped in order to compel Regent into revealing the secrets of the death ray. Chandu's sweetheart Egyptian Princess Nadji also gets kidnapped, leaving Chandu to ponder whom to rescue first. Using his Yogi abilities, Chandu makes daring escapes, including one from a submerged sarcophagus. Eventually he succeeds in rescuing everyone and mesmerizing Roxor long enough to destroy the death ray and the villain's entire lair.

Production

William Cameron Menzies who worked as the art director on The Thief of Bagdad (1924), employs every special effect trick of the trade, many miniatures, optical effects, dry for wet to create a visually exciting film.

Cast (in credits order)

• Edmund Lowe as Chandu/Frank Chandler
• Bela Lugosi as Roxor
• Irene Ware as Princess Nadji
• Herbert Mundin as Albert Miggles
• Henry B. Walthall as Robert Regent
• Weldon Heyburn as Abdulah
• June Lang as Betty Lou Regent
• Michael Stuart as Bobby Regent
• Virginia Hammond as Dorothy Regent

See also

• The Return of Chandu (where Bela Lugosi portrays Chandu)
• Bela Lugosi filmography

External links

• Chandu The Magician at IMDb
• Chandu The Magician at AllMovie