Directed by Rowland V. Lee, U.S.A. The three Fu Manchu films starring Warner Oland (made between 1929 and 1931) necessarily invite comparison with 1932’s all-conquering THE MASK OF FU MANCHU. If this movie exemplifies the trilogy, then the Oland flicks come a far distant second to the fantastic Karloff-starring MASK. Even putting aside the appallingly bad comic relief and the imperfect acting, THE RETURN OF DOCTOR FU MANCHU suffers from a screenplay which can only be described as baby-like. One can’t get over the sheer silliness of it all. O.P. Heggie, the blind hermit from THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, appears as the stalwart Nayland Smith. 3/5.
MOVIES THAT DIE SCREAMING 