THE DRUMS OF FU MANCHU (1940) a 15-chapter serial compilation

THE DRUMS OF FU MANCHU (1940) is a 15-chapter Republic serial film based on the character created by Sax Rohmer. Though using the title of the ninth novel in the series, it actually is based on numerous elements from throughout the series to that point, cherry-picked by the writers. It starred Henry Brandon, William Royle and Robert Kellard. It was directed by the serial team of William Witney and John English and is often considered one of the best serial films ever made.

Plot
Fu Manchu attempts to conquer the world by acquiring the sceptre of Genghis Khan, which will unite the people of Asia under his rule. Allan Parker allies himself with the traditional British literary nemeses of Fu Manchu, Sir Denis Nayland Smith and his associate, Dr. Flinders Petrie after his father is kidnapped and killed by Fu Manchu's dacoits.

Cast
Henry Brandon as Fu Manchu
William Royle as Sir Denis Nayland Smith
Robert Kellard as Allan Parker
Luana Walters as Mary Randolph
Olaf Hytten as Dr. Flinders Petrie
Gloria Franklin as Fah Lo Suee
Tom Chatterton as Professor Edward Randolph
John Merton as Loki
Dwight Frye as Professor Anderson
Lal Chand Mehra as Sirdar Prahni
Production
Drums of Fu Manchu was budgeted at $164,052 although the final negative cost was $166,312 (a $2,260, or 1.4%, overspend). It was the most expensive Republic serial of 1940, although this year was the first in which Republic's overall spending on serial production was less than in the previous year. Republic spent $597,528 producing serials in 1940 compared to $648,064 in 1939 (1939's total would not be beaten until the $782,204 of 1944). The studio produced four serials in each year, with the same mix of two 12-chapter serials and two 15-chapter serials.

The serial was filmed between December 22, 1939 and February 7, 1940, the longest filming period of any Republic serial. The serial's production number was 995.

Directors Witney and English, working with photographer William Nobles, stressed the elements of mystery in the plot over the usual action. Strong use of shadows was made with "the eeriest lighting possible falling upon Fu Manchu".

It was one of the very rare films made under the US Motion Picture Production Code to allow the villain to escape at the end. According to serial expert Alan Barbour, the Hays Office accepted the explanation that Fu Manchu always "got away" at the end of his novels to wreak further havoc in the next adventure, and Republic may well have been considering follow-ups.

RELASE:
Drums of Fu Manchu's official release date is March 15, 1940, although this is actually the date the seventh chapter was made available to film exchanges.[1]

A 69-minute feature film version of the same name was created by editing the serial footage together and released on November 27, 1943. The feature version had the working titles Fu Manchu and Fu Manchu Strikes. It was one of fourteen feature films Republic made from their serials.[1] This version changed the ending of the film. Fu Manchu's escape at the end is edited out and he dies in the final car crash instead. A similar change was made in the feature version of the Victory Pictures serial Shadow of Chinatown .[2]The nefarious Dr. Fu Manchu searches for the keys to the tomb of Genghis Khan, in order to fulfill a prophecy that will enable him to conquer the world, by acquiring the sceptre of Genghis Khan, which will unite the people of Asia under his rule.