THE RETURN OF CHANDU (1934) Bela Lugosi, Maria Alba & Clara Kimball Young | Adventure, Fantasy | B&W

The Return of Chandu is a 1934 American 12-episode fantasy film serial based on the radio series Chandu the Magician. It was produced by Sol Lesser and directed by Ray Taylor, and starred Béla Lugosi as Frank Chandler (aka Chandu the Magician). The serial was originally released to be booked by theaters in any one of three ways: as a conventional serial of twelve weekly chapters of equal running times; as a 60-minute feature film comprising the first four episodes, to be followed by the remaining 8 episodes in weekly serial format; or as a stand-alone feature comprising the first four chapters (the fourth episode ending not with a cliffhanger, but with an apparent resolution to the story). In 1935, the remaining 8 episodes of the serial were also edited into a second feature film, of 65 minute length, released as Chandu on the Magic Island. This serial marked one of the few times that Lugosi played a protagonist rather than an antagonist: in fact, Lugosi had played Roxor, the main villain, in the 1932 film Chandu the Magician.

SYNOPSIS
The cult of Ubasti, headquartered on the isle of Lemuria, believes that Princess Nadji of Egypt is a reincarnation of their long-dead goddess, Ossana, and intend to sacrifice her so that Ossana may be resurrected.

CAST & CREW
Béla Lugosi as Frank Chandler, aka Chandu the Magician
Maria Alba as Princess Nadji
Clara Kimball Young as Dorothy Regent
Dean Benton as Bob Regent
Phyllis Ludwig as Betty Regent
Lucien Prival as Vindhyan [Chs. 1-4]
Cyril Armbrister as Henchman Sutra [Chs.1-4]
Murdock MacQuarrie as The "Voice" of Ubasti [Chs. 4-12]
Wilfred Lucas as Capt. Wilson [Chs. 4-12]
Jack J. Clark as Vitras, High Priest of Ubasti [Chs. 4-12]

Directed by Ray Taylor
Written by Barry Barringer (adaptation), Harry A. Earnshaw (radio show), R.R. Morgan (radio show), Vera M. Oldham (radio show)
Produced by Sol Lesser
Cinematography John Hickson
Edited by Carl Himm, Louis Sackin
Production company Sol Lesser Productions
Distributed by Principal Distributing Corp.
Release date October 1, 1934
Running time 65 minutes (theatrical version)
Country United States
Language English

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