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Chandu the Magician

  • 1932
  • Approved
  • 1h 11m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
Bela Lugosi, Edmund Lowe, and Irene Ware in Chandu the Magician (1932)
SuperheroActionAdventureComedyFantasyHorrorSci-Fi

When delusional madman Roxor kidnaps a scientist in hopes of using his death ray to achieve world dominance, he is opposed by Chandu, a powerful hypnotist and yogi.When delusional madman Roxor kidnaps a scientist in hopes of using his death ray to achieve world dominance, he is opposed by Chandu, a powerful hypnotist and yogi.When delusional madman Roxor kidnaps a scientist in hopes of using his death ray to achieve world dominance, he is opposed by Chandu, a powerful hypnotist and yogi.

  • Directors
    • William Cameron Menzies
    • Marcel Varnel
  • Writers
    • Barry Conners
    • Philip Klein
    • Harry A. Earnshaw
  • Stars
    • Edmund Lowe
    • Irene Ware
    • Bela Lugosi
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    1.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • William Cameron Menzies
      • Marcel Varnel
    • Writers
      • Barry Conners
      • Philip Klein
      • Harry A. Earnshaw
    • Stars
      • Edmund Lowe
      • Irene Ware
      • Bela Lugosi
    • 32User reviews
    • 38Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos15

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    Top cast15

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    Edmund Lowe
    Edmund Lowe
    • Chandu…
    Irene Ware
    Irene Ware
    • Princess Nadji
    Bela Lugosi
    Bela Lugosi
    • Roxor
    Herbert Mundin
    Herbert Mundin
    • Albert Miggles
    Henry B. Walthall
    Henry B. Walthall
    • Robert Regent
    Weldon Heyburn
    Weldon Heyburn
    • Abdulah
    June Lang
    June Lang
    • Betty Lou Regent
    • (as June Vlasek)
    Michael Stuart
    • Bobby Regent
    • (as Nestor Aber)
    Virginia Hammond
    Virginia Hammond
    • Dorothy Regent
    Nigel De Brulier
    Nigel De Brulier
    • Yogi Teacher
    • (uncredited)
    Jimmy Dime
    Jimmy Dime
    • One of Roxor's Henchmen
    • (uncredited)
    John George
    John George
    • Bidder at Slave Market
    • (uncredited)
    Constantine Romanoff
    Constantine Romanoff
    • One of Roxor's Henchmen
    • (uncredited)
    Charles Stevens
    Charles Stevens
    • Ali
    • (uncredited)
    Dick Sutherland
    Dick Sutherland
    • Bidder at Slave Market
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • William Cameron Menzies
      • Marcel Varnel
    • Writers
      • Barry Conners
      • Philip Klein
      • Harry A. Earnshaw
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews32

    6.21.2K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    8henrysarki99

    My first movie about magics ...

    Sixty or more years ago, I saw this movie in Tehran, Iran. I was about ten at that time and there was a huge poster of the movie in the bicycle shop where I took my bike for repairs. The whole poster was the face of Chandu the Magician with his hands and opened fingers in front of him. I was mesmerized by the supernatural powers of that magician, who could make the audience see things that were not there. It was the first movie I fell in love with, but they didn't show the sequels which I now see on this website had been produced. I was waiting in such earnest to see more of my favorite hero. They were innocent times....
    9dbborroughs

    Grand Mystical Adventure

    Based upon the radio show of the same name this film is the story of Chandu,, real name Frank Chandler, a white man taught the secrets of the yogis. Chandler has been set loose to save his family who has been put into peril by the evil Roxor, played by Bela Lugosi (who not long after would play Chandu himself in a movie serial).

    Containing more action than most serials this is a true popcorn movie that moves pretty much from start to finish. There are dangers aplenty as Chandu struggles to save the world.

    The film is near perfect, but suffers from a couple of small flaws. The first is the over use of the small man that Biggles sees each time he drinks. Chandu enchants Biggles to prevent him from drinking and its used a couple of time too many. The second is that toward the end the effects look weak. The underwater sequence is terrible, and the use of rear screen as people flee the temple is awful.

    Still this is a movie to sit down with a big bucket of popcorn and enjoy.

    9 out of 10.
    Bucs1960

    Mystical Goings On

    What fun! This is a dandy film of its type.......so corny and the typical early 30s serial type cliffhanger with lots of dashing around, ridiculous plot and narrow escapes. The settings with the Egyptian flavor are simply silly and fake but the special effects are not as bad as you might expect for an early film.

    Edmund Lowe doesn't seem quite right for the part of Chandu.....I would have pictured someone with a little more exotic look to add just a hint of mystery. Ricardo Cortez or Nils Asther, although supporting players, may have been able to pull it off; however, Lowe does a serviceable job. Of course Lugosi went on to play the part later but appears here as the arch-villain who is bent on conquering the world with a death ray stolen from Chandu's brother-in-law. As usual he is over the top which is just what the film needs....a maniacal bad guy with visions of grandeur. He is all ham but of course this was his stock in trade and he pulls out all the stops.

    Herbert Mundin is on hand for a little humor which probably wasn't necessary but he is such a great character actor that you aren't too put off by it. If you like Mundin, see "Cavalcade", in which he really gets a chance to show his acting ability which is not all comedic.

    If you like films that are camp, don't require you to think too much or try to figure out character's motivations, this is the one for you. Its fast, fun and so dumb that you love it. Great for a rainy Saturday afternoon at the matinée.
    6AlsExGal

    Curses, foiled again! ...

    ... I almost expect somebody in this film to say those tired old lines. This is one of the few precode Fox films that has managed to survive. So many were lost to vault fires or just nitrate deterioration from neglect. Odd how this obscurity survived and is on DVD even!

    Chandu (Edmund Lowe) is a magician who seems to just be "graduating" as the film begins with a ceremony full of mumbo jumbo that I cannot make sense of even when I rewind and replay it several times. Chandu finds out that his brother-in-law, who was working on a death ray invention, has been kidnapped by Roxor (Bela Lugosi), and so he rushes to his sister's side to protect her and her daughter and try to save his brother-in-law before Roxor can learn the secret of the death ray. And what does Roxor want? Power? RIches? Fame? no he wants to destroy society so mankind will revert to beasts and he can be the smartest guy in the world. Weird. I guess this is what happens when a sociopath is forced to wear a dunce cap as a kid.

    If this sounds like something out of silent film, that is how it plays out too. The romance scenes, the action scenes, everything plays out with silent film technique in direction and acting. I generally really like Edmund Lowe and his roles, so I have to lay this at the feet of the director. I could take this in stride in 1929 and 1930 during the transition to sound, but that time is long over.

    Probably the most tiresome character, though, is Albert, Chandu's loyal companion. He is cowardly, a drunk, and always having to be rescued by Chandu even though saving Albert from himself is NOT his primary mission. Prohibition was still in force, so maybe all of these unfunny drunks I encounter in these Prohibition era films are supposed to be knocks at an unpopular law. But today, it's just not funny.

    Mildly recommended for fans of Edmund Lowe and Bela Lugosi.
    Michael_Elliott

    Poor

    Chandu the Magician (1932)

    * 1/2 (out of 4)

    Chandu (Edmund Lowe) must stop a madman (Bela Lugosi) from blowing up the world with his death ray. Action, horror and fantasy elements are scattered throughout this film but none of those elements ever come together to make a very interesting movie. There's non-stop action but it's all rather boring, although a few of the magic tricks are nice. Lugosi is good in his role but the character never really gets to do too much. Lowe is downright boring as Chandu and this hurts the film a lot. The serial/sequel The Return of Chandu has Lugosi playing Chandu and is a lot more entertaining.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This movie was based on "Chandu the Magician," a radio show that was airing at the time. Chandu was the basis for many of the later magician characters, including DC's Sandor the Mystic and Marvel Comics's Dr. Strange.
    • Goofs
      During the scene where Chandu sneaks into the slave auction by luring the guard away with an astral projection. The guard chases the illusion, corner it, only to see it disappear before him. Shot over his shoulder we see him raise his hands in amazement and drop his rifle. There is a cut and the new angle shows the guard from the front with a look of stupefaction on his face - but still holding the gun.
    • Quotes

      Yogi Teacher: Thou has done well, my son. To few, indeed, of thy race have the secrets of the yogi been revealed.

      Chandu - aka Frank Chandler: To you, my teacher, I express my thanks. What more can I learn?

      Yogi Teacher: Nothing now. The world needs thee. Go forth in the youth and strength and conquer the evil that threatens Mankind.

    • Crazy credits
      A magician's hand waves the opening credits on and off the screen.
    • Connections
      Featured in Masters of Magic: The World of ''Chandu'' (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      How Dry I Am
      (uncredited)

      Music by Arthur Fields

      Lyrics by Fred Hall

      In the score when Miggles is about to take a drink

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    FAQ14

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 18, 1932 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Čandu, gospodar sveta
    • Production company
      • Fox Film Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $349,456 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 11 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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