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      Chandu, the Magician

      1932 1h 14m Sci-Fi List
      Reviews 42% Audience Score 100+ Ratings Having mastered teleportation and other mystical powers after studying with Indian yogis for three years, Frank Chandler (Edmund Lowe) returns home. Frank hopes he won't have to use his talents, but his hand is forced when his sister Dorothy's (Virginia Hammond) inventor husband, Robert (Henry B. Walthall), is kidnapped by the evil Roxor (Bela Lugosi). The villainous mastermind wants to use Robert's new creation, a death ray, to cause widespread destruction, and only Frank can stop him. Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

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      Matt Brunson Creative Loafing This programmer benefits from solid production values -- it was shot by the legendary James Wong Howe and co-directed (with Marcel Varnel) by renowned art director William Cameron Menzies -- but the story and acting are strictly amateur hour. Rated: 2/4 Sep 17, 2016 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews This silly fantasy sci-fi adventure film is based on a popular radio serial. Rated: C+ Jul 22, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      kevin w Did you believe that the 1960s Batman teevee series was the first to satirise the hero/adventure format? From the days when people believed that one could learn potent magic in the Far East comes Chandu, with the power to cloud mens' minds (just like The Shadow!). Mostly hokey (like the Batman teevee series!) this effort gains steam when Bela Lugosi is onscreen. The ending's okay too, though much of this is groan worthy. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Fantastic fun and prime, sexy Lugosi in a lavish well produce non-horror film. Much better than you might expect. Raiders of the Lost Ark for the 1930's. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review bill t Plenty ridiculous movie featuring Edmund Lowe as Chandu, a magician of undetermined eastern ethnicity fighting Roxor, a bad guy again of undetermined eastern ethnicity (but sounding a lot Hungarian) who wants to get his hands on a "death ray". Lots of cool special effects for 1932. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Chandu The Magician is a lively tale full of special effects that were the state of the art for its day. It also features Bela Lugosi at his evil best, delivering an over-the-top villain that drives the story, and the need for the many wonders performed by Edmund Lowe's Chandu. Almost every photographic technique of the industry was employed in this film, and is, in that respect, one of the few films of the time comparable to King Kong (released the following year). It is also a Pre-Code film, with a special treat showing a cute blond being pawed and disrobed on a slave block for a horde of Middle Eastern merchants. I strongly recommend this film. - Ralph Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A certain precursor to the Indiana Jones films! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member ok pre-code actioner Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Chandu, the Magician

      Chandu, the Magician (1932) Chandu, the Magician (1932) Chandu, the Magician (1932) Chandu, the Magician (1932) Chandu, the Magician (1932) View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Having mastered teleportation and other mystical powers after studying with Indian yogis for three years, Frank Chandler (Edmund Lowe) returns home. Frank hopes he won't have to use his talents, but his hand is forced when his sister Dorothy's (Virginia Hammond) inventor husband, Robert (Henry B. Walthall), is kidnapped by the evil Roxor (Bela Lugosi). The villainous mastermind wants to use Robert's new creation, a death ray, to cause widespread destruction, and only Frank can stop him.
      Director
      William Cameron Menzies, Marcel Varnel
      Genre
      Sci-Fi
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (DVD)
      Sep 9, 2008
      Runtime
      1h 14m