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Chandu, the Magician

Play trailer Poster for Chandu, the Magician 1932 1h 14m Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 42% Popcornmeter 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.

Critics Reviews

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Matt Brunson Creative Loafing 09/17/2016
2/4
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. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 07/22/2011
C+
This silly fantasy sci-fi adventure film is based on a popular radio serial. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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06/19/2016 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. See more bill t @Spuzz 09/19/2015 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. See more 07/18/2015 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 See more 01/08/2015 A certain precursor to the Indiana Jones films! See more 07/11/2014 ok pre-code actioner See more 08/20/2013 Watchable fantasy thriller with Bela Lugosi as an evil scientist developing a death ray and Edmund Lowe as the titular Chandu trying to stop him. See more Read all reviews
Chandu, the Magician

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Cast & Crew

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William Cameron Menzies

Director

Marcel Varnel

Director

Edmund Lowe

Chandu

Bela Lugosi

Roxor

Irene Ware

Princess Nadji

Herbert Mundin

Albert Miggles
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Chandu, the Magician

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