The Fu Manchu Cycle Limited Edition from Indicator (10/19)

[DoghouseReilly46]

The Fu Manchu Cycle 1965-1969 Blu-ray

*Credit to Dawn of the Discs*

***NEW TITLE ANNOUNCEMENT***
Coming to Blu-ray 10/19 from Indicator !
The Fu Manchu Cycle Limited Edition Blu-ray! All with brand new 4K restorations from the camera negatives!
https://www.powerhousefilms.co.uk/…/...cle-196…
THE FACE OF FU MANCHU (Don Sharp, 1965)
THE BRIDES OF FU MANCHU (Don Sharp, 1966)
THE VENGEANCE OF FU MANCHU (Jeremy Summers, 1967)
THE BLOOD OF FU MANCHU (Jesús Franco, 1968)
THE CASTLE OF FU MANCHU (Jesús Franco, 1969)
Limited edition exclusive 120-page book with a new essay on the Fu Manchu cycle by Tim Lucas, a look at the career of producer/screenwriter Harry Alan Towers, an examination of the work of Fu Manchu creator Sax Rohmer, new writing on The Ghost of Monk’s Island and the Stoll Pictures’ Fu Manchu silent serials, archival newspaper articles on the films, extracts from the films’ pressbooks, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
Limited edition exclusive double-sided poster and five replica production stills

https://www.facebook.com/dawnofthedi...&__tn__=EEHH-R

[DukeTogo84]

Isn't this a UK release? Probably should be in the UK thread.

[drush9999]

They have big balls releasing this in the current climate as well

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by drush9999

They have big balls releasing this in the current climate as well

I think with most movie fans, if it's Christopher Lee it gets a pass no matter how offensive it might be.

[malcy30]

Am sure they will sell a lot now with the worry it could disappear in future.

The BBC who in the 70s and 80s regularly screened the first 3 films wouldn't dare show them today given the outcry that would create.

They have though been more recently on TalkingPicturesTV IIRC in the last few years.

[Aclea]

It includes the all important contextual documentary. Also the films, which are nowhere near as casually xenophobic as the novels, were surprisingly popular in Asia, the second and third even being Hong Kong co-productions. Lee often told the story of having to do his makeup on the Kowloon ferry and being complimented there one day by an elderly local who, on learning his surname, said "Oh, that explains it - you must be part Chinese."

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by Aclea

It includes the all important contextual documentary. Also the films, which are nowhere near as casually xenophobic as the novels, were surprisingly popular in Asia, the second and third even being Hong Kong co-productions. Lee often told the story of having to do his makeup on the Kowloon ferry and being complimented there one day by an elderly local who, on learning his surname, said "Oh, that explains it - you must be part Chinese."

I've read some of the original Sax Rohmer novels and lots of other pulp stories featuring Yellow Peril villains in opium dens from the 20s and 30s. Definitely racist by today's standards, but so entertaining at the same time.

[CompleteCount]

It's amazing that Sax Rohmer's family/estate allow these to come out at all.

Not that they are unduly offensive or shoddy (well, some of them...) but that they can be right willies with regard to leasing and granting approval.

Marvel used the character of Fu Manchu in their Master of Kung-Fu title, where they had him as the father of Shang-Chi, along with Fu's nemesis Nayland Smith and other characters. They had to do some major retconning when the licensing was yanked out from under them a decade later.

Now Marvel have about 10 years of stories they can't reprint or sell in any way as it's legally impossible for them to do so.

Good job they aren't as picky with the movie rights, but the Marvel books with the characters were a lot of fun!

[UnionJackMix]

Originally Posted by drush9999

They have big balls releasing this in the current climate as well

that is exactly what I thought. First I admired the set, all the write-up, then I thought that I could buy this, I have none of those movies and I love the look of those 60s movies, then I saw who's the star in them and thought, hmmm, I applaud them by ignoring the nth "issues" that run amok on social media.
Nice that they offer 10% discount on the website but as I'm not in dire need of this, I will wait for it to show up on amazon and pay a bit less, after all 6000 copies...are bound to take a while to sell out?

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I think with most movie fans, if it's Christopher Lee it gets a pass no matter how offensive it might be.

He's respectful in his performance even if this thing is frowned upon these days. Not hamming it up (well, he hams up other aspects, but not playing a different race) or putting on a ridiculous stereotyped accent.

While it wouldn't be done these days, I do think there is a "least offensive" form of this acting, and Lee as Fu Manchu falls into that. It helps that Lee doesn't look overly exaggerated or offensive in the make-up, whereas many other Caucasian actors look ridiculous made-up.

Athene Seyler in Passport to China/Visa to Canton falls squarely into the other! Poor dear.

I'm happy to be corrected on any of this is people feel otherwise. It's a very sensitive and I believe in open discussion being the best way forward on this awkward subject!

[Darby1985]

I think with Franco having quite a cult, Lee having a big fan base, this being a pretty popular franchise for those of a certain age and then general Indicator collectors...this'll sell better and faster than some seem to think.

As to the dated racism both in the stories and the yellowface - that's going to be explored in the extras, so the context will be there. It's not as though this is going to appeal to any young impressionable types!

I mean, Doctor Who's S14 bluray set sold out faster than any one of the sets ever even with the...problems...of it's Talons Of Weng Chiang. That still got a PG from the BBFC, yellowface, racist jokes and all. If "old" Doctor Who - which does have quite a lot of young fans as anyone who saw their Twitch Marathon will know - can release it's "yellow peril" eps in 2020 without too much fuss, this won't be an issue at all.

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by Darby1985

I mean, Doctor Who's S14 bluray set sold out faster than any one of the sets ever even with the...problems...of it's Talons Of Weng Chiang. That still got a PG from the BBFC, yellowface, racist jokes and all. If "old" Doctor Who - which does have quite a lot of young fans as anyone who saw their Twitch Marathon will know - can release it's "yellow peril" eps in 2020 without too much fuss, this won't be an issue at all.

Yeah, it's all about context. It helps that Talons is showing it from a historical perspective anyway in the script, even if this version of London never really existed. It's all discussed in the extras there as well in a featurette about Chinese communities in Limehouse, showing the version portrayed in the story to be a falsehood.

[Yaboi Miggs]

"Better dead than wed" - One of the greatest taglines of all time.

[moviegeek1992]

Originally Posted by UnionJackMix

that is exactly what I thought. First I admired the set, all the write-up, then I thought that I could buy this, I have none of those movies and I love the look of those 60s movies, then I saw who's the star in them and thought, hmmm, I applaud them by ignoring the nth "issues" that run amok on social media.
Nice that they offer 10% discount on the website but as I'm not in dire need of this, I will wait for it to show up on amazon and pay a bit less, after all 6000 copies...are bound to take a while to sell out?

Franco fans will help it sell out thanks to the new 4K transfers of those two movies.

[navydavey]

£50 on the indicator website seems a decent price too, I wonder if HMV or Amazon might undercut them?

Zavvi have it for £70 right now, of course its only just been announced so plenty of time to adjust

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by CompleteCount

It's amazing that Sax Rohmer's family/estate allow these to come out at all.

Not that they are unduly offensive or shoddy (well, some of them...) but that they can be right willies with regard to leasing and granting approval.

Marvel used the character of Fu Manchu in their Master of Kung-Fu title, where they had him as the father of Shang-Chi, along with Fu's nemesis Nayland Smith and other characters. They had to do some major retconning when the licensing was yanked out from under them a decade later.

Now Marvel have about 10 years of stories they can't reprint or sell in any way as it's legally impossible for them to do so.

Good job they aren't as picky with the movie rights, but the Marvel books with the characters were a lot of fun!

actually, that’s changed and they’ve been able to reprint it in some omnibuses. for the essentials, they just had to change the character name in some dialogue. but the same issue affected Conan for a long time (although they managed to do a Spider-Man/Red Sonja crossover), Transformers, Rom, 2001 and plenty of others that often interact with Marvel characters

[Freddofeet]

Amazon is £50

[malcy30]

Originally Posted by navydavey

£50 on the indicator website seems a decent price too, I wonder if HMV or Amazon might undercut them?

Zavvi have it for £70 right now, of course its only just been announced so plenty of time to adjust

£45 on the Indicator website using code BUNDLE. Valid for around a month until their next newsletter. Free tracked shipping in UK. Plus buying direct gives you an extra bonus free poster.

[navydavey]

Originally Posted by malcy30

£45 on the Indicator website using code BUNDLE. Valid for around a month until their next newsletter. Free tracked shipping in UK. Plus buying direct gives you an extra bonus free poster.

Very likely I’ll be ordering this tomorrow then

Thanks for the info

[UnionJackMix]

Originally Posted by Freddofeet

Amazon is £50

Please, tell me how one finds this on amazon.co.uk because no matter what I type nothing comes up but helmets! lolll