Sax Rohmer's The Castle of Fu Manchu (1969) - full transcript

This is Fu Manchu.

Once again, the world
is at my mercy.

I have conquered not only the mysteries
of the continent

But now of the oceans, too.

in the tropical waters
of the south Atlantic,

my hand stretches out
to turn water into ice,

And to transform safety
into the deadliest peril.

In a few moments,
the proof of my mastery will be complete.

Number three in.

Number four in.

Number five in.



All circuits complete.

There's no danger of overload.

What if the staff in the
powerhouse make a mistake?

Generate more energy
than we need?

That is impossible since fang
installed his safety lock.

when this lever reaches
the bottom of the groove,

We are at safety maximum.

it is necessary
to take the lever

and move it down
into the second groove

Before the auxiliary channels
will feed in.

Phase two coming in...

Now.

Aim... and steady.

The signal isn't
getting through.



Strengthen the signal. = no!

Do as I say! Strengthen it!

Morel

We still have the safety lock.

A little more.

A little more!

No! We cannot! = you will do it!

No, no, no!

Release that lock!
Release it and hold it!

I won't!

Lin tang, slide that lever over!

Slide it over and hold it!

A fraction more,
we need a fraction more, and we're through!

Take your places.

in a few moments,

the entire ship
will have vanished

Beneath the ocean's surface.

This is the destiny
of fu manchu.

Lin tang, follow me.

I've got a bite!

I've landed a real monster
this time!

This isn't loch ness, petrie.
Do you want a hand?

No, no, no, I-I can manage.
This is a trial of strength.

Bah, it's only a damn tiddler!

Bravo, petrie, you won!

After landing that monster,
you must be hungry.

Let's open the picnic basket.

yes, alright, I must say
this and the Scottish air,

Gives me an appetite.

Our good landlady's
a wee bit thrifty.

Hello? What's this?

Probably fresh
salmon sandwiches.

- Iceberg in the tropics?
- What did you say?

Listen.

"Liner strikes iceberg,
hundreds drown."

Good god! Where?
= in the Caribbean.

Icebergs in the Caribbean?
Paper's a week old.

Ah, something always happens
when you're on holiday.

Nayland Smith.

Petrie.

- Hello!
- Hello, curt.

I thought you'd gone to London?

Uh-huh.

Hello, Kessler,
what brings you here?

Telegram.

Looks rather urgent.

Mrs. McBride asked if I'd try and find you
before I caught the train.

Thank you, curt,
it was very kind of you to come.

Ah.

Fish aren't biting well today,
petrie, eh?

Everybody can't be
an izaac walton.

No, but, uh...

Well, it looks as though we may
be joining you on the London train.

Perhaps you'd be good enough
to ask Mrs. McBride to pack for us both.

Pack?

But we've got another week yet!

Holidays are over, petrie,
this is from the home secretary.

We're ordered back
to London at once.

Stand by
for an important message from fu manchu.

How long have these messages
been coming in, sir Robert?

For the past 24 hours.

At first, we didn't take them
very seriously, but now...

Is the wavelength
being monitored?

Yes, of course.

This is fu manchu.

in the Caribbean sea,

I gave a demonstration
of the new

And destructive weapon
I possess.

the world has two weeks
to decide

obedience to my orders,

Or...

Obliteration.

Communications, urgent.

if disaster is to be avoided,

I shall insist
on complete cooperation.

I shall give no further warning.

but unless the heads of state
of the major powers

are prepared to meet my demands,

in 14 days from now,

I shall strike.

Did you get a bearing?

1 see,

Fu manchu hasn't lost
his cunning.

he's used at least
four transmitters,

Impossible to trace.

He's threatened mankind
with obliteration.

It sounded almost... biblical.

That's one book in which
you won't find fu manchu's name.

I was thinking of the flood.

in some ways,
fu manchu's new weapon

Involves water
and its temperature.

to strike again,
he'd need to put himself

In a spot where he could control
great quantities of water.

Panama,

Gibraltar, Suez,

Or even Istanbul.

This water spreads out.

In search of the sun.

I have been sent by Omar pasha
to take you to him.

Good, we have no time to waste.

Master, I have brought the lady.

Om.

The persistent lady.

Greetings. Sit down, please.

You have received my message?

What have you to sell me?

Opium.

I have enough opium.

To control the trade
of half of the world.

You are starting to interest me.

You are one of the few with
a pass to the governor's castle.

yes,

the governor's castle

contains the biggest reserve
of opium in the east,

But the castle is well guarded.

How very interesting.

If you agree,
we will share the opium.

They will give me no more opium.

Explain to me your plans.

you will send your men
up the river bosphorus

to the governor
of anatolia's castle,

killing sentries
at the main gate,

leaving the way clear
for me and my men

To approach unseen.

I have a pass
to see the governor.

Open the gates!

The signal.

Come, it is safe
for us to approach.

Omar!

Omar?

Omar! Omar!

Omar! Guards! Guards!

- Lin tang.
- Yes, father.

Proceed, daughter.

You have fought well.

We are grateful to you
for opening the doors to us.

It was nothing.

We were able to approach unseen.

We are very happy to serve you.

Bring them to my father.

She fights like a man.

She is Omar pasha's favorite.
We must kill her.

- You may serve us yet.
- I serve only one master.

We shall see. Take her away.

Why do you keep her alive?
She is dangerous.

I have my reasons.

This will make
an excellent headquarters.

And Omar pasha?

The governor is still
in residence.

I shall announce that the castle
was attacked by bandits.

The attack failed.
The bandits were liquidated.

We have one week.

Continue checking every hour, report to me
anything unusual, anything at all.

Yes, sir.

- ah, petrie.
- I'm an idiot,

An imbecile,
and an incompetent dolt.

Did you come all the way to
Scotland yard to tell me that?

I'm terribly excited,
but I just found this.

It's been on my own bookshelf
all these years. Look.

Professor a.G. Heracles.

Mm-hmm, the world's
top authority.

well, I dare say, petrie,

but would you explain
why this book of yours

Has suddenly become
so important?

because his theory
may give us the clue

That we are desperately
searching for.

well, you see, he has a theory

that when the chemical properties
of ordinary water are such,

then they lend themselves
to transformation when, uh,

Tampered with.

and he goes on
to say here somewhere,

If I can find it...

Yes, here we are.

"water, if mixed with
the crystallized essence,

prepared by the methods,
which are not as yet practicable to man,

might dramatically change
its temperature

to a cold so intense,

As to be uncontrollable.”

there now, provided that you got sufficient
quantity of water, the pressure will build up,

which will eventually,
with the crystals,

Become, as he says,
uncontrollable.

but these crystals
of which he writes,

What will they be composed of?

Possibly a derivative of opium.

- Excuse me, sir denis.
- What is it?

From Istanbul, sir.

Attack on the headquarters
of the governor of anatolia.

They were all killed.

What about the Bible now,
petrie?

The hand of Providence.
=I don't understand.

Anatolia...

is the largest source of supply

In the world of the opium Poppy.

- By heavens, I was right!
- Perhaps.

but first of all,

I want to have a word
with your professor heracles.

I anticipated you'd try and get in touch
with heracles' university.

He's gone on a trip
to the middle east and Turkey.

Turkey?! The black sea!

Anatolia perhaps.

- Number four condenser.
- Yes, master.

The crystallization process
is too slow.

We must accelerate it.

Would be rather dangerous,
father.

There is no time
for further tests.

Number three condenser
is overheating.

No matter.

- Master, it is dangerous.
- Obey.

Master, number four!

Continue!

Father.

Turn off the power!

And now, professor heracles.

You will come to the laboratory.

No, no.

I am perfectly well aware
the condition of your heart, professor.

however,

I can keep you alive.

Not forever.

I'm growing weaker.

In spite of your drugs,
I'm going to die.

There are ways of persuasion.

I'm no use to you dead.

Within a week, perhaps before,
I shall be dead.

We shall see.

You are going to remain alive,
professor heracles.

I understand you consulted
a brilliant young specialist last year.

What was his hame?

Dr. curt Kessler.

he's in London,
but he would never help you,

Even to save my life.

Indeed.

Not even Kessler can save me.

Can't you understand?
My heart...

... Is dying.

There are other younger hearts
in the world.

Stronger hearts.

Yes. Yes, yes, yes, Mrs. ward.

No...

No, no, no, no, two pills
every night for a week.

Yes, yes.

Goodbye, Mrs. ward, goodbye.

Good afternoon, Dr. Kessler.

Yes, thank you,
thank you very much.

You don't have any more
patients, do you?

No.

Well, in that case,
let's call it a day.

I'm afraid I can't come yet,
um...

I'm expecting someone.

- Oh, someone important?
- Oh, yes.

one's a doctor I know slightly
from the home office,

And the other's
from Scotland yard.

So, they've found you out
at last?

Yes...

Right on time.

Ingrid, I sent miss laurels
home, would you...?

Of course.

Thank you, thank you very much.

Dr. Kessler?

Who?

Oh, yes, sir Charles!

No, no, no, ho, um...

No, I'm afraid I can't attend
the dinner tonight.

An important case, yes.

Yes, you'll understand.

Thank you.

Thank you very much. Goodbye.

We introduced ourselves.
Dr. Kessler, this is Dr. petrie.

Sir denis nayland Smith.
We're old friends.

We met on holiday.
We fished the same river.

- For the same fish.
- It's a one fish river.

um... Dr. Kessler,

We want some information
about professor heracles.

He is your patient, isn't he?

yes, patient and friend,

But he has a very severe
cardiac condition.

Has something happened to him?
Do you know where he is how?

He called me last week...
To tell me he's going to the continent.

What?

Oh, yes, some days ago,
I had a card... from Athens.

Look, I-I've got it here somewhere,
if I can just find it.

Ah, yes, here it is.

What the devil is he doing
so far from england?

He mentioned on the card
that he's moving on to Istanbul.

Istanbul?! What's he doing,
a circular trip?

Oh, Ingrid, uh...

Would you please tell them that I'm busy?
Yes, yes, don't worry.

I'll send them away.

Gentlemen, would you please
come this way into the surgery.

Yes, of course, old man.

No need to oblige.

I know nothing
about heracles' experiments.

But of one thing I'm sure.

he would want to,
to benefit mankind,

Not to destroy it.

Fu manchu is only interested
in destruction.

But what can we do to save
professor heracles?

I believe it's a question of
saving the world, Dr. Kessler.

So, we're going to Istanbul.

- Istanbul?
- Yes, that's right, as soon as we can.

Oh, then, if I may,
I will come with you.

- And maybe Ingrid, too.
- Good.

Thank you.

I wonder what's keeping Kessler.

Scotland yard, please, quickly.
= but what on earth...

Dr. Kessler would never leave
a cigarette burning

On a polished wood table.

Something must've
happened to him.

Hello, Scotland yard,
operations room, quickly.

Nayland Smith here.

Blech! It is no good!

But what about my money!
Come back!

Come back!

Can I buy you a drink,
general ahmet?

Uh, no thank you, melnik.

I have some news
for you, general.

That's your business, isn't it?

a seller of information

To the highest bidder.

I saw something interesting in
the cemetery, you know, general.

Your own gravestone, perhaps?
= mm=- mm.

An abduction.

Then report it
to the proper authorities.

- I'm off duty.
- Two abductions.

In two coffins.

I know you will be able
to follow without any trouble.

Goodbye, melnik.

Only 2,000 cash, that's...
Lieutenant, sir.

Go away.

1,000

- 500!
- Ugh, go.

Goodbye, sergeant.

Ugh.

The boat approaches!

The boat approaches!

Master!

Lin tang arrives
with the prisoners.

Very well.

Come back here!

Where are you going?

I must see your master.

Get out of here!

Bring him here.

I bring you
valuable information.

$1,000 is all I'm asking.

Start talking then,
but it better be good.

Lin tang was here today
in Istanbul.

She took two prisoners
away with her.

- Prisoners?
- Yes, yes.

'Course I do not know who,
but, uh, I know which...

Which way they went.

Well...?

the same road Lisa took, master,

to the other side,

To bosphorus.

To anatolia. = yes.

Ahmet.

Reward him.

Kessler!

Ingrid!

Professor heracles.

Where are we”?

anatolia,

Near the bosphorus.

It's incredible.

Who were those people?

You were kidnapped...

Dby the men of fu manchu.

Fu ma...

I...

Can't move.

I feel I'm paralyzed.

You'll be alright
in a few minutes.

They used my...
Crystals against you.

But in a small dose.

Professor!

inspector ahmet,

Your headquarters told me
to expect you here.

An honor, sir.

But I'm afraid
that I've bad news.

What is the bad news, inspector?

the bandits, uh,
who attacked the castle were

Omar pasha's men.

Omar pasha?

- He controls the opium trade.
- Opium?!

an informer called melnik,

appeared this morning, killed,

In the street in front
of the commissary.

his last visit yesterday

Was to Omar pasha's coffee shop.

Poor melnik.

I should have listened to him.

- Why?
- Omar pasha has vanished.

we have had a report

that he has gone to anatolia
to rescue the girl, Lisa,

and has camped
opposite the castle

On the other side
of the river bosphorus.

Come on!

All is clear, master.

Now for the castle.

Of fu manchu.

Bring forth the two prisoners.

Dr. Kessler and Dr. Ingrid koch.

Yes, father, the guards
are bringing them.

I have brought you here
to save the life of someone

whose knowledge I require
as a thirsty man needs water,

Crystal clear water,
Dr. Kessler.

The name of the person
to whom I refer...

I1s professor... heracles.

- He is dying.
- Oh, professor...

You will use your skill, doctor.
You will make him live.

I am not a miracle worker.

besides, you took
everything away,

Except my hands.

On the contrary, Dr. Kessler.

You will find everything here
that you require.

I don't understand.

What's wrong with that man?

there is nothing wrong
with him, doctor,

He is in perfect
physical condition.

And unlike professor heracles,
his heart is as sound as a bell.

do you not agree, doctor,
that professor heracles

Should have that splendid heart?

A heart transplant?

But that man
is not dead or dying.

he is drugged. He will die,

For the sake of science.

And for your sake also.

I need heracles
to complete my plans.

I need him alive,
conscious, coherent.

Therefore, you will operate.

And if I refuse, hm?

Then Dr. Ingrid koch will die
an extremely painful death.

No!

The choice is yours,
Dr. Kessler.

in order to convince you,

I shall arrange a demonstration.

Dr. Kessler,

down there is the
great olmos dam,

Holding many hundreds of
thousands of gallons of water.

in a few moments,

Some of our men will drop
a crystal into the water.

I don't understand.

Dr. Kessler,
if you look to your left,

You will see workmen
repairing the dam.

the workmen refused to cooperate

When ordered to carry supplies
up the mountain.

therefore,

I am displeased.

as you can see, Dr. Kessler,

My men are now carrying out
their work to my satisfaction.

at the same time, I trust

They are providing you...

With a convincing display
of my power.

You can't do it.

You can't!

No! No, stop!

No!

No!

Run! Run for your life!

Complete annihilation.

Even nayland Smith cannot
touch you now, father.

I wish that he would try.

This is Asia.

anatolia

I must leave you gentlemen.

Thank you, inspector,
for all your help.

I'm sorry, petrie,
but this is where we part.

- But I can't let you go alone.
- It's better that way.

You can be of more use
to me in Istanbul.

How?

I want you to telegraph
the home secretary's office in London.

Use the standard code. Alright.

Tell him that I intend to try
to get into fu manchu's castle.

But how do you know that
fu manchu captured the castle?

Besides, we have nothing
but guesswork to go on.

I have something here which
may change your mind, doctor.

This was found
on a dead man nearby.

Still guesswork, petrie?

Dacoit's headscarf.

- Goodbye, petrie!
- Good luck!

Curt, you mustn't do this.

a doctor can't say no

To saving a life.

I know that,
but you cannot do this if,

by saving
professor heracles' life,

You are helping this murderer
in his plans.

do you believe that fu manchu
will let heracles live

After he's used him?

I don't know.

But we have to try everything.

And nobody before tried to...
To do such an... an operation.

Do you...

Do you think you can do it?

yes,

Yes, I know we can do it.

I hope.

Are you sure...

You're not doing
all this for me?

Just to save my life?

And ifitis so?

We have not a chance.

in this moment,

You are the only person
who matters to me.

Come, please.

A further warning to humanity.

if the governments of all the
nations do not accept my terms,

in four days' time,

I will bring desolation

To mankind.

Master, the spy
you sent is back.

Did you get close to the castle?

Yes, master.

Well then, speak.

There are 15...
Men guarding the castle.

Yes? And what else did you see?

Master...

The girl, Lisa...

Still lives.

She's fu manchu's prisoner...

She's to die in two days...

When fu manchu's...

Work is done.

You've done well.

The dacoit's headband.

Bury this man with honor.

Don't move, you fools.

Tell your men to drop
their arms quickly!

Don't move, any of you.

I am Omar pasha.

And I'm nayland Smith
of Scotland yard.

I thought I could smell
a policeman.

It seems that for once you and I
could be on the same side.

I, too, seek fu manchu.

You have done well, Dr. Kessler.

His recovery will take
a long time.

We cannot afford to wait
for complete recovery.

as soon as he regains
consciousness,

He will be made to talk.

And if heracles refuses?

Need I remind you, doctor,
that he has no alternative.

And if I refuse
to help you any further?

Then you will sign
this lady's death warrant.

Your help during the operation
was invaluable.

We have no further use for you.

No!

look after your patient, doctor,

And watch him well.

Curt!

Father.

The guards have caught a spy,
Omar pasha.

- alone?
- Yes, and unarmed,

As if he invited capture.

Have the girl, Lisa,
brought to me.

Yes, father.

Who are you?

Lisa.

Did they do that to you?

Is this the way...

To treat a stranger
in your house?

You are no stranger to me,
Omar pasha.

But I never thought you
to be a fool.

Fools do not trade...

With hives.

give her back to me,

And I will give you
the head of your enemy.

Enemy?

Nayland Smith.

Release him.

my men are camped in the hills,

on the other side
of the bosphorus,

overlooking this castle,

Nayland Smith is their prisoner.

I want this woman.

She belongs to me.

you shall have her,

Provided that you give me
nayland Smith.

You have my word.

Then you shall remain my guest.

For how long?

That, I shall decide.

The girl!

Let her go, she cannot escape.

Take him to the laboratory.

You are an obstinate man.

how highly do you
value your life

Compared with that
of nayland Smith?

Try me.

The entrance to eternity.

beyond that door,
there is a tunnel

Which leads directly to the sea.

Cisterns of water
are poised above it.

the touch of a lever will release hundreds
of thousands of gallons of water

into that tunnel,

and combined with
professor heracles' crystals,

this can transform
the entire sea

Into one gigantic block of ice.

Come now.

Where is nayland Smith?

if you'll free me

and Lisa.

When we find her.

my men are camped

in the pass,
four kilometers from here,

On the other side
of the bosphorus.

Nayland Smith is with them.

He's awake.

How're you feeling now?

I feel nothing, but I am alive.

You wish to remain alive,
professor?

You will see that he stays conscious
for a few more minutes.

Father, the attack
was successful.

Omar pasha"s men
were all destroyed.

And nayland Smith?

Dead. This man saw him killed.

I shall broadcast at midnight.

- And heracles?
- He will talk.

You have explained to him the
information I require from him?

Yes, of course.

Your task is now completed,
Dr. Kessler.

The formula, professor.

No.

Very well.

It's hot in here.

Then take your clothes off.

A gentleman never takes
his clothes off in public!

Ah.

Bring us some coffee,
you lazy good for nothing.

What on earth...

No filters?

This is my ultimatum.

within the next few hours,

the bosphorus
and the city of Istanbul

Will be destroyed.

It's not true.

It can't be true!

- Dr. petrie.
- The powers of the world...

- calm yourself.
- Have relied upon one man,

Nayland Smith.

Nayland Smith is dead.

Master.

The formula.

with this,
I can control all things

And all men.

The bosphorus.

Flash the signal.

Bad dreams”?

The worst dreams
are better than reality.

Why?

you think that, maybe,
without this awful adventure,

We would never have realized
that we were in love.

I've known it for a long time.

I didn't see it.

I didn't want you to see it.

I didn't want to distract you
from your work,

your experiments,
your investigations,

Which were all so much more
important than me.

You did exactly right, Ingrid.

thanks to those many hours
of hard work

during the
professor's operation,

I managed to gain access
to some acid,

Which I can now use
against fu manchu.

Keep quiet, I shan't hurt you.

I'm from the police,
Scotland yard.

Fu manchu intends
to destroy Istanbul!

Please!
Is there a radio transmitter?

Yes, I can guide you. Follow me.

Father!

Father!

Dr. Kessler and the girl,
they have escaped.

The have reached the tunnel.

Excellent.

and when the crystals
are released into the tunnel,

They will die.

I think I've managed to break through
to the London frequency.

We're through!

this is nayland Smith,

Speaking from
fu manchu's headquarters.

Send a warning to the bosphorus.

Nayland Smith.

Nayland Smith.

Come on!

Look!

Quick! Through the door!

The professor.

Come on, professor,
we must get out of here.

Go on!

They have taken heracles.
= come.

Flood the tunnels!

Ingrid, Ingrid, don't give up.

Ingrid, quick. We must go on!

Omar! I must go back for Omar!

Come back! Come back!
= Omar! Omar!

Omar!

Omar!

Omar, where are you?

Omar!

Where are you?

Omar!

Omar!

Omar!

Omar...

Omar!

Kessler must've got through,
the systems are bursting.

Father.

Father!

Hey, Kessler, Kessler!

Ingrid! I-I'm coming how
as fast as I can push.

I'm doing the best I can!
Hang on!

It's petrie, Ingrid!

I... really am doing my best.

The world shall hear from me again.

The world shall hear from me again.