08-24-2019, 01:14 PM
Author Sax Rhomer invented the evil Dr. Fu Manchu in 1911. Fu Manchu went on to become one of the most iconic "super villains" in history. The character appeared in dozens of books, movies, comic strips, and radio and television shows. He even had a moustache named after him.
I recently read the original "The Mystery of Dr. Fu Manchu". The format is almost identical to the Sherlock Holmes series with the bumbling Dr. Petrie narrating (and taking part in) the exploits of British colonial police commissioner Nayland Smith as he pursues the evil genius. At that time the west feared the "Yellow Peril", and idea that Orientals were an evil, drug crazed (opium) horde of criminals. The Fu Manchu books are shockingly racists in their attitudes toward the Chinese. They are depicted as heartless criminals capable of unspeakable acts against white people.
The Fu Manchu books and moves were very popular but first had a problem with their racist content in 1940 when China was an ally of the United States in WWII. The State Department objected to any new Fu Manchu films or radio shows being produced and Doubleday stopped publishing the best selling series for the duration of the war. After the war there were more movies and books up through the 1950's, but many of these tended to be satirical or comical. After the series of films in the 1960's featuring Chistopher Lee there have been no more serious productions with Fu Manchu. The 1990's comic book series "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" featured a Fu Manchu character but he was just called "The Doctor".
I recently read the original "The Mystery of Dr. Fu Manchu". The format is almost identical to the Sherlock Holmes series with the bumbling Dr. Petrie narrating (and taking part in) the exploits of British colonial police commissioner Nayland Smith as he pursues the evil genius. At that time the west feared the "Yellow Peril", and idea that Orientals were an evil, drug crazed (opium) horde of criminals. The Fu Manchu books are shockingly racists in their attitudes toward the Chinese. They are depicted as heartless criminals capable of unspeakable acts against white people.
The Fu Manchu books and moves were very popular but first had a problem with their racist content in 1940 when China was an ally of the United States in WWII. The State Department objected to any new Fu Manchu films or radio shows being produced and Doubleday stopped publishing the best selling series for the duration of the war. After the war there were more movies and books up through the 1950's, but many of these tended to be satirical or comical. After the series of films in the 1960's featuring Chistopher Lee there have been no more serious productions with Fu Manchu. The 1990's comic book series "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" featured a Fu Manchu character but he was just called "The Doctor".
