Although largely forgotten today, "Chandu the Magician" was the subject of a very popular radio series. In fact, it was among the longest-running radio shows, lasting from 1931 until 1950. It was so popular that, in 1932, Fox adapted it into a feature motion picture. The result is the sort of Saturday matinée action-adventure picture that Steven Spielberg and George Lucas spent a fortune trying to emulate when they produced "Raiders of the Lost Ark" in 1981, nearly half a century later.
Like "The Shadow", a character who appeared a little later,"Chandu is an American who has mastered the "Mysticism of The East", and uses that knowledge to fight evil and crime. However, in the case of "Chandu the Magician", the action is set not in America but Egypt, a circumstance which also makes it appear somewhat more similar to "Raiders of the Lost Ark".
There are two outstanding aspects to "Chandu the Magician" that make it still worth seeing. One is the very impressive (for 1932) art direction and special effects created by the legendary William Cameron Menzies, who was billed as co-director. When one considers the limited budget and time available to the production, and the lack of modern-day technology, what Menzies achieved in "Chandu the Magician" remains impressive even today.
The other is the equally-impressive work by the equally-legendary Bela Lugosi as the villain, "Roxor". The rest of the cast may appear somewhat wooden or melodramatic, Bela leaves no scenery un-chewed and no scene un-stolen. When one is casting a villain who is attempting no less then the conquest of the entire world, it is always best to eschew subtle, method-type of actor, and go for someone who knows how to really go over the top. That is exactly what Bela Lugosi does here, and with plenty extra to spare.
Like "The Shadow", a character who appeared a little later,"Chandu is an American who has mastered the "Mysticism of The East", and uses that knowledge to fight evil and crime. However, in the case of "Chandu the Magician", the action is set not in America but Egypt, a circumstance which also makes it appear somewhat more similar to "Raiders of the Lost Ark".
There are two outstanding aspects to "Chandu the Magician" that make it still worth seeing. One is the very impressive (for 1932) art direction and special effects created by the legendary William Cameron Menzies, who was billed as co-director. When one considers the limited budget and time available to the production, and the lack of modern-day technology, what Menzies achieved in "Chandu the Magician" remains impressive even today.
The other is the equally-impressive work by the equally-legendary Bela Lugosi as the villain, "Roxor". The rest of the cast may appear somewhat wooden or melodramatic, Bela leaves no scenery un-chewed and no scene un-stolen. When one is casting a villain who is attempting no less then the conquest of the entire world, it is always best to eschew subtle, method-type of actor, and go for someone who knows how to really go over the top. That is exactly what Bela Lugosi does here, and with plenty extra to spare.