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ERA
Did you know
57 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
The Castle of Fu Manchu
1969 1h 32m EN
💀
3.6
SKIP
★3.6TMDB · 56
CrimeAdventureHorror
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
The evil mastermind Fu Manchu plots his latest scheme to basically freeze over the Earth's oceans with his diabolical new device. Opposing him is his arch-nemesis, Interpol's very British Nayland Smith.
“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”
Where to watch · US
Cast
Christopher Lee
Dr. Fu Man Chu
Richard Greene
Nayland Smith
Howard Marion-Crawford
Dr. Petrie
Tsai Chin
Lin Tang
Günther Stoll
Curt
Rosalba Neri
Lisa
Maria Perschy
Marie
José Manuel Martín
Omar Pashu
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Jesús Franco
- Writers
- Harry Alan Towers, Manfred Barthel
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
International production across 6 countries: Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
CINEMA
Did you know
Part of the "Fu Manchu (Christopher Lee) Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Jesús Franco, shot by Manuel Merino. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor John Colville shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Christopher Lee and Richard Greene and Howard Marion-Crawford carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0064338 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
Only 56 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Jesús Franco directs. Manuel Merino behind the camera. John Colville cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 157 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
- 2International production across 6 countries: Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom.
- 3Part of the "Fu Manchu (Christopher Lee) Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
- 4Directed by Jesús Franco, shot by Manuel Merino. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Editor John Colville shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 6Christopher Lee and Richard Greene and Howard Marion-Crawford carry the top of the cast.
- 7IMDB entry: tt0064338 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 8Only 56 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Manuel Merino
- Editing
- John Colville
- Costume design
- Berenice Sparano
- Makeup / hair
- Peter Jonas
- Runtime
- 92 min · 1h 32m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- PG
Part of
Fu Manchu (Christopher Lee) Collection
Five films from the 1960s, starring Christopher Lee as the defeated Chinese super villain Dr. Fu Manchu.
Also by
Jesús Franco
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
Balcázar
ES
Italian International Film
IT
- TI
Tilma Films
- TE
Terra-Filmkunst
DE
- TO
Towers of London Productions
GB
Taurus Film
DE
Constantin Film
DE
Key crew
- MusicCarlos Camilleri
- Makeup ArtistPeter Jonas
- DialogueJaime Jesús Balcázar
- MusicMalcomb Shelby
- Costume DesignBerenice Sparano
- HairstylistVicenta Salvadó
- DialogueMichael Haller
- ProducerHarry Alan Towers
- EditorJohn Colville
- NovelSax Rohmer
- ProducerJaime Jesús Balcázar
- Makeup ArtistAdrián Jaramillo
- Co-Art DirectorSantiago Ontañón
- Makeup ArtistAscensión Hernández
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- opium
- iceberg
- ocean liner
- secret formula
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1972-01-01PG
Also known as
International titles
- Sax Rohmer's The Castle of Fu ManchuUS
- Fu Manchu's CastleUS
- The Torture Chamber of Fu ManchuUS
- Assignment IstanbulUS
- Il castello di Fu ManchuIT
- Zamek Fu ManchuPL
- Die Folterkammer des Dr. Fu Man ChuDE
