Date Posted:01:21:42 03/01/09 Sun Author: Tim Subject: Re: Chandu the Magician 1932 Mini-Review In reply to:
Officer Torch
's message, "Chandu the Magician 1932 Mini-Review" on 11:44:48 02/28/09 Sat
A nice review, Officer Torch, and I agree with your thumbs up rating of this seldom seen oldie. It's not a five star classic, but is an enjoyable effort from the early talkie era.
Edmund Lowe's suave manner made him the perfect candidate to play Inspector Dyke in Bombay Mail (1934) and the dual role in The Great Impersonation (1935), and perhaps he was an unconventional choice to portray Chandu the Magician. Most people probably associate Bela Lugosi with the role of Chandu, which he played in the subsequent Return of Chandu serial in 1934. Viewers may have found the Hungarian-born Lugosi more suited to play the part of an exotic magician, although the Frank Chandler (Chandu) character was an American-born man who learned the secrets ways of magic from Yogis in India.
I have seen the movie, but not the serial, other than some excerpts. I've also not heard any of the Chandu radio programs, which I believe is where the character originated.
