Drums of Fu Manchu
“CRUEL, INSIDIOUS IN HIS MAD SCHEME TO CONQUER ASIA!”
Synopsis
The nefarious Dr. Fu Manchu searches for the keys to the tomb of Genghis Khan, in order to fulfill a prophecy that will enable him to conquer the world. His nemesi, Dr. Nayland Smith and his associates fight to keep the evil doctor from getting his hands on the keys. In 1943 the serial was edited together into a feature movie also called Drums of Fu Manchu.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
DRUMS OF FU MANCHU (1940) - Republic Serial - ALL 15 episodes!
Type: Featurette • Published 2026-03-10
Top Cast
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Henry Brandon
Dr. Fu Man Chu
William Royle
Sir Dennis Nayland Smith
Robert Kellard
Allan Parker
Luana Walters
Mary Randolph
Olaf Hytten
Dr. Petrie
Tom Chatterton
Prof. Randolph
Gloria Franklin
Fah-Lo-Suee
John Merton
Loki
George Cleveland
Dr. James Parker
John Dilson
Prof. Ezra Howard
Dwight Frye
Prof. Anderson
Wheaton Chambers
Dr. Humphrey
George Pembroke
C.W. Crawford
Lal Chand Mehra
Sirdar Prahni
Guy D'Ennery
Ranah Sang
Lowden Adams
Blake, Randolph's Assistant
Philip Ahn
Dr. Chang
John Bagni
Dangra - Spy at Fort
Release History & Theatrical Window
March 15, 1940
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- William Witney, John English
- Screenplay & Story
- Morgan Cox, Barney A. Sarecky, Sol Shor, Franklin Adreon, Norman S. Hall, Ronald Davidson
- Original Score
- Paul Sawtell, Cy Feuer
- Original Title
- Drums of Fu Manchu
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 4h 29m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
William Witney, John English
Morgan Cox, Barney A. Sarecky, Sol Shor, Franklin Adreon, Norman S. Hall, Ronald Davidson, Sax Rohmer
Paul Sawtell, Cy Feuer
William Nobles
Edward Todd, William P. Thompson
Hiram S. Brown Jr.
Department Leadership Roster
Morgan Cox
Screenplay
Hiram S. Brown Jr.
Producer
William Witney
Director
Barney A. Sarecky
Screenplay
Sol Shor
Screenplay
Franklin Adreon
Screenplay
Norman S. Hall
Screenplay
William Nobles
Director of Photography
John English
Director
Ronald Davidson
Screenplay
Paul Sawtell
Original Music Composer
Edward Todd
Editor
Cy Feuer
Original Music Composer
William P. Thompson
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Drums of Fu Manchu.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Drums of Fu Manchu
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Drums of Fu Manchu about?
The nefarious Dr. Fu Manchu searches for the keys to the tomb of Genghis Khan, in order to fulfill a prophecy that will enable him to conquer the world. His nemesi, Dr. Nayland Smith and his associates fight to keep the evil doctor from getting his hands on the keys. In 1943 the serial was edited together into a feature movie also called Drums of Fu Manchu.
Who directed Drums of Fu Manchu?
Drums of Fu Manchu was directed by William Witney, John English.
Who stars in Drums of Fu Manchu?
The principal cast of Drums of Fu Manchu includes Henry Brandon, William Royle, Robert Kellard, Luana Walters, Olaf Hytten.
When was Drums of Fu Manchu released and how long is it?
Drums of Fu Manchu was released in 1940 with a total runtime of 4h 29m.
Who composed the musical score for Drums of Fu Manchu?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Drums of Fu Manchu was composed by Paul Sawtell, Cy Feuer.
Is Drums of Fu Manchu based on a book or true story?
Drums of Fu Manchu is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Sax Rohmer".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Drums of Fu Manchu?
Drums of Fu Manchu holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).