The sequel to 'The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu' of 1929 and it's more of the same thing but not an improvement except perhaps for Warner Oland as Fu Manchu who is more of a dastardly villain than in the first film and dominates all the scenes he is in. Most of the main cast from the previous film return but pale beside Mr. Oland. Unfortunately William Austin as Sylvester returns and is just as irritating as before and O. P. Heggie makes a bland Nayland Smith, not the vigorous character of the original books. Jean Arthur looks lovely in her white dress but doesn't have much to do but wilt now and then. The sets are adequate though the camera being mostly static doesn't make full use of them. Watchable only for Warner Oland.

THE STORY & GENRE -- Fu Manchu wants to take over the world. There is very little or no genre here. Rowland Lee directs, Warner Oland stars.

THE VERDICT -- Similar to MYSTERIOUS DR. FU MANCHU (1929), it's predecessor, but a bit better. This isn't saying much, and you might just end up fast-forwarding though the talkier parts.

FREE ONLINE -- Yes, under the title "Resurrected 1930" if you look.

This film is so obviously the testimony of what the early talkies films were in the thirties. But it remains entertaining, full of mystery and scary atmosphere, but only in the 30's standards, not today ones. So, please, don't be too hard with this Rowland W Lee's movie. Warner Oland is getting pleasure playing Fu Manchu, for our greatest pleasure. You can prefer MGM Charles Brabin's MASK OF FU MANCHU, starring Boris Karloff, though Karloff was a bit less convincing than Oland. For the rest, Brabin's feature was more terrifying, for instance in the torture sequences.