Charles Brabin accurately portrays the many interesting themes that were prevalent throughout Sax Rohmer's novel.
His choice of costume and usage of interesting directorial techniques (e.g. choice of shadow and light when introducing different characters into the scene) allows the audience to glean insight into the mindset of people living in the 20th century Western World.
In particular, there is an interesting scene in which Dr. Fu-manchu suddenly appears out of the shadows, startling the "heroic" white man, come to save his companion. He wields a pistol dangerously while menacingly and calmly addressing the "heroic" rescuer. The shadows surrounding his face instills the audience with a sense of fear. Fear for the mysterious and sinister Dr. Fu-manchu. This is concordant with anti-Asian sentiments during the early 20th century. Furthermore Fu- manchu's laugh causes the audience to shudder, which makes it easy to see how the "white world" in the early 20th century viewed Asians with a slightly awed, yet fearful eye. They were scared that the influence of the Asian world would threaten the organized and just world that they lived in.
Truly, this movie is an interesting window into a time long past.
His choice of costume and usage of interesting directorial techniques (e.g. choice of shadow and light when introducing different characters into the scene) allows the audience to glean insight into the mindset of people living in the 20th century Western World.
In particular, there is an interesting scene in which Dr. Fu-manchu suddenly appears out of the shadows, startling the "heroic" white man, come to save his companion. He wields a pistol dangerously while menacingly and calmly addressing the "heroic" rescuer. The shadows surrounding his face instills the audience with a sense of fear. Fear for the mysterious and sinister Dr. Fu-manchu. This is concordant with anti-Asian sentiments during the early 20th century. Furthermore Fu- manchu's laugh causes the audience to shudder, which makes it easy to see how the "white world" in the early 20th century viewed Asians with a slightly awed, yet fearful eye. They were scared that the influence of the Asian world would threaten the organized and just world that they lived in.
Truly, this movie is an interesting window into a time long past.