Drums of Fu Manchu: Chapter Three – Ransom in the Sky (1940)

by Ted Davis

Directed by: John English & William Witney

Synopsis: The third chapter of the briskly paced fifteen part serial, wherein the admirably single-minded Dr. Fu Manchu (Henry Brandon) endeavors to dominate the world (yet again!), this time through the expedient of using the fabled lost scepter of Genghis Khan to unite and command the myriad factions of the Far East. The inscrutable doctor’s schemes are constantly countered by the intrepid Sir Nayland Smith (William Royle) and his group of steadfast and loyal followers.

Purr Blur: Highly energetic all-American Allan Parker (Robert Kellard) and true-blue girl-next-door Mary Randolph (Luana Walters) are distracted from their retrieval of the 6th cuneiform key (don’t ask) by the old reliable cat-behind-the-moving curtain trope.

Drums of Fu Manchu - Chapter Three Ransom in the Sky - black cat coming out from behind curtain
Drums of Fu Manchu - Chapter Three Ransom in the Sky - black cat coming out from behind curtain startling Allan Robert Kellard and Mary Luana Walters animated gif

Final Mewsings: Unbeknownst to Allen and Mary, the cat was actually one of Fu Manchu’s many minions.

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