Chandu Can Do

I wanted to see Chandu the Magician (1932) for two reasons. First, I used to listen to a lot of old radio shows, and Chandu was one. I only heard one episode, but it was intriguing: Chandu was a stage magician who solved crimes, using his secret powers - he could really do actual magic. The movie is a little different. But the second reason is that the villain in the movie is played by Bela Lugosi.

It stars Edmund Lowe as Frank Chandler, who studied mystical arts and became a yogi named Chandu. He could astral project, read and control minds, and wear a jewelled turban and a fine moustache. The council of yogis sends him to stop Bela Lugosi, playing an Egyptian named Roxor (!), who wants to control the world. He plans to use the death ray invented by Chandu's brother-in-law. He kidnaps Chandu's sister and her children to coerce him. He also kidnaps Chandu's girlfriend, the Egyptian princess Nadji (Irene Ware).

This has a very kid's matinee feel: Roxor claims that he will destroy civilization and all it's works. But Lowe's Chandu has a nice light quippy style of hero. And of course, it's great to see Lugosi being Eeevil. 

Also, I'm watching more old movies again - black-and-whites were my specialty back in the day. I still love recent action, SF, comedy and crime, but sometimes get tired of the made-for-streaming stuff. So this scratches that old-timey itch.