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The Return of Chandu is a 1934 American 12 episode fantasy film serial based on the radio series Chandu the Magician. It was produced by Sol Lesser and directed by Ray Taylor, and starred Béla Lugosi as Frank Chandler (aka Chandu the Magician). The serial was originally released to be booked by theaters in any one of three ways: as a conventional serial of twelve chapters of equal running times; as a 60-minute feature film comprising the first four episodes, to be followed by the remaining 8 episodes in serial format; or as a stand-alone feature (the fourth episode ends not with a cliffhanger, but with an apparent resolution to the story). In 1935, the remaining 8 episodes of the serial were also edited into a feature film, of 65 minutes, released as Chandu on the Magic Island. This serial marked one of the few times that Lugosi played a protagonist rather than an antagonist: in fact, Lugosi had played the main villain, Roxor, in the previous year's film called (Chandu the Magician.)
Original Release
10/01/1934
US Release
10/01/1934
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Bela Lugosi | Frank Chandler - Chandu / Frank Chandler (Chandu) |
Maria Alba | Nadji - Princess of Egypt / Princess Nadji |
Clara Kimball Young | Dorothy Regent |
Lucien Prival | Vindhyan - High Priest / Vindhyan, High Priest [Chs. 1-4] |
Dean Benton | Bob Regent (as Deane Benton) / Bob Regent |
Phyllis Ludwig | Betty Regent |
Cyril Armbrister | Sutra / Henchman Sutra [Chs.1-4] |
Murdock MacQuarrie | The Supreme Voice of Ubasti [Chs. 4-12] / The Voice of Ubasti |
Wilfred Lucas | Capt. Wilson [Chs. 4-12] / Capt. Wilson |
Josef Swickard | Tyba / Tyba, The White Magician [Chs. 8-12] |
Directors
Writers
Harry A. Earnshaw, Vera M. Oldham, R.R. Morgan, Barry Barringer
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Bela Lugosi | Frank Chandler - Chandu / Frank Chandler (Chandu) |
Maria Alba | Nadji - Princess of Egypt / Princess Nadji |
Clara Kimball Young | Dorothy Regent |
Lucien Prival | Vindhyan - High Priest / Vindhyan, High Priest [Chs. 1-4] |
Dean Benton | Bob Regent (as Deane Benton) / Bob Regent |
Phyllis Ludwig | Betty Regent |
Cyril Armbrister | Sutra / Henchman Sutra [Chs.1-4] |
Murdock MacQuarrie | The Supreme Voice of Ubasti [Chs. 4-12] / The Voice of Ubasti |
Wilfred Lucas | Capt. Wilson [Chs. 4-12] / Capt. Wilson |
Josef Swickard | Tyba / Tyba, The White Magician [Chs. 8-12] |
J.J. Clark | Vitras |
Frazer Acosta | Nito |
April Armbrister | The Dancer |
Baby Peggy | Judy Allen |
William Begg | Party Guest |
Edward Biby | Party Guest |
Dick Botiller | Morta |
Don Brodie | Reporter |
Iron Eyes Cody | Cat Man |
Jack Deery | Butler |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Sol Lesser | Producer |