The Daughter of Fu Manchu

My father was driving us over Manhattan Bridge and entering New York's Chinatown neighborhood, I spotted a poster that showed a Chinese gentleman running for mayor of the city. He was not dressed "Western style," but in traditional attire of his culture. And he was holding up a finger, with its nail guard, to further the Chinese look. How extraordinary! How spectacular! It was only later that I realized that poster was a promo for a film--THE FACE OF FU MANCHU.

At a mega department store in Brooklyn, I saw several paperbacks, newly printed, that further stimulated my curiosity. The author was a "Sax Rohmer," and what was promised was mystery and foreboding atmosphere. I was hooked.

I should have known, and probably did at the time, that Fu was played by Christopher Lee, a British actor who was specializing in horror roles, most notably in portraying Dracula. There was somebody with him, a daughter. She was smaller than he (much smaller, as Lee was over six feet), but, like her father, she was both threatening and captivating. The daughter of Fu Manchu!

Of course, it was not soon afterward that I saw the film, and the one that followed, THE BRIDES OF FU MANCHU.

Since I saw her, the daughter, named Lin Tang in the movies, was attractive but dangerous. You did not want to mess with her if you valued your life.

Nowadays, I am well aware of the actress, Tsai Chin, who played the role of Lin Tang in five movies. She also appeared in those days, but I didn't know at the time, in the prologue to YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, where her character promised the best duck that James Bond would have. (The double-entendre should be obvious if you think about it.)

As I stated, I know much more now: The roles she played, the albums, the plays, the autobiography, etc. More will be addressed here and in my book. But in those days, she was always the daughter of Fu Manchu.

"A favor, Father..."

 Tsai Chin in THE CASTLE OF FU MANCHU.