Although as many as five people die in Lloyd Corrigan's "Daughter of the Dragon," the third and final entry in Paramount Picture's "Fu Manchu" franchise. Paunchy Swedish actor Warner Oland reprises his role as the infamous Fu Manchu. Earlier, he played the Asian terrornaut in "The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu" (1929) and "The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu" (1930). Later, Oland would portray another famous Asian character: Charlie Chan. You see, back in the early 20th century, political correctness neither governed nor applied to Hollywood. Consequently, white actors and actresses could be cast as Asians. Casting ethnic actors to play ethnic groups would come late in the 20th century, long after Mickey Rooney impersonated an Asian in "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Anyway, Dr. Fu Manchu isn't alive very long in "Daughter of the Dragon." He kicks the bucket in the first quarter hour. The despicable Chinese villain has returned after a 20-year absence to carry out his hate-fueled vengeance against the Petrie clan. Fu believes that the Petries were responsible for the demise of his wife and son. Secretly, he dispatches a henchman who slips poison into the elder Petrie's pipe tobacco. The poison enables Fu to control Sir John Petrie (Holmes Herbert of "The Ghost of Frankenstein") like a puppet. Fu Manchu shows up at Sir Petrie's mansion and sends him plunging to his death on a staircase. Fittingly, Asian detective Ah Kee (Sessue Hayakawa of "Bridge on the River Kwai") brandishes his revolver and shoots him in the chest. Kee's bullet ultimately kills the master architect of evil. Before he dies, however, Fu summons an exotic Chinese dancer, Princess Ling Moy (American-born Anna May Wong of "Lady from Chungking"), and he tells her that she is his daughter. She vows to make up for Fu's dire lack of a son and agrees to carry out his vengeful plans. Appropriately enough, he calls her his 'man-daughter.' Unfortunately, she doesn't achieve her goals thanks to Scotland Yard and Petrie's butler effeminate Rogers (Harold Minjir of "Ringside Maisie") who displays unusual valor at the end.
Most of the time, everybody is scheming and talking in "Daughter of the Dragon," but considerable action and gunplay erupts during the final quarter hour. At one point, Fu Manchu's daughter makes life tough for Ronald Petrie (Bramwell Fletcher of "The Mummy") when she gives him a chance to end the life of his fiancée, Joan Marshall (Frances Dade of "Dracula"), by stabbing her. Otherwise, Moy has concocted a special acid that will burn Joan's face and make her look hideous. Moy tries to deceive Ah Kee, but he is too smart to fall for her tricks. Half of the time "Daughter of the Dragon" is atmospheric, while the other half it is high camp. The first few minutes when Ling Moy is introduced is striking, especially Wong's costume and head-piece. She is a babe on heels who seduces every guy that she meets, especially Sessue Hayakawa's detective who falls head over heels for her.
Most of the time, everybody is scheming and talking in "Daughter of the Dragon," but considerable action and gunplay erupts during the final quarter hour. At one point, Fu Manchu's daughter makes life tough for Ronald Petrie (Bramwell Fletcher of "The Mummy") when she gives him a chance to end the life of his fiancée, Joan Marshall (Frances Dade of "Dracula"), by stabbing her. Otherwise, Moy has concocted a special acid that will burn Joan's face and make her look hideous. Moy tries to deceive Ah Kee, but he is too smart to fall for her tricks. Half of the time "Daughter of the Dragon" is atmospheric, while the other half it is high camp. The first few minutes when Ling Moy is introduced is striking, especially Wong's costume and head-piece. She is a babe on heels who seduces every guy that she meets, especially Sessue Hayakawa's detective who falls head over heels for her.