The Terror of the Tongs (1961)
Genre: Action / Adventure
Duration: 75 minuten
Country:
United Kingdom
Directed by: Anthony Bushell
Stars: Christopher Lee, Geoffrey Toone and Yvonne Monlaur
IMDb score:
5,7 (1.323)
Releasedate: 15 March 1961
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
The Terror of the Tongs plot
"Terror stalks the street of opium dreams!"
The secret company The Red Dragon Tong kidnaps a captain who is holding his daughter's killers captive. Unfortunately, it is not easy to get the man released, because the organization, led by its charismatic leader, has quite a lot of power.
Actors and actresses
Chung King
Lee
Captain Jackson Sale
The Beggar
District Commissioner Harcourt
Tang How
Tang Hao
Inspector Bob Dean
Dr. Fu Chao
Maya
Reviews & comments
Zinema (crew films)
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- 10276 messages
- 7318 votes
Moderate crime.
Despite the presence of Christopher Lee, there is little tension to be found in this mediocre crime story. Unless the horror comes from the cringe-inducingly racist portrayals of Westerners passing for Asians. Once common, nowadays shameful. The script and execution, too, have not really stood the test of time.
Moderate.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Richard_Voorhees
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- 2311 messages
- 2135 votes
Genre changed to Action/Adventure, as also listed on IMDb. Although this film was produced by a film company primarily known for horror films, this is clearly not one. However, Hammer has also made its fair share of adventure films, and this one fits in better with that category.
"The Terror of Tongs" seems to be a bit of a precursor to Lee's Fu Manchu films. Only this time, he is the boss of a mafia gang in Hong Kong. I still find it a bit strange to see Lee with that whole layer of makeup to make him look Asian. But he does come across as a lot more convincing than Yvonne Monlaur, whose French accent does strike a bit of a discordant note. She does her best in her own way, but her character just doesn't come across as well.
Geoffrey Toone's character is somewhat standardly developed, but even he still manages to come across as reasonably convincing.
It is clearly visible that they did not have many resources, and I must say once again that the sets and costumes look (relatively speaking) well-executed. Here and there, perhaps they should have used real Asian people, because sometimes it is all too obvious that they are just Brits or other Europeans.
The 'action' in it is a bit on the slow side, but still manages to provide enough entertainment to keep this film reasonably watchable.
Especially when I compare it to Franco's shoddy work in his Fu Manchu films, this is put together much better and the story is a bit less boring.
Not an excellent film, but not terrible either. More of a film for Lee fanatics.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Bobbejaantje
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- 2323 messages
- 2101 votes
Hammer goes Hong Kong. Which means the British actors are given a Chinese look. Including Christopher Lee, whom I honestly didn't realize was in it at first. So in that respect, the make-up was successful. Furthermore, it is a story that involves quite a few stereotypes by modern standards. Reason enough that this film has little chance of ever being shown publicly again.
As for the film experience itself, I found it to be a rather lackluster affair. The hodgepodge of more or less Chinese-looking actors with typical British accents somewhat undermined the credibility of a film that, on the other hand, relied heavily on the Eastern setting (and was filmed at Bray Studios). The theatrical feel predominated, preventing me from ever really getting into it. I did, however, enjoy James Bernard's music.
Good to have seen it once (as a historical curiosity), and with that, the page has fortunately been turned.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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