The Terror of the Tongs (1961)

This deservedly obscure warm-up for Christopher Lee for the role of Fu Manchu, set in Hong Kong in 1910, marked the first time he received top billing on a Hammer production, and follows in the footsteps of 'The Stranglers of Bombay' in detailing with relish the sadistic activities of a ruthless foreign cult able to act with impunity until a representative of the British Empire steps in to put a stop to it all.'Stranglers' had been made in black & white to lessen the impact of the bloodletting, but 'The Terror of the Tongs' was (in Britain at least) permitted glorious early 60's Eastmancolor, thus heightening the visual impact of The Red Dragon Tong's penchant for cutting off fingers and killing people with axes, while also looking a treat as photographed by Arthur Grant, designed by Bernard Robinson and costumed by Molly Arbuthnot; as do the various exotic young women slinking about the margins of the action in slit-sided qipaos, or less.The film's makers presumably knew what an authentic Chinaman looked like, because early in the film a young Burt Kwouk shares an important scene with hero Geoffrey Toone before being promptly killed off and replaced with British film regulars like dear old Charles Lloyd Pack and Harold Goodwin in the oriental speaking parts. (Where was Michael Ripper when they were shooting this?) The Calcutta-born Marne Maitland brings his usual polish to the role of an urbanely spoken beggar on crutches who proves to be more than he seems. Someone however must have drawn the line at attempting to pass Yvonne Monlaur (who died just a couple of weeks ago) as Chinese, since she's given a line explaining that she's "an 'alf-caste". Elsewhere, Jimmy Sangster's script juggles occasionally intelligent dialogue with frequently clumsy plotting.Director Anthony Bushell, after a long career as an actor (he had recently played Col. Breen in the original TV version of 'Quatermass and the Pit'), was at the time concentrating mainly on directing, but seems a strange choice for such a lurid subject. He certainly doesn't show any flair for staging action, and this proved his last feature film, after which he worked in television for a couple of more years.

Watching THE TERROR OF THE TONGS, I'm reminded why I love Hammer films in the first place: there really is no better place to go if you're looking for escapism. This is a colourful, fast-paced little pulp adventure packed with two-fisted action, horror, and intrigue. It boasts fine production values, an interesting plot (in essence a retelling of the earlier, lower-budgeted STRANGLERS OF BOMBAY), a good grasp of character and some fine dramatic touches. Yes, it may seem a little twee and dated to see the British actors dressed and made up as Chinese in this day and age, but to be honest that's all part of the appeal.Fans of Hammer Horror sometimes forget that the studio didn't just make horror flicks – they started out by making drama and crime movies before hitting on horror, but during their reign they also made science fiction films, thrillers, prehistoric epics, and adventures. During the early 1960s, they often opted for the latter; Sony have just released a nice little package on DVD made up of two pirate adventures and two tales of Eastern terror. I can't wait to watch the other three.THE TERROR OF THE TONGS is packed with incident and drama, so there's plenty going on in the short running time; indeed the incident in the last few minutes would usually take up twenty minutes of another film. That's the reason it's so much fun to watch. Hammer can't resist with the horrific touches, so although this is on the face of it a period drama, there are scenes of torture and bloodshed that wouldn't be amiss in a Dracula yarn. Another link to the horror is Christopher Lee, here playing the role of Chung King, the terrible leader of the Tong. Lee's role is an obvious prototype for his later, long-running turn as Fu Manchu in a film series throughout the '60s, and it's an interesting one.Although Lee's performance takes place in a single set and he's sitting down for the most part, I was impressed by how he really puts across his character. He doesn't adopt an accent here, so it's a little odd hearing this Chinese guy speaking English without an accent, but Lee successfully humanises his character to a degree whereby you can't really hate him. I loved the way he remained calm throughout, even in the face of danger and death; his final scenes have an unexpected poignancy that you rarely find when it comes to chief villains in films.The cast seems made up of British character actors of the period. Geoffrey Toone, a matinée idol, is the rugged hero, and although I disliked him at first, his character grows so much that I found him one of the finest things in the film by the end. Yvonne Monlaur is the love interest and seems to struggle a bit with her acting, but any male viewer will be so entranced by her beauty that he will no doubt overlook this deficit. Marne Maitland excels as the beggar hiding a secret, and Hammer regular Charles Lloyd Pack appears in one of his most memorable turns as a sinister Chinese doctor. Burt Kwouk's here, three years before he found fame with the Pink Panther and James Bond; also popping up is future Doctor Who Master Roger Delgado. Milton Reid steals all his scenes as a burly henchman.The film's also interesting, not to mention controversial, for its political subtext, namely the depiction of the Chinese as either evil or defenceless, requiring the services of the British to come and help them out of trouble. I think Hammer realised this and deliberately had one of the British guys playing a traitor to muddy the waters a little. Today, the subtext would probably make some viewers think this is a racist film, but I find it a telling mark of the times. This is probably the closest a film has got to the spirit of the early pulps like those written by Sax Rohmer or Robert E. Howard, and for that reason I love it to bits.

I fondly remember this film as it was the first X certificate film I ever saw.I was 14 at the time and I saw it in a double bill with Forgo at the ABC Golders Green.This is a Hammer film but not a horror film.It is set in a very studio bound Hong Kong.Nearly all of the main oriental characters are played by European actors.Christopher Lee plays the black hearted tong leader.He has a secret ally in the Hong Kong establishment.There is some violence,a torture scene which seems as if the torturer is an expert in acupuncture.There is also a great deal of Axe throwing.It is difficult at this distance in time to understand why the film was awarded an X certificate.The writer,the ubiquitous Jimmy Sangster,seems to included many plot elements from Charlie Chan and Fu Manchu films.

In 1910 Hong Kong Christopher Lee plays Chung King, an evil leader of tongs who will kill anyone who stands in their way of their slave and opium trade.A sea captain (Geoffrey Toone) battles them when his daughter is murdered. Violence follows and then bodies begin piling up.Unusual Hammer film--not really a horror movie--more like a violent action film. Lee is having a whale of a time playing King and Toone is OK in his role. Everyone else is pretty terrible--especially pretty Yvonne Monlaur and all the Asian actors. The low budget does show and the script is sort of scattershot.I'm giving it a 7 because it's no longer than it needs to be (79 minutes), Lee is very good, there's some beautiful color photography and some pretty strong bloody violence for 1961--but then this IS a Hammer film.Worth seeing on a slow day.