Movies of the 80s: '10 Things to Know about The Fiendish Plot of Doctor Fu Manchu'

To say that the final film in the career of the legendary Peter Sellers was chaotic would be an understatement. Here are 10 things to know about The Fiendish Plot of Doctor Fu Manchu, the final film in the life of Peter Sellers.

C.W: The film was very racist. There is no getting around it. The film is deeply offensive toward Asian people. This article isn't about that, but the writer and researcher is fully aware of it and hopes that this content warning will serve as a sign of respect and awareness.

10. Peter Sellers Missed the Oscars to Work on The Fiendish Plot of Doctor Fu Manchu

Though he did travel to New York on multiple occasions during the filming of The Fiendish Plot of Doctor Fu Manchu, to campaign for a Best Actor Oscar, Peter Sellers ended up skipping the 1980 Oscars. Talking with gossip columnist Marilyn Beck, Sellers stated that was overseeing editing on Fu Manchu and thus would not be attending the Oscars. Sellers missed the Academy Awards despite being in a neck and neck race with eventual Best Actor winner Dustin Hoffman.

9. Four Different Directors, Including Peter Sellers Himself, Worked on The Fiendish Plot of Doctor Fu Manchu

Directors John Avildsen, fresh off his success with Rocky, and Richard Quine were each attached to The Fiendish Plot of Doctor Fu Manchu prior the film starting principal photography. Both were fired at the behest of Peter Sellers. Finally, director Piers Haggard was chosen and he managed to complete the film before he too was fired by the star of the movie. Sellers then took it upon himself to film new scenes for the movie on top of overseeing editing and the film score.

8. Sellers Wanted to Take the Director Credit on The Fiendish Plot of Doctor Fu Manchu

In that interview with Marilyn Beck, mentioned earlier, Peter Sellers stated that he hadn't decided who would get directorial credit on the movie. It wasn't really up to him as the Director's Guild would have a say in the matter but, nevertheless, Piers Haggard did end up with the credit on the movie. Or, perhaps the blame.

7. Sellers was working 16 hour days to complete The Fiendish Plot of Doctor Fu Manchu

For a man with a serious heart condition, nothing was slowing down Peter Sellers. The man reportedly worked 16 hour days during and post-production on The Fiendish Plot of Doctor Fu Manchu. Given that he was playing dual roles and spent hours in makeup to play Fu Manchu, is it fair to wonder if the stress of making the movie played a role in Sellers untimely death at just 54 years old.

6. It wasn't just professional stress for Peter Sellers.

Not only was The Fiendish Plot of Doctor Fu Manchu a struggle on set, it was stressful at home as well. It was widely reported in English and American tabloids that Sellers' marriage to his fourth wife, 26 year old actress, Lynne Frederick, was on the rocks during the making of the movie. One report even had Sellers storming out of a party with cast and crew after seeing Lynne dancing with a member of the film crew. By the time of his death, Sellers and Frederick had made amends but the stress at home and on the set had to have been taking its toll.

5. Sellers Openly Joked About his Love for Much Younger Women in The Movie

You cannot accuse Peter Sellers of not being self-aware. Sellers wrote his attraction to younger womane into the script for The Fiendish Plot of Doctor Fu Manchu. One scene finds the evil Doctor confronting a young woman and asking:

“I suppose you think I am too old for you.” She replies “How old are you?” To which he responds “168” and she retorts “You know, I don’t think age matters, really.”

Sellers wife Lynne was 26 years old at the time, nearly 20 years his junior.

4. Orion Pictures hired Sellers' wife as a Producer to Help Get the Film Finished

While many speculated that Peter Sellers flexed his muscles to get his wife Lynne a producer credit on The Fiendish Plot of Doctor Fu Manchu, an executive with Orion Pictures told a different story after Sellers' death. According to the exec, the studio asked Lynne to come on board in hope that she could convince Sellers to wrap up work on the movie. The move worked as Lynne was finally able to convince her husband to complete the film.

3. A. Rickshaw Race?

On July 15th, 1980, just over a week before the death of Peter Sellers, gossip columnist Mary Strassmeyer reported that Hollywood publicist, Bruce Stern was trying to acquire a pair of Rickshaws, new or used, for a rickshaw race to promote the release of The Fiendish Plot of Doctor Fu Manchu. The race would have occurred on August 4th, the planned premiere date for the film in New York City.

2. The Film Was Met With Furious Protests

It should come as no surprise today that The Fiendish Plot of Doctor Fu Manchu was met with protests. The film features a white actor in Yellowface using offensive broken English dialogue. Yes, the movie was protested around the country by Asian American organizations. The only response from Orion Pictures was a curt, 'We meant no offense.'

1. Peter Sellers Pink Panther Payday Would Have Been a Record

In an interview with US Magazine it was revealed that Peter Sellers was moving from The Fiendish Plot of Doctor Fu Manchu almost immediately. Not only was Sellers not slowing down, he was on a record pace as he was set to write, star-in, and perhaps backseat-direct, the next Pink Panther movie with a paycheck of $8 million dollars. That would be more than $30 million dollars in today's money.

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