Christopher Lee joins the international cast of THE BRIDES OF FU MANCHU (1966) in this exceptional black-and-white location publicity photograph taken in Westminster, London. The ensemble stands together on the wet roadway with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament rising dramatically behind them, creating an unmistakably British backdrop for this unusual promotional image.

CHRISTOPHER LEE - THE BRIDES OF FU MANCHU (1966) Cast at Big Ben London Rare Publicity Photo

Pictured from left to right are Yvonne Ekman, Anje Langstraat, Grete-Lill Henden, Katarina Quest, Heinz Drache, Christine Rau, Christopher Lee, Gaby Schar, Evelyne Dheliat, Daniele Defrere and Jeannette Napper. Lee stands prominently near the center of the group, surrounded by the actresses representing the international “brides” central to Fu Manchu’s criminal scheme.

The location gives the photograph much of its extraordinary character. Rather than a conventional studio cast portrait, the performers are assembled outdoors in Westminster with one of London's most recognizable landmarks dominating the background. The rain-darkened pavement, period automobiles and expansive view toward the Palace of Westminster give the image the atmosphere of a remarkable mid-1960s London time capsule as well as a film publicity photograph.

THE BRIDES OF FU MANCHU was released in 1966 and marked Christopher Lee’s second appearance as Sax Rohmer’s criminal mastermind following THE FACE OF FU MANCHU (1965). Directed by Don Sharp and produced by Harry Alan Towers, the British-West German production continued the series with Douglas Wilmer as Scotland Yard investigator Nayland Smith.

For collectors, this photograph has unusual appeal because it brings together Christopher Lee, a large international cast and an unmistakable London landmark within a single carefully staged publicity image. Its combination of cinema history, 1960s London atmosphere and ensemble cast documentation makes it considerably more distinctive than a conventional character portrait or scene still.

Carefully restored and professionally printed from archival source material, this museum-quality photograph is a distinctive collectible for admirers of Christopher Lee, THE BRIDES OF FU MANCHU, Fu Manchu, Don Sharp, British cinema, 1960s London, classic adventure and crime cinema, cult film history and rare location publicity photography.

In 1924, Dr. Fu Manchu, his army of dacoits and his vicious daughter Lin Tang are kidnapping the daughters of prominent scientists and taking them to his hidden base in the Atlas Mountains, where he demands that their fathers help him to build a device that transmits blast waves through a radio transmitter, which he intends to use to take over the world. He plans to keep (even wed) the girls in question. But Dr. Fu Manchu's archenemy, Nayland Smith of Scotland Yard, is determined not to let that happen.

Sharp recalled producer Harry Alan Towers used the film to showcase "young and beautiful actresses". It was shot at Bray Studios (UK). Nigel Green was not available to repeat his performance as Nayland Smith so he was replaced by Douglas Wilmer. Sharp recalled filming went "smoothly but already the signs were there that" Towers could make Fu Manchu movies without having to "worry too much because the stories were okay. Well, there was more to making the movies than that."