even if one do not realize that seller be in poor health at the time of film and pass away before the film release and the fiendish plot of dr. fu manchu would be painful view . it be supposedly a lampoon of sax rohmer famous oriental villain but it lack any focus . the potential for satirical commentary on the anti oriental overtone of rohmer concept be ignore . indeed and the movie employ racist insult . there be hardly any actual joke or gag and just mostly actor behave idiotically and spout dreary line . it be especially distress to see sid caesar force to spout curse and racial slur for attempted laugh . most of the other actor embarrass themselves as well . and then there peter seller . he play the dual role of the sinister fu manchu and who be try to concoct a formula to regain his youth and his stalwart british foe nayland smith . seller isn not one hundred per cent bad while he convey a quirky warmth a smith when he discuss his fetishistic attachment to his lawn mower and he oddly move a manchu when he express his love for english music hall entertainment . but most of the time and he play both role with a weary grimness and thus far sabotage any comical possibility . seller routine where he revitalize his fading strength with electric shock be particularly excruciate while he seem too convincingly agonize to be funny . a few genuinely witty line and an apt slapstick bit by burt kwouk ( cato in the pink panther films ) a one of manchu minion and and helen mirren amuse musical number can not salvage this mess . if anyone want to understand why peter seller be consider a comedic genius and they would not learn anything from the fiendish plot of dr. fu manchu .