David Tomlinson, born in 1917, was an English actor whose career spanned several decades and genres. He made notable appearances in The Liquidator (1965) and War-Gods of the Deep (1965), where he brought his distinctive charm to the realm of cult cinema. In Dominique (1979), Tomlinson further showcased his versatility, playing a role that straddled the line between drama and the supernatural. His contributions to films like The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu (1980) highlight his ability to navigate the quirky and offbeat narratives that define the exploitation genre.
The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu
Fu Manchu's (Peter Sellers') 168th birthday celebration is dampened when a hapless flunky spills Fu's age-regressing elixir vitae. Fu sends his lackeys to round up ingredients for a new batch of elixir, starting with the Star of Leningrad diamond, nabbed from a Soviet exhibition in Washington, D.C. The F.B.I. sends Agents Joe Capone (Sid Caesar) and Pete Williams (Steve Franken) to England to confer with Sir Dennis Nayland Smith (Peter Sellers), an expert on Fu. Nayland suspects Fu will kidnap King George V (Rene Aranda) and Queen Mary (Grace Coyle) and demand the George V diamond as ransom. Scotland Yard recruits Alice Rage (Dame Helen Mirren) to stand-in for the Queen. Fu nabs the "fake" Queen; Rage becomes enamored of Fu and aids him in his quest for the George V diamond. Fu Manchu's 168th birthday celebration is dampened when a hapless flunky spills Fu's age-regressing elixir vitae. Fu sends his lackeys to round up ingredients for a new batch of elixir, starting with the Star of Leningrad diamond, nabbed from a Soviet exhibition in Washington. The FBI sends agents Capone and Williams to England to confer with Nayland Smith, an expert on Fu.
