This film is part of Free
A Bid for Fortune
Master criminal Dr Nikola seeks a Chinese curio that promises eternal life and world domination
Drama 1917 84 mins Silent
Overview
An Australian lawyer is entrusted with a curious Tibetan object known as the Rod of Knowledge, but soon discovers that dangerous occultist and evil mastermind Dr Nikola wants it for his own nefarious ends. A Bid For Fortune was an early British adventure serial which was packed together into this standalone feature that played in British cinemas during April 1917.
Producer Sidney Morgan adapted Guy Boothby's tale from the hugely popular Doctor Nikola series. Boothby, an Australian immigrant to the UK, was mentored by Rudyard Kipling and his evil occultist Dr Nikola was a forerunner of Fu Manchu, appearing in a string of novels between 1895 and 1901.
Subjects
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