Horror Classics, Vol. 1: White Zombie

Starring:Bela Lugosi, Madge Bellamy, Joseph Cawthorn, Robert Frazer, John Harron, Brandon Hurst, George Burr Macannan, Frederick Peters, Annette Stone (II), John Printz, Dan Crimmins, Claude Morgan, John Fergusson, Velma Gresham, Hans Joby, Clarence Muse
Director: Victor Halperin
Studio: ROAN
Product Type: DVD

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Bela Lugosi followed up his star-making role in Dracula with this ambitious low-budget horror film from the Halperin brothers, who effectively transplanted the misty gothic mood of the Universal horror films to their poverty-row studio. White Zombie drips with atmosphere from the opening, as eerie chanting accompanies the credits and Madeleine (Madge Bellamy) arrives at midnight to witness a mysterious burial before coming face to face with the satanic looking Murder Legendre (Lugosi with goatee and searing eyes), a hypnotist and voodoo master who has been supplying the local mills with an army of zombie laborers. Madeleine's nightmare is just beginning. Having landed in a world of almost perpetual night, where hollow-eyed zombies lumber through the sugar mill and the ghostly town is eerily bereft of living souls, she becomes the object of desire for Legendre, whose plan to possess her involves her initiation to the world of the undead. This first zombie movie is also one of the best, with Lugosi's archly sinister performance dominating the film (thankfully obscuring a lot of overacting by supporting players), and astounding sets and gorgeous matte paintings creating a wondrous sense of poetic doom. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

A "B" Horror Masterpiece.......2007-04-11

This atmospheric horror film of a happy young couple finding danger on a Hatain plantation is a "B" horror classic. Coming closely on the heels of Lugosi's "Dracula," "White Zombie" has much of the same atmosphere and look of that film.

Brothers Edward (producer) and Victor (director) Halperin worked with cinematographer Arthur Martinelli to give Garnett Weston's story of zombies an eerie look and fun atmosphere. Anyone popping this one in late at night won't be disappointed.

John Harrow and pretty Madge Bellamy star as the young lovers who learn right away that those who work in the sugar mills, and the fields at night, are no longer men, but dead bodies. Lugosi is their master, controlling the glassy-eyed undead at every turn.

Plantation owner Charles Beaumont (Robert Frazer) loves Madeleine (Madge Bellamy) also, but cannot convince her not to marry her true love, Neil (John Harrow). He will finally turn to Lugosi for help, but Lugosi has his own plans for the beautiful young bride. The discovery that her body has been removed will lead her new husband Neil and his new friend Dr. Bruner (Joseph Cawthorn), a missionary, to follow a trail to Lugosi's foreboding castle by the sea in order to break the zombie spell and save her soul.

This is a "B" horror masterpiece which is a lot of fun to watch. The ending doesn't disappoint in this one either, as it does in "Dracula." Don't miss this one!

"15 Frightful Horror Films ... Bela Lugosi ... Passport Video".......2006-10-16

Passport Video presents "The Bela Lugosi Box - 15 Frightful Films" (1942) --- (Dolby digitally remastered) --- Béla Lugosi was the stage name of actor Béla Ferenc Dezs Blaskó (October 20, 1882 - August 16, 1956) --- Lugosi was born in Lugos, Hungary, at the time part of Austria-Hungary (now Lugoj, Romania), the youngest of four children of a baker --- best known for his portrayal of "Dracula" in the American Broadway stage production, and subsequent film, of Bram Stoker's classic vampire story.

Late in his life, he again received star billing in movies when filmmaker Edward D. Wood, Jr., a fan of Lugosi, found him living in obscurity and near-poverty and offered him roles in his films, such as "GLEN OR GLENDA?" (1953) (in which his role made no more sense than the rest of the movie) and as a Dr. Frankenstein-like mad scientist in "BRIDE OF THE MONSTER" (1955), during post-production of the latter, Lugosi entered treatment for his addiction, and the premier of the film was ostensibly intended to help pay for his treatment expenses. The extras on an early DVD release of "PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE" (1959) include an impromptu interview with Lugosi upon his exit from the treatment center, which provide some rare personal insights into the man --- this was one of Lugosi's most infamous roles was released after he was dead. Ed Wood (Director) features footage of Lugosi interspersed with a double --- Wood had taken a few minutes of silent footage of Lugosi, in his Dracula cape, for a planned vampire picture but was unable to find financing for the project --- Wood later conceived of Plan 9, Wood wrote the script to incorporate the Lugosi footage and hired his wife's chiropractor to double for Lugosi in additional shots --- notice however the "double" is thinner than Lugosi, and covers the lower half of his face with his cape in every shot --- Leonard Maltin (Famous Film Critic) was quoted - "Lugosi died during production, and it shows."

Lugosi died of a heart attack on August 16, 1956 while lying in bed in his Los Angeles home. He was 73 --- Bela Lugosi was buried wearing one of the many capes from the Dracula stageplay, as per the request of his son and fifth wife, in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California --- Contrary to popular belief, Lugosi never requested to be buried in his famous cloak; Bela Lugosi, Jr. has confirmed on numerous occasions that he and his mother, Lillian, arrived at their decision independently.

BIOS:
1. Bela Lugosi (aka: Béla Ferenc Dezsõ Blaskó)
Date of birth: 20 October 1882 - Lugos, Austria-Hungary. [now Lugoj, Romania]
Date of death: 16 August 1956 - Los Angeles, California
2. Edward D. Wood Jr. (Director, Writer and Producer)
Date of birth: 10 October 1924 - Poughkeepsie, New York
Date of death: 10 December 1978 - North Hollywood, California

This collection of "The Bela Lugosi Box - 15 Frightful Films" (1942) --- still has the magic that we remember from those bygone years --- but as long as we have the labels and networks who play and show these wonderful films of yesteryear, they will never be forgotten ... Plus the half-hour tribute "100 Years of Horror: Bela Lugosi", hosted by Christopher Lee --- and a great job by Passport Video for this release --- looking forward to more of the same from the '20s and '50s vintage...order your copy now from Amazon or Passport Video, stay tuned once again for more remarkable films from the vaults of classic television and Hollywood during the Golden Era of Entertaiment.

Total Time: 1034 mins on DVD ~ Passport Video #5260 ~ (9/05/2006)

A Visual Feast.......2006-08-18

Sometimes silly, sometimes stilted, nearly always stagey, White Zombie remains nonetheless one of the most visually fascinating films in horror history. Who can forget the image of Madge Bellamy's alabaster gown flowing down the concrete staircase, or the zombie burial procession outlined spectrally against the sky, or the sinister shadows cast demonically across a dance floor. Then there's the magnificently gothic hall with its grotesquely twisted bannister like none other I've seen. In fact, almost every scene presents at least one arresting visual feature. As good as these and the many other touches are, it's still the mill scene that remains a masterpiece of visual staging. It must be seen to be appreciated-- the pitiless grind of the crusher, the soundless shuffle circling into the maw-- all in all, one of the deeper levels of Dante's inferno and one that's bound to stay with you.

If the visuals are inspired, the acting is not. It's almost as if two different people are in charge. Bellamy is quite good with her large liquid eyes and bee-stung lips. Her transformation into a zombie stupor is well performed. Of course, there's also Lugosi as Lugosi, florid, hammy, but effective nonetheless. The other principals, however, bring down the proceedings with what can only be described as bad acting. Bellamy's swain in particular is plain annoying, while the preacher appears to have wandered in from a breezy Bing Crosby production. Too bad. With more appropriate performances this could have been an all-time classic.

As things stand, it's a truly memorable film, whose influence can be seen in such diverse venues as Val Lewton's horror cycle, Bergman's The Seventh Seal, and Romero's Night of the Living Dead. Except for the mill scene with its eerily grinding tonality, the movie might be best enjoyed by turning off the sound altogether. (P. S. Colorizing this b&w marvel is nothing less than a crime.)

An Oasis in a Desert of Bad Quality Editions.......2006-03-08

White Zombie is one of those movies that can be found in many cheap, struck from VHS editions. Roan has has put out this excellent edition which does the movie justice. The sound and picture quality are about as good as you're probably going to get and the commentary is very informative. Beware of cheap editions and get this one instead.

Atmospheric Horror Tale Containing A Classic Performance By Horror legend Bela Lugosi.......2006-02-14

When the name Bela Lugosi is mentioned most people's thoughts straight away go to "Dracula" which of all his large number of films is the one performance for which he will be forever after remembered. Like the undead themselves that one role could never be put to rest by Lugosi and became equally a blessing and a curse for his future career prospects. This situation was a shame as he gave numerous other interesting performances in films such as the fascinating "White Zombie" which he made just after his stardom making role in "Dracula". "White Zombie", has happily become a cult classic itself with the passage of time and with its recent superb restoration for DVD by the talented Roan group the film is looking better now than it has in almost 70 years. Bela Lugosi delivers one of his most unforgettable performances here in a role full of menace and mystery, in short it was a role he was ideally suited for and literally born to play. "White Zombie" is also especially significant in being the first motion picture to feature those strange creatures of the horror genre; the zombies. Made on a shoe string budget by Halperin Producions, what the film lacked in budget it more than made up for with rich multi-layered atmosphere that is more than equal to any other horror effort produced by the larger film companies in the 1930's.

The action opens on a dark mist shrouded road where we see a carriage carrying young soon to be wed couple Madeleine, (Marge Bellamy), and fiance Neil (John Harron), to the Haitian plantation property of an acquaintance Charles Beaumont (Robert Frazer), who they met on a recent sea trip. Beaumont it seems has organized for the young couple to be married on the estate however his motives are devious ones as he seeks Madeleine for himself and plans to obtain her by fair means or foul. After failing in the lead up to the actual wedding ceremony to convince Madeleine to come away with him, Beaumont decides to use desperate measures to get her and consults with the mysterious "Murder", Legendre (Bela Lugosi), a neighbour who it turns out is a zombie master living on a remote estate who uses the "undead" or zombies to run his sugar plantation. Legendre gives him a strange potion which Beaumont applies to a rose which he gives to Madeleine before the ceremony which in time renders her an emotionless zombie with all the symptoms of actually being dead. The group buries Madeleine in the estate crypt however Beaumont removes her still living body to have her for his own however the Madeleine he felt such passion for is now an emotionless zombie with no attraction at all. Beaumont goes back to Legendre to see if he can change her back however the zombie master sees his own opportunity to obtain more workers and drugs Beaumont with the same potion rendering him into a semi zombie state. Meanwhile seeing that Madeleine's supposedly dead body has been removed from the crypt the distraught Neil sinks into a life of drunkeness however when warned by local priest/missionary Dr. Bruner (Joseph Cawthorn), that Madeleine may still be alive the pair eventually track her down to Legendre's castle where in the final confrontation both Legendre and Beaumont are killed and Madeleine is rescued from the zombie like trance she was imprisoned in to now be reunited with her young husband Neil.

It's very hard nowadays in our era of multi million dollar budgets and star salaries that a film such as 'White Zombie", was filmed in 11 days on a budget of $50,000 American dollars. It says alot for the great skill of early sound filmmakers that the impossible was seemingly achieved here with a polished look production that admittedly has its slow parts. For one of the few times in his erractic career Bela Lugosi has a role where his full screen presense is properly put to use. His sinister Zombie master "Murder' Legendre stands out as one of his better acting assignments and even though much of "White Zombie", is still emeshed in silent film technique and presentation he manages to work wonders with his minimal screen dialogue relying instead on his hypnotic eyes and commanding manner. Indeed it is appropriate that the first thing we see of Lugosi is his staring eyes superimposed over the screen before we even see his character fully in the story. The remainder of the performances are very much of the old school of acting and while capable, they betray the actors orgins in silent cinema. The young romantic couple played by Madge Bellamy and John Harron and Beaumont played by Robert Frazer are the best cases in point and it is significant that all of these actors despite their relatively young ages, found their careers ebbing away rapidly with the advent of full sound productions. Jospeh Cawthorn as the local missionary Dr. Bruner despite being of more of an advanced age displays more of the fluid qualities essential for acting in the sound era and he comes across as far more natural than the younger members of the cast. However "White Zombie", is Bela Lugosi's film all the way. Often accused even in "Dracula", of a stagey style of acting those qualities are what make shis character here work so well where so much of the menace of his character and his intentions is conveyed through his hypnotic stares that dont need alot of dialogue or movement. The second great star of 'White Zombie", is it's overwhelming atmosphere and superb use of shadow and light courtesy of gifted cameraman Arthur Martinelli who creates here one of the most doom laden horror tales of the 1930's. The scenes of the zombies marching up the hillside to work in the sugar refinery and the sinister graveyard scenes, in particular when we as the viewers seem to be literally entombed along with the Marge Bellamy character when her coffin is slid into the crypt are cinematic strokes of genius and are far superior to most of the other early talkie camerawork at this time. Even the frequent reuse of sets left over from earlier productions such as "Dracula", because of th elimited budget dont injure the films overall look, and Lugosi's eerie castle perched up on top of a stormy cliff above the ocean is one of the best matte painting backgrounds made for a horror movie in the '30's. Special mention must also finally go to the superior makeup work performed by Jack Pierce on his zombie creations and in creating the wonderfully sinister appearance for Bela Lugosi's character which really heightens the feeling of unease when he is on camera.

Considering the film's budget and the short time it was in production "White Zombie", is truly amazing for the rich visual quality of its presentation. It is also unique in that it tells its at times convuluted story with a minimum of dialogue where the emphasis is on facial expression to tell the intriguing story giving it an almost silent film feel. To properly see the legend that was horror icon Bela Lugosi there is truly no better vehicle than "White Zombie", where one can really appreciate the skill that this often maligned and underrated actor brought to low budget productions such as this. For an atmospheric horror tale populated by sinister individuals and strange happenings the early talkie "White Zombie" is a horror treat not to be missed. Starring the legendary Bela Lugosi in his second most famous role and now restored almost back to it's original magnificence for this DVD presentation this film is a must for Lugosi and early horror fans alike. Enjoy!

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