In white zombie, its not just that lugosi is pure evil, its that hes so convincingly evil. Search through our list of old movies, your greatest source of information on the web about classic films. Youre better off watching bela lugosis chandu movies. Murder legendre bela lugosi is the menacingly named zombie master of haiti. Webb, sued edward halperin and victor halperin, the films producers, for the movie rights. Trivia the play zombie opened in new york in february, 1932, and the author, kenneth s. M6d1 according to the film, white zombie, 1932 what are the zombies origins. His eyes are one of the major components to the atmosphere of white zombie, a precode horror film drenched in mood.
Fans of modern zombie movies will not want to miss how it all started. Following his sucess in dracula 1931 and murders in the rue morgue 1932, bela lugosi surprised some of his film industry colleagues by agreeing to star in white zombie 1932, a lowbudget production which exploited the countrys current interest in voodoo. White zombie is a 1932 horror film directed by victor halperin and starring bela lugosi. Audiences in 1932 were probably petrified by white zombies creepy atmosphere, even if they didnt know what to make of its image of haiti as a place where slavery has returned in the form of an occult curse. This is classic lugosi and helped set the tone for the future of horror.
The best part of the film is the scene in the sugar. White zombie is a 1932 american independent precode horror film directed and produced by brothers victor halperin and edward halperin. The film is in public domain and can often be found at cheap prices. Ive owned white zombie on at least two dvds for years, but i just watched the entire film for the first time without falling asleep this week, and im so glad i did, because i loved it. It is widely considered to be one of the top 100 greatest classic films of all time. The infamous bhorror movie star bela lugosi plan 9 from outer space stars in the first zombie movie ever made. Old drama movies free drama films black and white movies. Too much makeup, stilted overdone acting, as if there were no sound to convey the action taking place. Based on the 1929 novel the magic island by william seabrook, this was the first film to bring zombies into the silver screen, predating night of the living dead by 36 years.
Read the full synopsis of white zombie, 1932, directed by victor halperin, with bela lugosi, madge bellamy, joseph cawthorn, at turner classic movies. The movie was obviously made a shoe string budget but there are plenty of striking visual images, especially those involving bellamy after lugosi gets to her. It is about a young couple who go to visit an acquaintance who lives in haiti. Extremely effective images create a chilling atmosphere, and original film ideas make white zombie enjoyable on repeated viewings. His character is known as murder legendre, and plays the. This great film will surely attract a whole new generation of classic movie fans. Lugosi, better known for his sinister portrayal of count dracula, plays a haitian witch doctor with the power to animate the dead. For this and for lugosi white zombie is a must see for any horror.
With bela lugosi, madge bellamy, joseph cawthorn, robert frazer. And having now bought four different wz dvds, and also the rather expensive, 360 page hardcover, trivia filled book white zombie. The screenplay by garnett weston, based on the magic island by william seabrook, is about a young womans transformation into a zombie at the hands of an evil voodoo master. The evil sorcerer in white zombie, was played by the powerful actor bela lugosi. With white zombie, bela lugosi followed up his starmaking role in dracula with this exquisitely atmospheric 1932 horror film from the halperin brothers, who effectively transplanted the misty. This book analyzes the film text from nearly every possible viewpoint, using both academic and popular film theories. White zombie m6d1 according to the film white zombie. The owner of this website is a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon properties including, but not limited to,,, or. The first time i saw white zombie i was completely surprised to find that a zombie from the 1930s was an altogether different proposition from those we know today. White zombie may have drawn some elements from a play produced in new york and chicago in february 1932, zombie. This story is intertwined with the personal diary of murder legendre himself. White zombie 1932 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
White zombie is often described as being the first ever zombie movie. Instantly, the viewer is swept up into the mood of the piece. White zombie was no exception, but unlike other old horror films i. A young man turns to a witch doctor to lure the woman he loves away from her fiance, but instead turns her into a zombie slave. Spurned in marriage by madeline short madge bellamy. Industrial metal alternative metal groove metal hard rock alternative rock. Unfortunately the the girl is so attractive that she turns the head of a local voodoo master, played by bela lugosi, who wants her for himself, so he turns her into a zombie. White zombie did a lot of shooting at rented universal studios and sets, props, and furniture from such universal classics as the cat and the canary frankenstein, and the hunchback of notre dame can be spotted by astute film fans see more. Right from its opening moments, white zombie declares its intention to be a different kind of film. Instead of being an inexplicable, shuffling monster hungry for brains, the zombies in this movie are created. This is public domain so you can legally download it, post it, edit it, sell. It is a film about the danger of selfish desire, in a familiar draculalike backdrop.
Since this movie is also in the public domain, those of you so inspired can also find versions of it legally online. Bela lugosi stars as the zombie master murder legendre, with madge bellamy appearing as his. Extremely effective images create a chilling atmosphere, and original film ideas make white zombie. White zombie is a 1932 american independent precode horror film directed and produced by brothers victor halperin and edward halperin, respectively. So its to him that charles beaumont robert frazer goes when he needs help for a. Future zombie movies, including halperins revolt of the zombies would likewise revive corpses for use as free labor or unkillable. White zombie1932 full horror movie by victor halperin with bela. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. A zombie film made with the sensibilities of silent films. Bela lugosi, madge bellamy, joseph cawthorn director.
White zombie 1932 dvd 1933 us import is generally considered to be the best quality available. White zombie 1932 page 10 classic horror film board. This film was made in 1932 and it was the first time they used the word zombie for the undead,another famous movie was the 1943 release i walked with a zombie. White zombie is a 1932 american precode horror film independently produced by edward halperin and directed by victor halperin. Parker as the leads are rather unbelievable at this time however, their trusting innocence probably played well in 1932. White zombie is a minor masterpiece, a nightmare in chiaroscuro. White zombie 1932 is a classic movie directed by victor halperin, and starring bela lugosi. This is one of my top favorite bela lugosi horror films and one of my favorite zombie movies also. Webb thought so he sued white zombies producers, victor and edward halperin for infringementbut lost. White obvious limitations are natural as the film was shot in 11 days for a tiny budget, white zombie is a decent and not to mention the first zombie film known in cinema.
The zombies are very creepy and are the precursors to zombie classics later made by tourneur, romero, fulci and raimi. I have long considered this bela lugosis best performance, even better than dracula. The greatest thing about old drama movies is that they are free of charge to watch and download legally. White zombie bela lugosi 1932 full movie hd remastered. Talk about a dreamlike atmosphere and a creepy setting. Enjoy some of the finest classic drama movies ever made. Many saw the film as poorly acted and overdone, but now it is widely regarded as a classic even inspiring rob zombie to use the name for his band. From the depths of the darkness comes this riveting prequel to the 1932 film, white zombie. Madge bellamy is so desirable, and her fiancee, neil, played by john harron is one. One can suppose it was inevitable for hammer to take on a lesser celebrated at the time yet influential subgenre such as zombies.
It begins, not with the standard credits, but with a scene. A prequel to the 1932 classic, white zombie brad a. Victor halperin in this precode horror masterpiece, a young man seeks the help of a. It is about a young couple who go to visit an acquaintance who lives in. This film does not depict zombies as we have come to know them, but rather as mindless undead slaves doing their masters bidding. No, this film is not a case history of a trump voter, but is rather an early atmospheric creep out with bela. The horde of the undead here are not flesh eaters but simply those who have lost the ability to think and feel, the result of voodoo, hypnotism, and lugosis ghoulish eyes. The movie has referred to haitian voodoo practices for the origins concept of the zombie. This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title white zombie. Brandishing such abilities, lugosi is asked to help a man kill and then animate. So its to him that charles beaumont robert frazer goes when he needs help for a twisted plan. In haitian myth, a zombie is a corpse that has been resurrected by a voodoo sorcerer. The first time i ever saw victor halperins 1932 film white zombie which will be screening at the gene siskel film center twice this week in a 35millimeter restoration by the ucla film.
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