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White Zombie

Starring: Bela Lugosi Director: Victor Halperin

Bela Lugosi stars as the evil zombie master Murder Legendre in this undisputed horror classic. The film still remains disturbingly effective seventy years after it was first released.

I got this DVD when it was a weekly special for forty-nine cents. Never heard of this movie even though I am a fan of 1930s horror films. Well, just like my review title says: the best .49 I ever spent. GREAT movie with a GREAT atmosphere and a GOOD plot. Bela does it again! Enjoy!

Although Lugosi is most closely identified with Dracula, this film may actually be one of his best films.

"White Zombie" is an independent production by the same people who produced the follow up, the "Revolt of the Zombies". This little film is unique in its artistic camera work, its incredible sets (and their creative use) and, above all, its pacing and staging. The movie floats along, much like the German classic "Vampyr" in a dreamy, otherworldly pace.

Several scenes are worth the entire cost of admission: the shot of the young bride through the carved staircase; the scene with the zombies working in the sugar mill, including one of the workers falling into the machine works; the shots of the house on the cliffs above the ocean, the scene of the zombies in the graveyard - these are all classics.

Lugosi is over the top, as usual, but it works, in this tale of lust and power.

Frazer is perfect as the tortured suitor who resorts to turning Madge Bellamy into a zombie. The biggest problem with this film is that Ms. Bellamy's performance is so flat it's hard to tell when she's under the power of the zombie master (Lugosi) or when she's in control of herself.

This has been adequately reviewed here but I would add a vote that it is a real gem and kind of a must-have. The spookiness of the setting remains creepy even today. Thin on plot by today's standards I'll bet this thing scared the bejezzus of folks back when...

One of the many low budget films that Bela Lugosi would make after his career peaked in the early '30s. In spite of a somewhat over zealous music soundtrack and some unintentional humor, I liked this film.

I have always been a huge fan of Bela Lugosi so even though this is not his best, I like it because it is very spooky and Lugosi seems comfortable with his dialog.

I would not call this a classic by any means but it is entertaining and well worth adding to a Lugosi collection.

Film's story and stars' performances have been reviewed adequately elsewhere. This DVD version was obviously made from a fine (for its age) print. But watch out for the dim horizontal bands of color which climb up the screen especially during the darker scenes (of which there are many): I found them quite distracting.

Fresh from his success in Universal's film version of "Dracula", Bela Lugosi scores again in a haunting, albeit slowly paced, tale of love, lust, and possession. There's a turgid tale of morality in this moody, atmospheric story. As other reviewers have noted, the film marks a transitional phase in both cinematography and acting from silents to "talkies", so there is value here that goes beyond the story line.

There are more than a few who consider this to be Lugosi's best performance, and I will say that it certainly is a unique one. The first time I saw this movie, I was falling asleep and didn't particularly appreciate it. Upon subsequent viewings, however, I realized the error in my ways. This extremely moody film, which is an early talkie (1932), has very much the feel, pacing, and acting of a silent film with occasional dialogue.

The print on this DVD is excellent. The first time I saw this movie, the print and sound was pretty awful, which contributed to my dislike. For those who aren't concerned with the frilly extras that the $25 version you can get of the DVD offer, this version is the way to go. Oldies.com rules!

Slow, but atmospheric early horror flick. Bela's best performance, IMO.