King of the Zombies is a 1941 horror comedy film about three stranded travellers who find an evil doctor in control of zombies and working with foreign spies on a spooky island.
The movie was directed by Jean Yarbrough (The Devil Bat; She-Wolf of London; House of Horrors) from a screenplay by Edmond Kelso. It was produced by Monogram Pictures.
The role of Doctor Miklos Sangre was intended for Bela Lugosi. When he became unavailable, negotiations ensued to obtain Peter Lorre for the part, but a deal could not be reached. Veteran character actor Henry Victor was signed just prior to the date of filming.
In the press kit for this film, Monogram advised exhibitors to sell “it along the same lines as Paramount’s The Ghost Breakers (1940).”
Two years later, in 1943, the film was followed by a sequel, of sorts, called Revenge of the Zombies which included two of the original cast members. Mantan Moreland reprised his role as Jeff.
Plot synopsis:
During World War II, a Capelis XC-12 plane somewhere over the Caribbean runs low on fuel and is blown off course by a storm. Guided by a faint radio signal, they crash-land on an island. The passenger, his manservant and the pilot take refuge in a mansion owned by a doctor.
Quick-witted yet easily frightened valet (Mantan Moreland) soon becomes convinced the mansion is haunted by zombies and confirms this with some of the doctor’s hired help.
Exploring, the three stumble upon a voodoo ritual being conducted in the cellar, where the doctor, who is in reality a foreign spy, is trying to acquire war intelligence from a captured US Admiral whose plane had crashed in a similar fashion on the island. But the interruption causes the zombies to turn on their master…
“… utterly absurd and delightful” Peter Dendle, The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia book
Buy: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com
Cast and characters:
Dick Purcell … James McCarthy
Joan Woodbury … Barbara Winslow
Mantan Moreland … Jefferson ‘Jeff’ Jackson
Henry Victor … Doctor Miklos Sangre
John Archer … Bill Summers
Patricia Stacey … Alyce Sangre
Guy Usher … Adm. Wainwright
Marguerite Whitten … Samantha
Leigh Whipper … Momba
Madame Sul-Te-Wan … Tahama
James/Jimmy Davis … Lazarus
Laurence Criner … Doctor Couillie
Elias English … Zombie
Darby Jones … Zombie
Edward Patrick … Zombie
Thomas Sherman … Zombie
Josephine Whitten … Native Girl
Country of origin:
United States
Technical specs:
1 hour 7 minutes
Black and white
Aspect ratio: 1.37: 1
Trailer [240p]:
Free to watch online on YouTube [1440p HD]:
Free to watch online on YouTube [1080p HD]:
Free to watch online in colour on YouTube [1440p HD]:
Free to watch online on YouTube [480p]:
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