White Zombie [Blu-ray]

Director: Victor Halperin Victor Halperin

Overview

In this haunting low-budgeter, Bela Lugosi stars as Murder Legendre, a shadowy character who exercises supernatural powers over the natives in his Haitian domain. Coveting Madge Bellamy as his bride, wealthy Robert Frazier enters into an unholy agreement with Lugosi, whereby Madge will die, then be resurrected as a zombie.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/29/2013
UPC:	0738329107727
Original Release:	1932
Rating:	NR
Source:	Kino Lorber
Presentation:	[B&W]
Language:	English
Time:	1:07:00
Sales rank:	2,800

Special Features

Dual edition includes both a digitally restored version as well as the raw, unenhanced film transfer; Audio Commentary by Film Historian Frank Thompson; "Intimate Interviews" (1932), a 6-minute interview with Bela Lugosi; 1951 theatrical re-issue trailer; Stills Gallery

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Bela Lugosi	Murder Legendre
Madge Bellamy	Madeline Short
John Harron	Neil Parker
Joseph Cawthorn	Dr. Bruner
Robert Frazer	Charles Beaumont
Clarence Muse	Coach Driver
Brandon Hurst	Silver
Dan Crimmins	Pierre
John Peters	Chauvin,Actor
George Burr MacAnnan	Von Gelder
John Printz	Zomby
Claude Morgan	Zomby
John Fergusson	Zomby
Annette Stone	Maid
Velma Gresham	Maid
John T. Prince	Actor
John Ferguson	Actor
Hugo Riesenfeld	Composer
Xavier Cugat	Composer
Abe Meyer	Composer

Technical Credits

Garnett Weston

Victor Halperin	Director,Producer
Garnett Weston	Screenwriter
Howard Anderson	Special Effects
Phil Goldstone	Producer
Howard A. Anderson	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

It is altogether typical of Bela Lugosi's lousy business judgement that he accepted one of his finest film roles for a mere $500 dollars. In the haunting low-budgeter White Zombie, Lugosi stars as Murder Legendre, a shadowy character who exercises supernatural powers over the natives in his Haitian domain. Coveting beautiful Madge Bellamy as his bride, wealthy Robert Frazier is refused her hand in marriage. He enters into an unholy agreement with Lugosi, whereby Madge will fall ill and die, then be resurrected as a zombie-and, implicitly, Frazier's love-slave. This is accomplished, but Lugosi, relishing the hold he has over Frazier, refuses to release Madge's soul. She is ultimately rescued from Living Death by her faithful beau Robert Harron and missionary Joseph Cawthorn (heretofore merely the comedy relief). Few talkie horror films have ever so expertly captured the "feel" of the silent cinema as White Zombie; the film's ethereal, ghostlike ambience enables the audiences to accept even the most ludicrous of plot twists. The producers, Victor and Edward Halperin, use the film's tiny budget to their advantage, evocatively suggesting the horrors that they haven't the financial wherewithal to show on screen. Lugosi is superb throughout, making the most of such seemingly innocuous lines as "Well, well, we understand one another better, now." Long ignored or shunted aside as insignificant, White Zombie can hold its own with any of the like-vintage Universal horror classics.

All Movie Guide - Hal Erickson