King of the Zombies (Monogram) (1941)

‘Walking Dead’ Weird Basis For Mystery-Thyiller Plot (Advance) Based on a startling story of walking “dead men” and the activities of secret agents working for a European government, Monogram’s “King of the Zombies,” weird mystery thriller, will open at the: 2S aoe Theatre. Dick Purcell, Joan Woodbury, Mantan Moreland and Henry Victor are: featured-aspart= of av... See aes well chosen cast that also includes SS as John Archer, Patricia Stacy and CAPTIVE! Marguerite Whitten. The picture was directed by Jean Yarbrough for Producer Lindsley Parsons. As timely as today’s newspaper headlines, “King of the Zombies” is a super-horror film created around the insidious operations of a government agent who has mastered the native art of voodooism. The terror angle is well balanced by a strong comedy trend that carries off many hilarious scenes. The plot of the picture is based on an ancient voodoo rite, still believed by many superstitious individuals to be practiced in the wilds of native jungles. It is a process by which a dead body, controlled by a master mentality, is given the power to move about much as a mechanical robot or hypnotized person. Around this belief Edmond Kelso has woven an eerie, authentic screenplay that sets “King of the Zombies” far above the average mystery film. The picture was photographed by Mack Stengler. Joan Woodbury plays the girl en San aS ae slaved by a master of black magic in “King of the Zombies” at the Theatre. Even ek Movies One Col. Mat or Cut No. 8 It Can't Happen : Dick Purcell, who is seen as an re pik Parcel, Joan Woodbury 24] airplane pilot in Monogram's “King : of the Zombies,” openin a cemetery for a scene in Monoa OP & 6-06.89 8 Oe eta ace fe Bec 3p PARE? HAE. cacarnonea deo tee Theatre, really ee aE of the Zombies, knows his part backwards. The mite FACE TS ea actor is one of the outstanding air an authentic, although slightly dishevelled, graveyard. Most of the gravestones had been knocked over, doors on some of the tombs swung crazily on long-rusted hinges and many of the coffins were exposed from opened graves. Halfway through the scene, Purcell suddenly stopped the action, pointed to a weather-beaten headstone and said to Director Jean Yarbrough: ‘“‘Hey, this will never do—not even in the movies.” The tombstone read: “James Hall, 1853-1826.” The man had died before he was born. Yarbrough called for a new stone and work enthusiasts in Hollywood, with many flying hours to his credit. NEW LANGUAGE Because some of the characters speak in a native gibberish, Writer Edmond Kelso created a new language to be used in Monogram’s “King of the Zombies,”’ now showing at the He ealls his Theatre. creation ‘“‘messolango”’ and _ it’s a combination of French, Dutch, Spanish and Chinese—with a little American slang thrown in. Dick Purcell, Joan Woodbury and Mantan Moreland head a large cast in the mystery thriller. continued. Lindsley Parsons produced “King of the Zombies” from a screenplay by Edmond Kelso. The Cast MaG nt eee DICK PURCELL Jefe ce MANTAN MORELAND Billies ae JOHN ARCHER Dr Sangrés HENRY VICTOR Batbaraca JOAN WOODBURY Al ycen soe PATRICIA STACY | Samantha..... MARGUERITE WHITTEN ‘Tahama_ 22: MADAME SUL-TE-WAN Mombar os. Sos. LEIGH WHIPPER avaruse = sts = JIMMY DAVIS e Credits Producer... LINDSLEY PARSONS Director _.... Sec JEAN YARBROUGH Screenplay _............... EDMOND KELSO Edited by _............ RICHARD CURRIER Settings. DAVE MILTON Photography _.......... MACK STENGLER Sound==.=. i GLEN ROMINGER Screen’s Ace Nazi London Favorite Henry Victor is an actor who can portray a nasty Nazi in a manner to make Herr Goering blush with shame. He can act the typical Teutonic gentleman to a “T,”’ being courtly, arrogant, brow-beating or cruel as the script may demand. This is worthy of comment because Victor really is a bloomin’ Englishman, born and bred in the heart of London. Specializing in villainous characters such as he portrays in Monogram’s “King of the Zombies,” coming to the Theatre, Victor has made a Hollywood name for himself as a master of downright nastiness. Because his appearance is Germanic, Victor is an Englishman who always finds himself, on the screen, plotting the downfall of England or America in various insidious ways. His recent roles include that of the Gestapo officer in “Escape” and the Teutonic “heavy” in “Charter Pilot.” Coming from England nearly Hollywood Bugaboo Fails to Faze Purcell, All Round Actor There is one bugaboo in Hollywood that makes strong actors turn pale and beautiful actresses clench their long term contracts with a never-say-die look in their eyes. It is | the fear of being “typed,” that is, playing the same sort of role over and over again until the patient public finally tires and hollers ‘“‘enough.”’ nome of the most. strongly estab-— lished stars in motion pictures have | LOVE TEAM | been “typed” right out of the industry. It wasn’t their fault, but rather the error of producers who cast them in the same manner of role through film after film. There is one actor, however, who has no fear of such an end because he seldom plays the same _ part twice in twenty pictures. He is Dick Purcell, featured with Joan Woodbury and Mantan Moreland in “King of the Zombies,” opening Stabe = Theatre. Purcell has been in pictures|§ nearly six years and he has played | § everything from gangsters, sailors | | and newspapermen to heroes, comedians and aviators. “T guess I’m a sort of jack-of-|{ all-trades,” explains Purcell. “I’ve got the kind of face that fits on practically anybody, so the producers cast me as practically anything. It’s quite an advantage in more ways than one, and it certainly keeps life from settling into a dull routine.” In “King of the Zombies,” Purcell is seen as an aviator who battles through many dangers before solving the mystery of the “walking dead.” Jean Yarbrough directed the picture for Producer Lindsley Parsons. John Archer rescues Joan Woodbury from voodoo terrors in “King of the Zombies.”’ One Col. Cut or Mat No. 9 Producer Lindsley Parsons has literally torn a page from today’s newspapers for Monogram’s “King of the Zombies,” now showing at Theatre. The myswhich features Dick three years ago, Victor will be an American citizen in a few more weeks, but he probably will continue to be a German for Hollywood purposes. In “King of the Zombies,” Victor, seen as a foreign government secret agent, is featured with a cast that includes Dick Purcell, Joan Woodbury and Mantan Moreland. Jean Yarbrough directed the film for Producer Lindsley Parsons. Hollywood was ever thus. When Dick Purcell signed for his role in Monogram’s “King of the Zombies,” now showing at the Theatre, a special clause was inserted in the contract that prevented the actor, an air enthusiast, from flying his plane. The studio didn’t want to take any chances on a possible accident that might delay work on the production. Purcell, willing to forgo his flying for a few weeks, signed the contract, then read the script. His role is that of an aviator and he spent the first two days of production flying a plane over Los Angeles airport. In addition to Purcell, “King of the Zombies,” directed by Jean Yar tan Moreland, is based on the activities of a European government agent who has mastered the native art of voodooism. CONTEST WINNER John Archer, who has a featured role with Dick Purcell, Joan Woodbury and Henry Victor in Monogram’s “King of the Zombies,”’ is one of the few contest winners to make good in Hollywood. He was a winner on the “Gateway to Hollywood’’ radio program and has appeared in many pictures recently. The young actor has his most impor brough, has a cast that includes Joan Woodbury, John Archer and Henry Victor. Lindsley Parsons produced. tant role, however, in “‘King of the Zombies,” now showing at thes oe Theatre. Here's the Weird Story of “King of the Zombies’ (Not for Publication) While Bill Summers, “Mac” McCarthy and Jefferson Jackson, Summers’ valet, are flying over the Caribbean Sea, their plane runs low on gas and they are forced to land on a small desert island. Only inhabitants of the island, exclusive of natives, are Dr. Sangre, his wife, Alyce Sangre, and his niece, Barbara. The mysterious Sangre, in reality a voodoo doctor and agent for a foreign government, is courteous to the three visitors, but there is an air of tension and “black magic” about his huge stone house. Jefferson accidentally stumbles onto the doctor’s weird secret when he encounters zombies, living dead men, wandering about the house—but Summers / | VOODOO RULER | and “Mac” think he is suffering delusions. Events|) during the night, however, convince Summers and his |} pilot that they should ask for help on the plane’s radio. The radio is missing from the wrecked plane, and while making an investigation “Mac” disappears. In the meantime, Jefferson has been bewitched by the doctor and marches with the zombies. Henry Victor has the terrifying title role in “King of the Zombies,”’ new thriller at the One Col. Cut or Mat No. 10 That evening, while Summers and Barbara are planning an escape from the island, “Mac” staggers into the room—a walking dead man! When “Mac” is officially pronounced dead, Sangre insists on an immediate burial, but really turns the aviator into a zombie. Held as a prisoner by Sangre is Admiral Wainwright, from whom the doctor is attempting to force valuable government information. Unable to torture Wainwright into any admissions, Sangre elects to perform the rite of transmigration, the act of sending Wainwright’s mind into Barbara’s body. During this strange voodoo rite, Summers and Jackson batter their way into the ceremonial room to save Barbara. Sangre orders “Mac,” now under his control, to lead the zombies against the intruders. Summers, however, masters the doctor’s will and turns “Mac” against Sangre. In a wild melee, “Mac” and Sangre fall into a flaming pit and the doctor’s spell is broken. .|A ship puts in at the island several days later to take off Summers, Barbara and Jackson.