King of the Zombies (Monogram) (1941)

‘KING OF ZOMBIES' EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF HORROR PICTURE (Review ) Combining the destructive activities of a European government secret agent with the “black magic” of native voo dooism, but holding a fine comedy balance throughout, Monogram’s “King of the Zombies,” current attraction at the Theatre, is superior mystery-thriller. Although it is based on a ten-0= e. sion-laden premise of walking “dead men” committing fiendish crimes while under the control of a ruthless killer, the picture also swings strongly to the lighter side and has some truly hilarious moments. It is a film that should appeal to all types of motion picture fans. Under the direction of Jean Yarbrough, the cast, which includes Dick Purcell, Joan Woodbury, Mantan Moreland, John Archer and Henry Victor, turns in a fine performance. Moreland, the negro actor, does a bang-up job as the valet who suddenly finds himself associating with zombies—the walking dead. Purcell and Archer, the male leads, are equally proficient in their roles, while Victor achieves a fine portrayal as the secret agent. Miss Woodbury, as always, handles herg= assignment with neatness and finesse. Practically tearing a page from today’s newspapers, the story deals with the government operative who is working from a small island in the Caribbean Sea. Also a voodoo doctor of parts, the agent is adept at bringing dead men from their graves and turning them into messengers of death and terror. When their plane runs out of gas, Purcell, Archer and Moreland are forced to land on the island, and find themselves in the midst of an international crime plot. The picture marches to a surprise, actionpacked climax as the trio conducts an investigation that finally brings the agent to a well-deserved justice. FILM FLASHES Mantan Moreland, colored comedian featured with Dick Purcell and Joan Woodbury in Monogram’s “King of the Zombies,” now at the Theatre, is one of the busiest actors in Hollywood. Moreland has worked in six pictures within the past three months, something of a record when it is remembered that many actors don’t appear in six pictures during a year. Based on events that are making the headlines in today’s newspapers, Monogram’s “King of the Zombies,” mystery thriller with Dick Purcell, Joan Woodbury and Mantan Moreland, opens .......... Smee at the Theatre. The picture deals with the activities of a foreign government secret agent who uses his knowledge of native voodooism to gain his ends. an excellent example of the Tough Assignment Director Jean Yarbrough was faced with a neat problem during the filming of Monogram’s “King of the Zombies,’ current attraction at the Theatre. The script called for him to photograph a leprechaun —a little difficult because there isn’t any such object. A leprechaun is a personal good luck elf that just doesn’t go about being seen. Yarbrough finally decided to leave it to the imagination of the audience and let it go at that. The picture has a large cast that includes Dick Purcell, Joan Woodbury and Mantan Moreland. — NEW TERROR EPIC Joan Woodbury and John Archer face undreamed of horrors in “King of the Zombies,’”’ Monogram thriller. Two Col. Cut or Mat No. 20 c= > Screen Stars Step From SchoolCampusinto Films (Advance Feature) Hollywood is so full of stories about actors and actresses who journeyed halfway around the world to make good in motion pictures that it sometimes forgets about the persons who have scored in their own home town. From roaring, teeming cities such as New York and Chicago or lazy whistle-stops similar Adrian, Mich., and Fairfield, Conn., they stream to the movie capital | to seek fame and fortune—and Hollywood heralds the facts far and wide. For some reason, less emphasis is laid on the stories of the native sons and daughters who made the grade by practically stepping from a school campus onto a studio lot. Hollywood High School, for instance, has contributed a steady flow of talent to the studios for several years. Probably the biggest star to come out of Hollywood High is Joel McCrea, who still holds two school track records and was captain of the championship basketball team. He is one actor, incidentally, who never appeared in a campus play. Ben Alexander is another. He came along shortly after McCrea, but has scored consistently in pictures and on the radio. Jack Carson’s name also can be added to the list. Latest to follow in their footsteps is John Archer, who has a leading role in Monogram’s “King of the Zombies.” Archer had no thoughts of an acting career, but after graduation was drafted for <> TRAPPED BY ZOMBIES Plane-wrecked on an island of terror, John Archer, Dick Purcell and Mantan Moreland are captured by the “King of the Zombies.” Two Column Cui or Mat No. 21 toe a play at a local little theatre and has been an actor ever since. have done well for themselves, including Lana Turner and Judy Jinx Falkenberg, Shirley Ross and Cecelia Parker. Lana was _ practically snatched off the campus by a studio official while drinking an ice cream soda at a corner drug store. Judy was sitting in her mother’s car when an agent spotted the girl and whisked her to M-G-M —just like in a fairy tale. Jinx Falkenberg went to New York to come to Hollywood, a shightly round-about method, but productive of a contract at Warner Bros. Shirley Ross sang with dance bands around Los Angeles, clicked in a New York show and entered pictures under the Paramount banner. Cecelia Parker stayed at home and worked up the hard way, by battering at studio gates day after day. In “King of the Zombies” coming to the Theatre, Archer is featured with a cast that includes Dick Purcell, Joan Woodbury, Mantan Moreland and Henry Victor. Jean Yarbrough directed the mystery thriller for Producer Lindsley Parsons from a screenplay by Edmond Kelso. Here's Actor Who Mantan Moreland, comedian featured in Monogram’s “King of the Zombies,’ now at the Theatre, is one of the few men ever to “go the limit” with Champion Joe Louis. Of course, the limit was about one minute, but Moreland was still in at the finish. It happened three years ago when Mantan was working with Louis in a film, “Spirit of Youth.” For a comedy scene, Moreland was to pick a fight with the champion then spar with him for the 60 seconds. He was still standing at the end. “You know, sometimes I think the champ might have been ‘carrying me,’” confides Moreland. In “King of the Zombies,” mystery thriller, Mantan is featured with a cast that includes Dick Purcell, Joan Woodbury, Henry Victor and John Archer. Jean Yarbrough directed for Producer Lindsley Parsons. + The sweet girl graduates also | Garland in the past couple of years,+ Gave Louis ‘Fight EXPENSIVE WRECK Hollywood probably is the only place in the world where a wrecked airplane is almost as valuable as one in perfect flying condition. When Director Jean Yarbrough needed a demolished plane for a scene in Monogram’s “King of the Zombies,” now showing at the Theatre, he discovered the rental fee was nearly as high as it would be for an undamaged machine. The picture features Dick Purcell, Joan Woodbury and Man tan Moreland. FOREIGN AGENT Henry Victor plays a spy and Dick Pureell is a naval flyer in “King of the Zombies.”’ One Col. Cut or Mat No. 11 ‘Zombies’ Thriller With New Slant (Review ) Bolstered with the major essentials necessary for allround entertainment, Monogram’s “King of the Zombies,” which opened yesterday at the Theatre, is a mystery thriller with a new slant. Holding interest throughout because of the carefully developed “black magic” theme, it also has many high points of comedy and strong dramatic moments. Director Jean Yarbrough has handled his cast well, drawing the limit from such talented performers as Dick Purcell, Joan Woodbury, Mantan Moreland, Henry Victor and John Archer. He constantly achieves a nice balance between suspense and comedy that keeps the film marching at a fast pace. The timely story deals with a secret agent for a European government who is working from a base on a small island in the Caribbean Sea. The agent, played by Henry Victor, also is a voodoo doctor who has mastered the secret of turning “dead men” into walking <~automatons. Flying on a government mission, Purcell, Archer and Moreland are forced to land on the island—and stumble into a house of horror and a plot of international intrigue. The picture fairly bristles with suspense and action as they conduct a private investigation and finally give the agent his just deserts in a surprise climax. In the comedy department, at least, “King of the Zombies” is something of a signal triumph for Mantan Moreland, colored actor. The Monogram star plays his role as the valet for all it is worth and | provides some of the picture’s hi larious moments. Purcell and John Archer handle “the male leads with remarkable naturalness and Joan Woodbury is delectable as the heroine. Victor turns in a solid performance as the secret agent. Lindsley Parsons produced the film and Edmond Kelso wrote the screenplay. Screen Director Man of Finesse Make no mistake about it, Di rector Jean Yarbrough is a man of tact and finesse. He proved this while instructing Dick Purcell, Joan Woodbury and Mantan Moreland how to act for a scene in Monogram’s “King of the Zombies,” opening at the Theatre. “Now, when you see this ‘dead man’ rise from the coffin, recoil and 1] blanch with fear—you know, turn ” pale,” Yarbrough ordered. Moreland, a gentleman of color from Alabama, remonstrated: “Mistah Yarbrough, that is a little difficult for me.” The director pondered a second, then said: “Okeh, Mantan—you just sort of blanch darkly.” PURCELL, JOAN WOODBURY IN TIMELY MYSTERY PICTURE (Advance) Heralded as an excellent example of the mystery-thriller type of motion picture, Monogram’s ‘King of the Zombies” opens ..................-. the The film features Dick Purcell, Joan Woodbury and Mantan Moreland and was directed by Jean Yarbrough. Keeping time with today’s news, “King of the Zombies” is based on the activities of a foreign government secret agent who has mastered the art of voodooism. Through the use of a weird native rite, he is able to bring a semblance of life to dead men and use these “zombies” for his own insidious purposes. Although horror and suspense are its predominant features, the picture is well balanced with a strong comedy theme, upheld mainly by Moreland. The colored comedian, who has been making rapid strides in his career recently, is at his best as the valet who suddenly finds himself living with the “walking dead.” Working from Edmond Kelso’s screenplay, Yarbrough has welded a strong, compact picture that marches steadily ahead from the opening scenes to a_ surprising smash climax. In addition to Purcell, Moreland and Miss Woodbury, ‘King of the Zombies” has a cast that also includes John Archer, Henry Victor, Patricia Stacy and Marguerite Whitten. Lindsley Parsons produced and Mack Stengler was the _ photographer.