Short Take: White Zombie (1932)

"Before we get through with this thing, we may uncover sins that even the devil would be ashamed of. Oh, these witch doctors..."

(Short takes are from my review archive on another platform. I’ll be coming back to them in the future for a full treatment.)

This movie has some great ideas and shots, even if it fails often in execution. Unlike many of the other 1930s movies I've seen recently, this one seems to have much more difficulty moving beyond the silent film era in much of the acting, direction and score. There are some absolutely beautiful shots and backdrops. The sugar cane factory scene, the scene with Neil going mad at the club, the view of Legendre's castle on the cliff - the castle interior itself is also gorgeous. At the same time many shots and effects are equally awkward or clunky, even for the time. The score, as well, is very hit and miss. The vocal parts are very powerful is setting the scene and building tension, but the instrumental music is a real throwback to the silent film era, and ultimately interferes with immersion in the story.

Neil: Why did you drive like that, you fool? We might have been killed!
Driver: Worse than that, Monsieur. We might have been caught.

Legosi, playing Murder Legendre, is entertaining if, as is often the case, exceedingly slow and unibrowed. The camera often frames him in close ups of face and hands, but these shots carry less weight and drama than in Dracula or Murders in the Rue Morgue. Ultimately his interest in Madeline and Beaumont is the most puzzling part of the whole film. What does he gain from his involvement? His powers and mechanics of the zombie process are revealed along the way, but incompletely and, because of that, the ending of the movie is somewhat unsatisfying. One of the most dramatic moments is interrupted with a hand coming out of nowhere in a way that's completely unexplained. I don't care what year it is, that's just dumb.

One thing to ponder is why so many of these movies feature people becoming suddenly and inexplicably debilitated. Yeah, Neil's wife died, and that's hard, but the way he's flouncing around and sighing is just embarrassing, and then to spring to action at a critical point. I've noticed this in virtually every movie from the 30s I've seen. This is something we don't see so much now, because characters get pissed off and get even. One thing we also don't see is people putting lit pipes into their jacket pockets. Was this a thing? If the zombies don't get you, lighting yourself on fire might do the trick.

Listen to a discussion of White Zombie on the Castle of Horror podcast!