IMDb > King of the Zombies (1941)

King of the Zombies (1941) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
4.9/10   706 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
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Director:
Jean Yarbrough
Writer:
Edmond Kelso (story)
Contact:
View company contact information for King of the Zombies on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 May 1941 (USA) more
Genre:
Horror | Comedy | Drama more
Tagline:
HUMAN SACRIFICES! SAVAGE TORTURE! VOODOO RITES! more
Plot:
During World War 2, a small plane off the south coast of America is low on fuel and blown off course by a storm... more | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. more
NewsDesk:
Donna Davies' 'Zombiemania' documentary on Starz! Tonight!
 (From pretty-scary. 13 October 2009, 2:00 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Mantan Moreland was great! more (54 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Dick Purcell ... James 'Mac' McCarthy
Joan Woodbury ... Barbara Winslow
Mantan Moreland ... Jefferson 'Jeff' Jackson
Henry Victor ... Dr. Miklos Sangre
John Archer ... Bill Summers
Patricia Stacey ... Alyce Sangre
Guy Usher ... Admiral Arthur Wainwright
Marguerite Whitten ... Samantha, the Maid
Leigh Whipper ... Momba, the Butler
Madame Sul-Te-Wan ... Tahama, the Cook and High Priestess
James Davis ... Lazarus, a Zombie (as Jimmy Davis)
Laurence Criner ... Dr. Couillie (as Lawrence Criner)
more
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Additional Details

Runtime:
67 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Certification:
UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (2005) | USA:Approved (PCA #7290)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In the presskit for this film, Monogram blatantly advised exhibitors to sell "it along the same lines as [Paramount's] The Ghost Breakers (1940)." The Bob Hope horror/comedy was a runaway hit at the time. more
Goofs:
Boom mic visible: When the servants and Jeff are gathered around the dining room table before midnight, the boom mic shadow can be seen on the table moving from speaking character to speaking character. more
Quotes:
Jefferson 'Jeff' Jackson: [hearing voodoo drums] It ain't Gene Krupa! more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Bamboozled (2000) more

FAQ

Is this available on DVD?
Can I watch this film online?
more
21 out of 24 people found the following comment useful.
Mantan Moreland was great!, 27 August 2004
6/10
Author: Steve Haynie from Easley, South Carolina

Mantan Moreland really shines in this movie. He was a great character actor, and he had a LOT of screen time in King Of The Zombies. He wasn't a supporting character in King Of The Zombies; his part was equal among the main players and his name shared equal billing in the opening credits.

Forget what others say about racial stereotyping and enjoy his performance. The man worked with what he was given and took it to as much of a polished performance as possible. Blame Hollywood, not the actor, if you don't like his performance. His takes and reactions were superb. Smiley Burnette and Lou Costello did the same thing in "scary" situations, but Mantan Moreland had a flair for the comedy take that set him apart. He really was great on screen.

King Of The Zombies itself is not the best for a mystery/adventure movie from the time period, but it has the right feel for the time period if you like old movies. All the right elements are there for a fun movie. Why it doesn't really work better is a mystery. Don't expect too much and you will have a good time watching this one.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (54 total)

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