Cult of the Cobra (1955)

American G.I.s who trespass on a Hindu ceremony are hunted down by a beautiful woman who has the power to transform herself into a cobra.

Director:

Francis D. Lyon

Writers:

Jerry Davis (story), Jerry Davis (screenplay)

Stars:

Faith Domergue, Richard Long, Marshall Thompson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Faith Domergue	...	Lisa Moya
Richard Long	...	Paul Able
Marshall Thompson	...	Tom Markel
Kathleen Hughes	...	Julia Thompson
William Reynolds	...	Pete Norton
Jack Kelly	...	Carl Turner
Myrna Hansen	...	Marian Sheehan
David Janssen	...	Rico Nardi
Leonard Strong	...	Daru
James Dobson	...	Cpl. Nick Hommel
Walter Coy	...	Police Inspector
Carl Carlsson	...	Cult Dancer (as The Carlssons)
Ruth Carlsson	...	Cult Dancer (as The Carlssons)
Olan Soule	...	Major Martin Fielding
Helen Wallace	...	Mrs. Webber

Storyline

While stationed in Asia, six American G.I.'s witness the secret ritual of Lamians (worshipers of women who can change into serpents). When discovered by the cult, the High Lamian Priest vows that "the Cobra Goddess will avenge herself". Once back in the United States, a mysterious woman enters into their lives and accidents begin to happen. The shadow of a cobra is seen just before each death.

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Plot Keywords:

cobra | 1940s | apartment | snake charmer | car accident | 

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Taglines:

Can a woman's beauty be changed to a thing of terror?

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 August 1955 (Finland)

Also Known As:

De verering van de cobra

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

All five of this movie's leading men later starred in at least one successful TV series: Richard Long ("The Big Valley"), Marshall Thompson ("Daktari"), William Reynolds ("The F.B.I."), Jack Kelly ("Maverick"), and David Janssen ("The Fugitive").

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Quotes

Daru: The cobra has a fascination. It's like looking death in the face.

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Connections

Featured in Coming Soon (1982)

User Reviews

A Reptile Dysfunction/Imperialism Gets Bit!

I and my friends have viewed this film more than a few times since first seeing it about two years ago. We find it fascinating, because - like many "cheap" productions - it has unconscious psychological/cultural elements that make it timelessly significant and - frankly - as entertaining as hell.

One of the large themes coursing through the film is American imperialism, as it manifests itself in the GIs' callous disregard of local religious customs, and the subsequent defilement of a temple by theft. Needless to say, vengeance is forthcoming in the guise of a cobra/woman. These things happen...

Once this avenger has come to the U.S. the boorish behavior of the men continues, their imperialism now rendered down to mere sexual aggressiveness: one of the men finds it perfectly okay to go into a woman's apartment while she's out and camp on the couch.

Men die, and one shouldn't forget they EARNED it. And the very ending is a psycho-sexual gem, which prompts one to rename the film "Omigod, I Screwed A Snake." The man who skulks away will not be showing his face in any society for a long, long time.