Nov 25, 2019 the daughter of the dean of literature at the university of texas, margaret philpott began her showbiz career in a denver stock company. Bela lugosi, madge bellamy, joseph cawthorn production company. White zombie was one of the rare films that provided lugosi with just such an opportunity. Bela lugosi stars as the zombie master murder legendre, with madge bellamy. Monsieur beaumont convinces a young couple to get married on his haitian plantation. After a few seasons as a chorus girl, madge made her broadway acting debut in 1918, replacing helen hayes in dear brutus. In white zombie, madge bellamy appears in a lingerie scene that is quite daring for 1932. In spite of its budgetary limitations, white zombie manages to be a remarkably atmospheric treatment of the haitian zombie myth, which would evolve into one of the most popular and enduring subgenres of the. In this clip lugosi, as master of the zombies, prepares a wax doll with which he will cast a spell over madge bellamy 18991990, making her one of the living dead. Bela lugosi stars as the antagonist, murder legendre, with madge bellamy appearing. White zombie is available for free download at the internet archive white zombie at rotten tomatoes. Originally from denver, she moved to new york as a teenager and got a job as a chorus girl in the earl carroll show the love mill 1918.
Opening by independent producerdirector brothers edward and victor halperin, madeline and neil madge bellamy, john harron arrived in haiti, their coachman clarence muse alert and murder legendre bela lugosi lurking, in white zombie, 1932, often cited as the first zombie. This list is contains the best horror movies from the 60s and older. In white zombie, its not just that lugosi is pure evil, its that hes so convincingly evil. She got her start in theater working with a stock company in denver. Madge bellamy recalled her collaboration with lugosi positively, stating that he was very pleasant and that he used to kiss. The picture is crisp and clear, and the sound is ok. White zombie bela lugosi 1932 full movie hd remastered. Using standing sets on the universal lot from frankenstein and dracula, among others and the studios makeup maestro jack pierce, they fashioned an atmospheric, perverse, oddly poetic horror film in a mere 11 days lugosi plays zombie master murder legendre in. White zombie is often described as being the first ever zombie movie. If you love black and white horror, you will love this list. White zombie is a 1932 american precode horror film independently produced by edward halperin and directed by victor halperin. Madge bellamy as a beatiful bride wearing a wonderfully decorated veil.
Put under a personal contract by a broadway producer, madge got her big break when she replaced helen hayes in the broadway play dear brutus. White zombie 1932 hd bela lugosi, madge bellamy, joseph. Bela lugosi stars as the zombie master murder legendre, with madge bellamy appearing as his. The screenplay by garnett weston, based on the magic island by william seabrook, is about a young womans transformation into a zombie at the hands of an evil voodoo master. Thankfully white zombie widely known as the first ever zombie movie is not one of them. How to get the look of 1930s hollywoods first zombie girl madge bellamy the 1930s precode film white zombie, co starring bela lugosi. White zombie is a 1932 american independent precode horror film directed and produced by brothers victor halperin and edward halperin, respectively.
Despite the prints splices, scratches, and soft sound, this screening of white zombie planted indelible memories in my mind, strengthened further by seeing roans 2008 dvd release. White zombie is a 1932 american precode horror film independently produced by edward. Remastered in hd for the first time from kino classics. Coveting beautiful madge bellamy as his bride, wealthy robert frazier is refused her hand in marriage. Madge bellamy died in 1990, one month before the publication of her memoirs, darling of the 20s. White zombie was cast with former silent actors which, at least in part, explains the stilted acting outdated for even 1932. About the actor its ironic that martin landau won an oscar for impersonating bela lugosi in ed wood 1994 when lugosi himself never came within a mile of one, but thats just the latest of many sad ironies surrounding lugosis career. While traveling to new york, the young couple madeleine short parker madge bellamy and her fiance neil parker john harron are convinced by their new.
White zombie s influence, seen in the manner in which slowmoving zombies have walked ever since, the stark dreamlike visuals of this mad fantasy, as well as the story and strength of its central characters, is why i. White zombie bela lugosi madge bellamy robert frazer 1932 a voodoo master bela lugosi of sugarmill zombies holds another mans bride madge bellamy in his haitian castle. While acting in peg omy heart in washington dc she was spotted. It is widely considered to be one of the top 100 greatest classic films of all time.
White zombie special edition bluray vci entertainment. In this haunting lowbudgeter, bela lugosi stars as murder legendre, a shadowy character who exercises supernatural powers over the natives in his haitian domain. After a few seasons as a chorus girl, madge made her broadway acting debut in 1918, replacing helen. Bela lugosi stars as the zombie master murder legendre, with madge bellamy appearing as his victim. She also began attending screenings of the low budget horror film white zombie, which was a moderate success upon its initial release and has since become a cult classic. The screenplay by garnett weston, based on the magic island by. Bellamy remained out of public view until the 1980s when film historians and silent film fans who had rediscovered her work began requesting interviews. White zombie 1932 is a classic movie directed by victor halperin, and starring bela lugosi. Buy white zombie movie posters from movie poster shop. Victor halperin in this precode horror masterpiece, a young man seeks the help of a witch doctor to lure the woman he loves away from.
This list was made by the members of the horrormovies. When first released, white zombie occupies a deserved place beside dracula and frankenstein as one of the most eerie and interesting horror films of the 1930s and remains a horror classic. Her career declined in the sound era, and ended following a romantic scandal in the 1940s. White zombie is the story of madeline short madge bellamy and neil parker john harron, two young people engaged to be married, who are traveling in haiti.
A young man turns to a witch doctor to lure the woman he loves. Frohmann, who gave her the stage name of madge bellamy. Bela lugosi, madge bellamy, joseph cawthorn director. This is as good as it gets when it comes to picture and sound quality. Her success as a stage actress led to her being signed by fox pictures. She was a popular leading lady in the 1920s and early 1930s. Put under a personal contract by a broadway producer, madge. June 30, 1899 january 24, 1990 was an american stage and film actress.
Includes a dvd of the film white zombie as well as a tshirt with the original poster art on it. Madge bellamy margaret derden philpott, 18991990 was born on june 30. Despite these problems, the movie is lavish to look at, and the interactions between lugosi and bellamy make it all worthwhile. White zombie 1932 classic scifi and horror movie dvdr. White zombie 1932 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Murder legendre bela lugosi has madeleine madge bellamy in his thrall, while charles beaumont robert frazer looks on, in white zombie. White zombie by victor halperin bela lugosi, madge. The film still remains disturbingly effective seventy years after it was first released. Opening by independent producerdirector brothers edward and victor halperin, madeline and neil madge bellamy, john harron arrived in haiti, their coachman clarence muse alert and murder legendre bela lugosi lurking, in white zombie, 1932, often cited as the first zombie movie.