White Zombie | July 28, 1932
White Zombie is a 1932 pre-Code horror film independently produced by Edward Halperin and directed by Victor Halperin. The screenplay by Garnett Weston is based on William Seabrook’s The Magic Island, and the film revolves around a young woman who is transformed into a zombie by an evil voodoo master. Bela Lugosi plays the role of the zombie master "Murder" Legendre, and Madge Bellamy plays his victim. Other cast members include Joseph Cawthorn, Robert W. Frazer, John Harron, Brandon Hurst, and George Burr MacAnnan.
Much of White Zombie was shot at Universal Studios, borrowing many props and settings from other horror films of the time. The film premiered in New York to negative reactions, with critics criticizing its melodramatic story and weak performances. Despite its limited popularity compared to other horror films of the time, it achieved significant financial success as an independent film.
White Zombie is considered the first feature-length zombie film, with a loose sequel, Revolt of the Zombies, released in 1936. Modern responses to White Zombie are more positive, with some critics praising its atmosphere and comparing it to the horror films of Val Lewton in the 1940s, although other critics still have negative opinions about the quality of the acting.
The action of White Zombie is set in Haiti in 1932. The plot centers around Legendre, Beaumont, another plantation owner, and the newly arrived couple Neil and his fiancée Madeleine, focusing on Legendre’s process of turning Madeleine into a "brain-dead" zombie.
Upon arriving in Haiti, Madeleine Short reunites with her fiancé Neil Parker and plans their upcoming wedding. On their way to their lodging, their carriage passes the evil voodoo master Murder Legendre, who observes them with interest. Neil and Madeleine arrive at the home of wealthy plantation owner Charles Beaumont. Charles, who is in love with Madeleine, secretly meets with Murder at his sugar plantation run by zombies. Charles persuades Madeleine to marry him and seeks Murder’s supernatural assistance. Murder tells Charles that the only way to help him is to use a potion to turn Madeleine into a zombie. Beaumont agrees and discreetly administers the potion to Madeleine. Shortly after Madeleine and Neil’s wedding, the potion takes effect, and she appears to be dead and is soon buried. That night, Murder and Charles enter Madeleine’s grave to resurrect her as a zombie. Drunk and depressed, Neil sees Madeleine’s ghost and goes to her grave. Finding the grave empty, Neil seeks the help of local missionary Dr. Bruner, who informs him that Madeleine might not be dead at all. He reveals that Murder has used the potion to create many rivals as living but soulless zombies, and that he is now Murder’s closest protector. The two men embark on a journey to Murder’s cliffside fortress to save Madeleine.
