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Wonderful film - really rises above the cheesy-sounding title

posted 15 years ago by Eric-1226
9 replies | jump to latest

Don't let the cheesy-sounding title put you off: this is NOT one of those 1950's-style sci-fi/zombie creature-features that used to play at drive-in theaters. This is actually a truly well-done film - one of the best Black and White pictures I've seen.

Very moody, atmoshperic, mysterious, and best of all, it features a really beautiful Frances Dee as Betsy Connell, a Canadian nurse dispatched to a Caribbean island to care for a sugar plantation owner's wife: a mysterious woman who is in a zombie-like state.

The movie has many interesting comments on life, death, love, illness, the legacy of slavery, etc. Worth watching more than once.

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[–] creek_girl 13 years ago

You're right. It is a beautiful film. I had my 10 year old watch it last night and she loved it.

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[–] charcas67 13 years ago

I agree. The title was imposed on producer Val Lewton by the execs at RKO. I like that right at the start in the voice over narraton of Francess Dee how she says the title, laughs a little, then starts her story.

[–] Bluedusk 10 years ago

Tourneur wanted to call it "Voodoo" and that's the title used in the French distribution ("Vaudou", French spelling).

[–] ElectricWarlock 11 years ago

I actually like the title. It makes the film sound very intriguing. I don't think I would've seen the film if it weren't for the interesting title and I would've missed out on a good film.

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[–] SusanJL 10 years ago

Exactly, Eric-1226 - The title really is cheesy, I was expecting a movie to match. But this movie is awesome!!! Or maybe my super-low expections helped me like it so much!!!

[–] hockeyhrs 10 years ago

The cheesy titles are part of the charms of Val Lewton movies.

RKO's marketing department thought that titles were what lured audiences to see a film (or avoid it), and so they came up with interesting titles first, then handed them to Lewton, and said "Go come up with a story to fit this (sensational) title."

Cool story, regardless of whether they were right or not (that the title is what piques the audience's interest).

[–] stargazer1701-1 10 years ago

Last time I saw this film, and fell in love with it, was way back in university. I tuned in to it tonight again after so many decades, I fell in love with it all over again.

Yes! This movie was class. I adore the use of shadows and the somber mood. The beautiful compositions in every frame becomes somewhat reminiscent to Vermeer paintings.

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[–] FranLovesBetteD 9 years ago

I re-watched it last night, and wow, I think I liked it even more so this time. I'm glad that they chose the underrated Frances Dee for the lead role. She was terrific: brave and vulnerable at the same time.

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[–] dga23 7 years ago

Pretty good - 7.5

"She let me go."
~White Oleander