O Vale dos Zombies

Fondly remembered, just for the title. In the 70s it turned up a lot on weekends, and the later at night the better. Creature Feature or Chiller Theater time. A real gas.

A modest B film, basically what critics at the time said, but that's the key to its creepiness. Ian Keith, a veteran actor from the old school, makes an outstanding villain, in search of blood transfusions to keep himself alive. The cobwebs, an abandoned mansion and graveyard are also fun and put to good use. By the way, our heroes (Robert Livingston and Adrian Booth) are locked in a tomb for a ghoulish minute or two.

Keith plays Ormond Merks, executed years ago for past crimes, now looking for his next "blood" victim. More of a vampire-type film, and Keith keeps it going, replete with a long, black cape and the best lines. No valley or zombies, although he does hypnotize Booth and arm her with a gun. Sometimes compared to the RETURN OF DR. X (1939), starring Humphrey Bogart, though Bogey's makeup was more outlandish, also sporting a Bride of Frankenstein gray streak hairdoo.

Very good supporting cast featuring character actor Tommy Jackson playing the detective on the case. Robert "Bob" Livingston plays the two-fisted hero, known for westerns. Filmed by Republic Pictures and catch some of the area footage of surrounding Studio City (Ventura Blvd) and possibly North Hollywood back in the 40s.

Interestingly, Keith was originally considered for the role of DRACULA, before Bela Lugosi. Not too long after this film, he was considered again for the part in ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN.

Catch the closing gag line by Livingston said to gal friend Adrian Booth. Best dvd is coupled with THE VAMPIRES GHOST, released through Fast Fushion Films, and with some nice artwork. A super Halloween treat, though short running time at 56 minutes.

VALLEY OF THE ZOMBIES has Dr. Ormand Murks (Ian Keith) use voodoo to rise from the dead. He's now in need of human blood and will acquire it by any means necessary. Murks' victims are found drained of blood and filled with embalming fluid.

While the police are baffled, a young doctor and nurse set out to solve the series of bizarre murders.

Keith is fantastic as the ghoulish Murks. His gaunt face, bulging eyes, hat, and cape are the perfect combination. This character could / should have been seen in other such films.

Deserves to be rediscovered...

After Dr. Rufus Maynard (Charles Trowbridge) is found murdered, Dr. Terry Evans (Robert Livingston) and his pretty nurse Susan Drake (Lorna Gray) turn amateur detective to prove their innocence. Their investigation leads them to the home of insane undertaker Ormand Murks (Ian Keith), who has used a voodoo potion to achieve immortality, but who requires a constant supply of blood to stay alive.

This cheapo B-movie could be accused of misleading the viewer: with just a passing mention of the titular valley and only one 'zombie'-- the very alive looking Murks -- its credentials as a living dead movie are extremely questionable. The film is actually more of a murder/mystery as Evans and Drake sleuth their way into danger, stumbling across assorted embalmed corpses and becoming trapped in a creepy old crypt (while narrowly avoiding being throttled by the villain's hand which emerges slowly from the shadows -- very Scooby Doo!). It's routine stuff but, at under an hour long, the film doesn't outstay its welcome, and Keith, as cape-swishing, cane-wielding Murks, makes for a wonderfully theatrical bad guy.

4.5/10, rounded up to 5 for the 'hilarious' closing gag.

Well crafted little horror jaunt. Seems long dead Murks (Keith) won't stay dead, but he does need blood to keep frightening us viewers. I guess he must have had a zombie dad and a vampire mom, or some such. Anyhow he gets his needed red stuff from a doctor's office, which is fine until he stupidly throttles his supplier. Now he gets his stuff on the hoof, and our heroes Dr. Terry (Livingston) and Nurse Susan (Gray) better figure things out before he depopulates the studio of its supporting players.

I love that opening sequence, a really funny got'cha when the sheet's pulled back. Republic may have been at the bottom of the Hollywood studios, but it was at the top of the poverty row outfits, PRC, etc. So it's not surprising this horror quickie would be a little slicker than most. Happily, director Ford manages both atmosphere and pacing. The outdoor sets may be 3-feet deep, but they're still creepy. And catch the many snappy lines from our winsome Nurse Susan, especially when she and the doc are creeping through the forrest. Now, Keith really has the malevolent glower of a fiend, but his mugging at times borders on the ludicrous. I guess he needed a few more lessons from Karloff. Good also to see Livingston get off a horse (The Three Mesquiteers) and into a medical smock, of all things. All in all, the 57- minutes remains a cut above other quickies, without being anything special.

If you approach this looking for zombies, especially an whole valley full of 'em, you'll be sadly disappointed yet I can't help it...I like this short little movie just the same. Maybe it's the wonderful atmosphere this film has what with mysterious going ons in the night, graveyards and tombs figuring into the plot. Or maybe it's the old fashioned villain who truly looks like a fiendish fellow...Ian Keith as the thought to be dead Ormond Murks, who now needs the blood of the living to stay alive.

And while there may be a number of outdated stereotypes (by today's standards) at work here especially in terms of the frantic female Nurse Susan Drake who is easily spooked and frightened leaning upon the always steady and sure male Dr. Terrance Evans..still there's a certain innocence to this style of Horror which makes it fun...kind of hard to explain really. It's only being an hour long doesn't hurt either.