O Rei dos Zombies

It is easy, too simple in fact, to dismiss this movie and the characterizations of men like Mantan Moreland and Stepin Fetchit as "racist". The later generation usually thinks of itself as more enlightened than the former. All the while Hip Hop videos and movies like "Fridays", "BAPS" and whatever Spike Lee is currently is at work on are hailed as masterpieces, all the while, doing the same sort of parody of current black culture that Moreland and Fetchit were doing with their generation. Do not forget that Mantan Moreland and Stepin Fetchit did a LOT of work doing these same routines and characters for black directors and black audiences and were hailed as comic geniuses within their own communities. Along with the current Politically Correct culture seems to be a lot of revisionist history and myopia.

That said, we see this movie for what it is, a brilliant comedy horror movie on a par with any of the "Abbott & Costello meet..." films. Mantan Moreland is excellent and steals every scene he is in, the other actors don't even have a ghost of a chance, as it were. The only person who comes close to matching him is the pretty Marguerite Whiddon as Samantha, the pretty, wisecracking kitchen helper.

Dr Sangre (Sangre..Spanish for Blood, get it?) is up to no good on his island in the middle of the Caribbean and it is up to the men of a crashed plane to figure it all out, IF they can survive what seems to be an island over-run with zombies! If you are looking for a 1960s or 1970s style juvenile gore-fest, look elsewhere, but if you are looking for some classic wartime horror-comedy, get some popcorn, turn off your PC brainwashing and enjoy!

This film (along with "Dr. X" & "Night Monster") rank as my all-time fave Top Three! (I own over 1k films)!

Why? That "Master of Scared-Reaction Comedy", Mantan Moreland takes an (other-wise) dull film & adds a lot of "zip" into it! I think this was his finest role! He does MUCH to improve a cast who's acting (especially the two "heros") is as "wooden" as the zombies themselves!

My favorite line is when the "hero" & Mantan are walking through a dark secret passage, holding a torch. Voodoo drums begin to sound. "What's that?", says the Hero. "I dunno", answers Mantan, "...but it ain't GENE KRUPA!". A scream!

This film WILL offend the "Politically Correct" as "degrading Negro stereotypes", but these people have to realise that Morelan was a Comic GENIUS who also played these "scared reaction" comedy roles for BLACK directors, and the Black Movie-Going Community of the 30's and 40's.

You MUST SEE this film, if only for Mantan's marvellous comedy!

This film (along with "Dr. X" & "Night Monster") rank as my all-time fave Top Three! (I own over 700 films)!

Why? That "Master of Scared-Reaction Comedy", Mantan Moreland takes an (other-wise) dull film & adds a lot of "zip" into it! I think this was his finest role! He does MUCH to improve a cast who's acting (especially the two "heros") is as "wooden" as the zombies themselves!

My favorite line is when the "hero" & Mantan are walking through a dark secret passage, holding a torch. Voodoo drums begin to sound. "What's that?", says the Hero. "I dunno", answers Mantan, "...but it ain't GENE KRUPA!". A scream!

BTW..most people don't know that this film was actually nominated for an Academy Award; "Best Musical Score", but didn't get it.

You MUST SEE this film, if only for Mantan's marvellous comedy!

When a plane crashes on a remote South American island during a bad storm, the planes three occupants find themselves in a doctor's mansion where strange things appear to be going on. The pilot, a government guy and his manservant must get to the bottom of the zombies appearance on the island and the doctors' sinister plan involving them.

Jean (The Devil Bat) Yarbrough's direction is quick and sure in the funny, underappreciated gem from the early 1940's. The film moves along after a very snappy pace and never drags. Not high on production value, loved the cheesy model of the plane crash in the beginning, King has a very high energy level thanks to the hilarious antics of the always entertaining Mantan (Spider Baby) Moreland. Easily the highlight of the film Moreland's bug-eyed often off-color schtick made this rather routine film is loads of fun. Good fun for anyone who likes a classic voodoo zombie kind of film with an outstanding comedy performance.

This movie was as much Whitten's as it was Morelands. She was beautiful. Had she been active during the 90s, with her talent and beauty, she could have ruled Hollywood. Moreland, given his delivery and timing, would give Murphy a run for his money. This movie is a comedy classic. Being dated as it is, and altogether politically incorrect by todays standards, it actually gave Whitten and Moreland a lot of space to show off their talents. It may seem backwards NOW but for that day and time it was really very progressive. The other actors, well ... The Doctor was cool, and I think was trying to play off Lugousi. The rest? Hey, some one has to play "third through the door".And they did OK. If nothing else they made Whitten and Moreland look even better. But they didn't really need that kinda help. ;-)