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Isle of the Snake People
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Wikipedia article
'Snake People' ('La muerte viviente'/ 'The Living Dead') a.k.a 'Isle of the Snake People', is a 1968 Mexican horror film directed by Juan Ibez and starring Boris Karloff and Julissa. (It was filmed in May 1968, but was only released theatrically in 1971, 2 years after Karloff had died.)Nollen, Scott Allen. Boris Karloff: A Gentleman's Life. Pg. 307. Midnight Marquee & BearManor Media.
'Snake People' is one of four low-budget Mexican horror films Karloff made in a package deal with Mexican producer Luis Enrique Vergara. The others are 'Fear Chamber', 'The Incredible Invasion', and
'House of Evil'. Karloff's scenes for all four films were directed by Jack Hill in Los Angeles in the spring of 1968. The films were then completed in Mexico.Stephen Jacobs, 'Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster', Tomahawk Press 2011 p 503
The film was produced by Juan Ibanez for Azteca Films. The film was released as 'La muerte viviente' ('The Living Dead') in Mexico and in the United States in Spanish-language theatres only. It was eventually dubbed in English but received little theatrical distribution, and was then released direct to U.S. television in 1971. The film is also known as 'Cult of the Dead' (in Hungary) and 'Snake People' (in the United Kingdom).
Plot synopsis
Captain Labische (Rafael Bertrand) arrives at a remote island, determined to crack down on the island's lawlessness, spurred by the voodoo rites practiced by the evil priest Damballah (Boris Karloff). Labische starts with local tycoon Carl van Molder and his study of the island. Van Molder warns Labische not to interfere with the local populace. Annabella (Julissa), van Molder's visiting niece, is a temperance crusader who wants her uncle to help fund the International Anti-Saloon League. She falls in love with handsome police lieutenant Andrew Wilhelm (Carlos East), despite his fondness for rum. Meanwhile, beautiful native girls are being transformed into zombies, and a sinister snake dancer named Kalea (Yolanda Montes) leads them to attack and devour any meddling policemen who get too close to their unholy rituals. In a dream, Annabella wakes up in a coffin. Another woman who looks like her is in a second coffin with a snake. The lookalike pursues and then kisses her. When Annabella is kidnapped and prepared to be the cult's latest human sacrifice, Labische and Wilhelm have to infiltrate their ranks to save her, and they finally learn the secret identity of the all-powerful Damballah.
Cast
* Boris Karloff Carl van Molder / Damballah
* Julissa Anabella Vandenberg
* Carlos East Lt. Andrew Wilhelm (as Charles East)
* Rafael Bertrand Capt. Pierre Labische (as Ralph Bertrand)
* Yolanda Montes Kalea (as Tongolele)
* Quintin Bulnes Klinsor
* Santann (actor) Santanon the Dwarf
* Julia Marichal Mary Ann Vandenberg (as July Marichael)
* Quintin Miller Gomez (uncredited)
Production
'Isle of the Snake People' is one of four low-budget Mexican horror films Karloff made in a package deal with Mexican producer Luis Enrique Vergara, the others being 'The Incredible Invasion', 'Fear Chamber', and 'House of Evil'. With Karloff signed, Vergara obtained financing for the four films from Columbia Pictures, which would then distribute them. Karloff received $100,000 per film. Karloff initially rejected the scripts for all of the films, but agreed to them after they were rewritten by Jack Hill.
Filming was planned to take place in Mexico, but Karloff's emphysema prevented him from working at that altitude. Karloff's scenes in all four films were directed by Jack Hill at the Dored Studios in Los Angeles in the spring of 1968. Between shots, Karloff rested in a wheelchair. The films were then completed in Mexico at Studios America Mexico. Some additional scenes involving the van Molder character (in 'Snake People') were filmed using a Karloff stand-in named Jerry Petty. Due to the unexpected death of Vergara, the release of the film was held up to determine ownership rights of inheritance under Mexican law. All four films in the package deal were released well after Karloff's death in 1969.
Reception
The four Azteca Films productions for which Karloff shot his scenes in Los Angeles were released by Columbia Pictures over a two-year period after he had died in 1969. They were dismissed, by critics and Karloff fans alike, as undistinguished efforts. This film, when released, also appeared to be dated and inferior as between its filming and release, another zombie film, 'Night of the Living Dead' (1968), had raised the standards for the genre. Writing in 'The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia', academic Peter Dendle said, "Though sometimes strange to the point of psychedelic, this tame offering consists of interminable scenes of native rites, women trying to look seductively evil, and shots of snakes."
See also
* List of American films of 1971
* Boris Karloff filmography
References
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