White Zombie (16mm)

“They are not men, monsieur…  They are dead bodies!”  Thus intones the coachman at the beginning of WHITE ZOMBIE, played by the great Clarence Muse— giving the very first descriptor of walking dead in motion picture history.  Crafted years before I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE, decades before NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, Independent Halperin Studios’ WHITE ZOMBIE is the archetypal zombie film, a masterpiece dripping with atmosphere, gravitas and graveyard glamour. The film showcases one of Bela Lugosi’s best performances as the Mephistophelean voodoo practitioner, Legendre—whose powers over realms unknown are iconically portrayed as THOSE EYES that blaze across vistas to compel beautiful bride-to-be Madge Bellamy to join him at his strange satanic boudoir, and THOSE HANDS notoriously referenced in 1994’s ED WOOD.  Evocative dialog, a sinister screeching vulture, wonderfully sardonic makeup by Jack Pierce and a perfect use of 1930s Universal and RKO sets combine to form a starkly tenebrific tableau, stirringly brought to life by a moody soundtrack drawing from the compositions of Hugo Riesenfeld, Nathaniel Dett and others.

What better way to celebrate Halloween season than by ducking into a dark theater to watch the VERY FIRST zombie film rise to life and walk again!?  Special presentation on 16mm celluloid. The feature will be preceded with a short reel of vintage Lugosi trailers.  Come and see!