Films: 1930s

(1932) White Zombie

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

White Zombie
Director: Victor Halperin
Release: 1932

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Without warning, director Victor Halperin's 'White Zombie' becomes a homoerotic pressure cooker.

Neil Parker (John Harron) and his fiance Madeleine (Madge Bellamy) have been persuaded by a wealthy plantation owner to marry at his Haitian estate.

The dilettante, Charles Beaumont (Robert Frazer) has nothing but the worst intentions. He wants Madeleine for himself.

Employing the black magic of zombie master Legendre (Bela Lugosi), Beaumont drugs Madeleine. She appears to die and is the resurrected to be his undead bride.

The deal however, goes sour. Beaumont can't bear the listless and passion-empty Madeleine. Furthermore, Legendre has his own plans for Beaumont.

Only a psychic connection between Madeleine and liquor-shattered Neil allows for some hope and supernatural-savvy Dr. Bruner (Joseph Cawthorn) steps in to break Legendre's spell.

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The unexpected underpinning of 'White Zombie' is that Legendre wants Beaumont. 'I have take a fancy to you,' he says.

While Beaumont's quasi-necrophilia is edgy enough, the very dapper Legendre's apparent lust for Beaumont elevates the relationship to a level of complexity 'Bride of Frankenstein' director James Whale would whole-heartedly endorse.

While the two outside men intertwine via the death-spiral of Beaumont's need for a woman who cannot resist, Bruner leads Parker back to the realm of a man with rough edges. Parker is allowed to drink, to grow a beard (which magically vanishes when Madeleine returns to consciousness), and behave violently. His quasi-Victorian restraint evaporates and his Hemingway-esque maleness is ascendant.

Halperin spins a tale in which a proto-homosexual master enslaves the men of power from the Haitian community. They shuffle mindlessly through their tasks at Legendre's sugar cane factory. Legendre gloats over their emasculation to Beaumont.

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The film is lush, for its limitations. Skillfully employing leftover sets from Todd Browning's 'Dracula,' Halperin sews together a completely unrealistic but suitably Gothic Haiti. The action moves from set-realistic jungle to inexplicable seaside castle. But it is atmospheric, and given the generally twisted characters, and subtly disturbing sexual undertones, of 'White Zombie,' that's all it needs.

James O'Brien
Cinescare Staff

updated 2 years ago