Review: Voodoo Man

Voodoo Man, 1944, directed by William Beaudine, 62 minutes, B&W, a Monogram film. Starring Bela Lugosi as Dr. Richard Marlowe, George Zucco as Nicholas, Louise Currie as Stella Saunders, Wanda McKay as Betty Benton, Tod Andrews (Michael Ames) as Ralph Dawson, Henry Hall as sheriff, John Carradine as as Toby and Frank Moran as henchman. Schlock-meter rating: 7 stars out of 10.

"Voodoo Man" is one of Lugosi's later Monogram films and it has a very simple but enjoyable plot: Southern California gas station owner Nicholas (Zucco) is a voodoo high priest. With the help of two moronic henchmen (Carradine and Moran) he creates roadblocks and kidnaps pretty young women. He takes them to his reclusive house, where Dr. Richard Marlowe (Lugosi) is keeping the kidnapped women in a trance. Marlowe then tries to resurrect his dead wife by praying to the great God Ramboona and using phrases such as "Mind to body ..." Through it all Zucco officiates and Carradine plays the drums ....

Eventually a pretty motorist, Stella Saunders, (Currie) is kidnapped on the way to a wedding for her friend Betty Benton (played by McKay). Benton's fiance, Hollywood screenwriter Ralph Dawson (Andrews), joins forces with Hall's sheriff to track down the voodoo-spouting kidnappers. Currie and McKay find themselves in danger as the plot reaches its climax.

There is really something quite endearing about these Monogram cheapies. The plots are so fantastic. What's on the screen can't measure up to the script, but the films are so enjoyable. The pairing of Zucco and Lugosi is a must for film afficionados. The pair are great together. Lugosi's doctor is almost a sympathetic character. He is truly motivated by love for his dead wife. Veteran Monogram actors Carradine, Moran, Currie and McKay are in fine form. The films also have the light subplot Monogram utilized, usually with a reporter being pressured by a boss. In this case it's groom-to-be Dawson, whose studio boss wants a script. There is a great ending where Dawson, having turned in a script based on the voodoo-based kidnappings, casually suggests to his boss that Bela Lugosi be hired for the lead. Another great piece of dialogue is Hall's sheriff spouting "Gosh all fishhooks!"

Notes: Lugosi and Zucco were paired again three year later in the low-budget color mystery "Scared to Death." Moran was a former heavyweight boxer who had fought Jess Willard for the world heavyweight title about 30 years earlier. Carradine played Count Dracula in two Universal horrors, "House of Frankenstein" and "House of Dracula." Currie was called "Monogram's Katherine Hepburn" by executive Sam Katzman. He was referring to her beauty and acting talent. McKay was a former beauty contest winner. Currie starred with Lugosi in "The Ape Man." McKay in "The Corpse Vanishes."

-- Doug Gibson