Isle of the Snake People
Encyclopedia
Isle of the Snake People is a 1971
film
directed by Juan Ibáñez and starring Boris Karloff
and Julissa
. The film was produced by Ibanez for Azteca Films. The film was released as La muerte viviente in the United States as a Spanish language film. It was later released for television and dubbed over in English. The film is also known as Cult of the Dead (in Hungary) and Snake People (in the UK).
Isle of the Snake People is one of four low-budget Mexican horror films Karloff made in a package deal with Mexican producer Luis Vergara. The others are The Incredible Invasion
, The Fear Chamber
, 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. All four films were released after Karloff's death.
). Labesch starts with local tycoon Carl Van Molder and his study of the island. Van Molder warns not to interfere with the local populace. Annabella (Julissa
), Van Molder's niece, is a temperance
crusader who is visiting and 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. When Annabella is kidnapped and prepared to be the cult's latest human sacrifice, Labesch and Wilhelm have to infiltrate their ranks to save her, and they finally learn the secret identity of the all-powerful Damballah.
1971 in film
The year 1971 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*February 8 - Bob Dylan's hour long documentary film, Eat the Document, premieres at New York's Academy of Music...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
directed by Juan Ibáñez and starring Boris Karloff
Boris Karloff
William Henry Pratt , better known by his stage name Boris Karloff, was an English actor.Karloff is best remembered for his roles in horror films and his portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein , Bride of Frankenstein , and Son of Frankenstein...
and Julissa
Julissa
Julissa is a Mexican actress and producer. She is the daughter radio and television star Don Luis de Llano Palmer and actress Rita Macedo. She is the mother of a singer and an actor, Benny Ibarra and Alejandro Ibarra...
. The film was produced by Ibanez for Azteca Films. The film was released as La muerte viviente in the United States as a Spanish language film. It was later released for television and dubbed over in English. The film is also known as Cult of the Dead (in Hungary) and Snake People (in the UK).
Isle of the Snake People is one of four low-budget Mexican horror films Karloff made in a package deal with Mexican producer Luis Vergara. The others are The Incredible Invasion
The Incredible Invasion
The Incredible Invasion is a 1971 film directed by Jack Hill. It stars Boris Karloff and Enrique Guzmán.The Incredible Invasion is one of four low-budget Mexican horror films Karloff made in a package deal with Mexican producer Luis Vergara. The others are The Snake People, The Fear Chamber, and...
, The Fear Chamber
The Fear Chamber
The Fear Chamber is a 1968 film directed by Jack Hill. It stars Boris Karloff and Julissa.The Fear Chamber is one of four low-budget Mexican horror films Karloff made in a package deal with Mexican producer Luis Vergara. The others are The Snake People, The Incredible Invasion, andHouse of Evil...
, and House of Evil
House of Evil
House of Evil is a 1968 horror film directed by Jack Hill. It stars Boris Karloff and Julissa.House of Evil is one of four low-budget Mexican horror films Karloff made in a package deal with Mexican producer Luis Vergara. The others are The Snake People, The Incredible Invasion, and The Fear Chamber...
. Karloff's scenes for all four films were directed by Jack Hill
Jack Hill
Jack Hill is an U.S. film director, noted for his work in the exploitation film genre. Despite this, several of Hill's later films have been characterized as feminist works.Hill was born in Los Angeles...
in Los Angeles in the spring of 1968. The films were then completed in Mexico. All four films were released after Karloff's death.
Plot synopsis
Captain Labesch (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 KarloffBoris Karloff
William Henry Pratt , better known by his stage name Boris Karloff, was an English actor.Karloff is best remembered for his roles in horror films and his portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein , Bride of Frankenstein , and Son of Frankenstein...
). Labesch starts with local tycoon Carl Van Molder and his study of the island. Van Molder warns not to interfere with the local populace. Annabella (Julissa
Julissa
Julissa is a Mexican actress and producer. She is the daughter radio and television star Don Luis de Llano Palmer and actress Rita Macedo. She is the mother of a singer and an actor, Benny Ibarra and Alejandro Ibarra...
), Van Molder's niece, is a temperance
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
crusader who is visiting and 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. When Annabella is kidnapped and prepared to be the cult's latest human sacrifice, Labesch and Wilhelm have to infiltrate their ranks to save her, and they finally learn the secret identity of the all-powerful Damballah.
Cast
- Boris KarloffBoris KarloffWilliam Henry Pratt , better known by his stage name Boris Karloff, was an English actor.Karloff is best remembered for his roles in horror films and his portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein , Bride of Frankenstein , and Son of Frankenstein...
– Carl van Molder / Damballah - JulissaJulissaJulissa is a Mexican actress and producer. She is the daughter radio and television star Don Luis de Llano Palmer and actress Rita Macedo. She is the mother of a singer and an actor, Benny Ibarra and Alejandro Ibarra...
– Anabella Vandenberg - Carlos East – Lt. Andrew Wilhelm (as Charles East)
- Rafael Bertrand – Capt. Pierre Labesch (as Ralph Bertrand)
- Yolanda Montes – Kalea (as Tongolele)
- Quintín Bulnes – Klinsor (as Quintin Bulnes)
- Santanón – Dwarf (as Santanon)
- Julia Marichal – Mary Ann Vandenberg (as July Marichael)
- Quintin Miller – Gomez (uncredited)