The inhabitants of a small, remote island have been practicing voodoo rites and worshipping an evil priest named Damballah for years, but the local law officials generally turn a blind eye to this death cult’s bizarre activities. Captain Labesch arrives from the mainland, determined to crack down on the island’s lawlessness and clean up the ineffectual, hard-drinking police force. He appeals for assistance from wealthy plantation tycoon Carl Van Molder, who owns nearly half of the island and wields a great deal of influence over the population. Van Molder has made the study of parapsychology his life’s work and believes in the secret powers of the mind. He warns Labesch not to interfere with this forgotten island’s ancient ways. imdb
Unrated but about R
…..I worked on this movie! Most of it was filmed in Mexico. The interior sets, with Karloff, were filmed in Hollywood. I was the Art Director creating those interiors and had no idea, at that time, how or exactly where the rest of the movie would be filmed.
Boris Karloff was not in good health but arrived every day on time for the days filming. Usually he sat behind a desk or on a couch delivering his lines. One day when I was on the set the other actor in the scene forgot his lines and Karloff quoted the lines. Karloff had also memorized the other actor’s lines! Boris Karloff was a wonderful actor and a friendly person. One day he invited me into his dressing room while he had lunch and we talked for an hour about his early days in Hollywood and how he used to ride a street car over the hill to Universal Studios where he was working.
This is the first time I have ever put this story in print and I am happy I have done it.
…..In memory of Boris Karloff
…..thank you, R.M.
Hello Ray Markham,
Wonderful insight. You were one of the lucky ones to be in the presence of The Master himself, King Karloff. Did you have tea with Mr. Karloff? All the best to you!